Compare the2024 Cadillac XT4VS 2023 Ford Escape

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The Cadillac XT4 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 Escape doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the XT4 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Cross Traffic Braking costs extra on the Escape and isn't offered on the Escape Base.

Both the XT4 and the Escape have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT4 is safer than the Ford Escape:

	XT4	Escape
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	181/231 lbs.	188/315 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac XT4 is safer than the Ford Escape:

	XT4	Escape
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	114	197
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	185 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	598 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	204	344

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The XT4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Escape’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT4 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Escape. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Escape ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The XT4’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Escape’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the XT4’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Escape’s camshafts. If the Escape’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT4 third among compact premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Escape isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 1 place higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (235 vs. 181) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 190) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Cadillac XT4 is faster than the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl.:

	XT4	Escape
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	8.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.6 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	85 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The XT4 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Escape.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Escape are solid, not vented.

The XT4 stops much shorter than the Escape:

	XT4	Escape
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XT4 has larger standard tires than the Escape (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The XT4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape (245/45R20 vs. 225/65R17).

The XT4’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape’s standard 65 series tires. The XT4’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Escape’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT4 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Escape. The XT4’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Escape.

The XT4 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Escape doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The XT4 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Escape’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT4’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Escape (109.4 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT4 is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape.

The XT4 Sport AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the Escape AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XT4 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Escape (26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The XT4 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escape doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the XT4 Sport AWD is quieter than the Escape AWD (67 vs. 70 dB).

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The XT4 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Escape uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 42% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

The XT4’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Escape does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The XT4’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Escape’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

On a hot day the XT4’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Escape can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XT4 (except Luxury) offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Escape doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The XT4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Escape and aren’t offered on the Escape Base.

When the XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Escape’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Escape offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the XT4 and the Escape offer available heated front seats. The XT4 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The XT4 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Escape S doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Escape.

The XT4 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Escape Active/ST-Line/Platinum.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the XT4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Escape S doesn’t offer rear vents.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT4 is less expensive to operate than the Escape because typical repairs cost much less on the XT4 than the Escape, including $693 less for a muffler, $4 less for a starter, $9 less for a fuel pump, $43 less for front struts and $22 less for a timing belt/chain.