Compare the2024 Cadillac Escalade-VVS 2023 Mercedes AMG GLS

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 AMG GLS 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 AMG GLS doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

An active infrared night vision system standard on the Escalade-V helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The AMG GLS doesn’t offer a night vision system.

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

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

The Escalade-V’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the AMG GLS’ (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 46 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Escalade-V’s warranty.

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 AMG GLS doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes 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 Mercedes 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, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Escalade-V’s 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 79 more horsepower (682 vs. 603) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (653 vs. 627) than the AMG GLS’ 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

The Escalade-V ESV’s standard fuel tank has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG GLS (28.3 vs. 23.8 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 AMG GLS doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac Escalade-V, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the AMG GLS.

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 AMG GLS doesn’t offer launch control.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade-V has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 21-inch wheels are standard on the AMG GLS 63.

The Cadillac Escalade-V’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mercedes AMG GLS 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 AMG GLS 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 AMG GLS; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade-V is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .2 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG GLS.

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 AMG GLS 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 AMG GLS doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Escalade-V ESV offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the AMG GLS can only carry 7.

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

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

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 AMG GLS can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Escalade-V, using the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the AMG GLS.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 31% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

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 AMG GLS has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature 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 AMG GLS only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Escalade-V has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG GLS.

The Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV outsold the Mercedes GLS by almost two to one during 2022.