Compare the2024 BMW X5 MVS 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V

The BMW X5 M has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The X5 M has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X5 M has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the X5 M and Escalade-V have rear cross-traffic warning, but the X5 M has Cross Traffic Warning with Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Escalade-V’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The X5 M’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the X5 M uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Escalade-V uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the X5 M and the Escalade-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The X5 M’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Escalade-V’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 M for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Escalade-V.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the X5 M has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the Escalade-V.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 17th.

On the EPA test cycle the X5 M Competition gets better fuel mileage than the Escalade-V (13 city/18 hwy vs. 11 city/16 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X5 M’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the X5 M’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

For better stopping power the X5 M’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Escalade-V:

For better traction, the X5 M has larger tires than the Escalade-V (F:295/35R21 & R:315/30R22 vs. 275/50R22).

The X5 M’s 295/35R21 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escalade-V’s standard 50 series tires.

The X5 M has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Cadillac doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Escalade-V.

The BMW X5 M may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 950 pounds less than the Cadillac Escalade-V.

The X5 M is 1 foot, 5.1 inches shorter than the Escalade-V, making the X5 M easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The X5 M is 7.5 inches shorter in height than the Escalade-V, making the X5 M much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction lowers the X5 M’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Escalade-V doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The X5 M has a much larger cargo volume than the Escalade-V with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X5 M easier. The X5 M’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.8 inches, while the Escalade-V’s liftover is 37 inches.

The X5 M’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Escalade-V’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X5 M to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Escalade-V doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X5 M’s Parking Assistant Professional can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Escalade-V’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The BMW X5 outsold the Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV by over two to one during 2022.