Compare the2024 Cadillac Escalade ESVVS 2024 Lincoln Navigator L

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 Navigator L 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 Navigator L 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 Navigator L doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade ESV and the Navigator L 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, around view monitors, 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 Lincoln Navigator L:

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 Lincoln Navigator L:

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade ESV first among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Navigator L isn’t in the top three.

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 Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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, Lincoln is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 7 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

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

The Escalade ESV has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Navigator L. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Escalade ESV stops much shorter than the Navigator L:

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 Navigator L doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

The Escalade ESV has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Navigator L doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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

The Cadillac Escalade ESV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Lincoln Navigator L.

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

The Escalade ESV’s cargo area provides more volume than the Navigator L.

The Escalade ESV’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Navigator L’s (7800 vs. 6600 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

The Escalade ESV’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 Navigator L does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade ESV’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Navigator L’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Navigator L’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Escalade ESV is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Navigator L doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Cadillac Escalade outsold the Lincoln Navigator by over two to one during 2023.