Compare the2023 Cadillac Escalade ESVVS 2023 Ford Expedition Max

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Escalade ESV has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport 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 Expedition Max doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade ESV and the Expedition Max 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	165
Neck Injury Risk	23%	32%
Neck Stress	312 lbs.	361 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	147 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 Escalade ESV is safer than the Ford Expedition Max:

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	118 lbs.	180 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	27 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	434 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s

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

Warranty

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

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

The Escalade ESV’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Expedition Max’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade ESV first among large premium SUVs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Expedition Max isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated lower.

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 Escalade ESV’s 6.2 V8 produces 40 more horsepower (420 vs. 380) than the Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6. The Escalade ESV’s 6.2 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) than the Expedition Max Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade ESV is faster than the Expedition Max Limited/KR/Platinum:

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.5 sec	11.8 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.2 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.2 MPH	88.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escalade ESV gets better mileage than the Expedition Max:

			MPG
Escalade ESV
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	20 city/26 hwy
Expedition Max
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/21 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade ESV V8’s fuel efficiency. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

The Escalade ESV stops much shorter than the Expedition Max:

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	192 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Escalade ESV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Expedition Max’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade ESV has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Expedition Max.

The Escalade ESV 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 Expedition Max doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade ESV’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Expedition Max (134.1 inches vs. 131.6 inches).

Passenger Space

The Escalade ESV has .3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more third row headroom and .5 inches more third row legroom than the Expedition Max.

Cargo Capacity

The Escalade ESV’s cargo area provides more volume than the Expedition Max.

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
Behind Third Seat	41.5 cubic feet	34.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	94.1 cubic feet	73.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	142.8 cubic feet	121.5 cubic feet

Towing

The Escalade ESV’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition Max’s (7800 vs. 6000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

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 Escalade ESV’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escalade ESV’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Expedition Max’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Escalade ESV the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Expedition Max can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Escalade ESV has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Escalade ESV’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Expedition Max’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the Escalade ESV 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 Expedition Max’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Escalade ESV 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 Expedition Max.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac Escalade ESV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport’s Adaptive Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Expedition Max (except XLT)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade ESV second among large premium SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Expedition Max isn’t in the top three in its category.