Compare the2024 Cadillac Escalade-VVS 2023 Audi SQ8

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Escalade-V’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The SQ8 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Escalade-V are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escalade-V has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The SQ8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Escalade-V and the SQ8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Cadillac Escalade-V weighs 937 to 1127 pounds more than the Audi SQ8. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade-V is safer than the Audi SQ8:

	Escalade-V	SQ8
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	146	296
Neck Injury Risk	23%	30%

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 Escalade-V is safer than the Audi SQ8:

	Escalade-V	SQ8
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	60
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	128 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	260 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	141
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	684 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	239	282
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	49 G’s

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

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the SQ8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the SQ8 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 84 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escalade-V’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escalade-V has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Escalade-V has a standard 800-amp battery. The SQ8’s 380-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi 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 Audi 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, Audi is rated below average.

Engine

The Escalade-V’s 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 182 more horsepower (682 vs. 500) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (653 vs. 568) than the SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade-V’s fuel efficiency. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escalade-V’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ8 (24 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escalade-V ESV’s standard fuel tank has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ8 (28.3 vs. 22.5 gallons).

The Escalade-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac Escalade-V, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the SQ8.

The Escalade-V’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The SQ8 doesn’t offer launch control.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade-V has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 21-inch wheels are standard on the SQ8.

The Cadillac Escalade-V’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi SQ8 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Escalade-V 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Escalade-V has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the SQ8; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade-V’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the SQ8 (120.9 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade-V is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the SQ8.

For better maneuverability, the Escalade-V’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the SQ8’s (39.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Escalade-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The SQ8 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escalade-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The SQ8 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Escalade-V ESV offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the SQ8 can only carry 5. The Escalade-V has standard seating for 7.

Cargo Capacity

The Escalade-V’s cargo area provides more volume than the SQ8.

	Escalade-V	SQ8
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	30.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121 cubic feet	60.7 cubic feet

The Escalade-V ESV’s cargo area provides more volume than the SQ8.

	Escalade-V	SQ8
Third Seat Folded	94.1 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	30.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	142.8 cubic feet	60.7 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Escalade-V’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The SQ8 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The Escalade-V 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escalade-V can be unhitched and driven around locally. The SQ8 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escalade-V uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The SQ8 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 15% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Ergonomics

The Escalade-V’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 SQ8 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escalade-V has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the SQ8 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The SQ8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Escalade-V’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Escalade-V has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escalade-V will cost $4760 to $5440 less than the SQ8 over a five-year period.

Recommendations

The Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by over four to one during 2022.