Compare the2024 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2024 Lexus GX

The Escalade 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 GX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Escalade 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 GX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade 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 GX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade and the GX 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, 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.

There are over 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escalade’s warranty.

The Escalade 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 GX 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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is rated lower.

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 71 more horsepower (420 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Lexus GX:

On the EPA test cycle the Escalade gets better mileage than the GX:

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escalade’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac Escalade uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GX requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Escalade has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the GX (24 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Escalade 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 GX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Escalade’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

For better traction, the Escalade has larger tires than the GX (275/50R22 vs. 265/55R20).

The Escalade’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX Overtrail’s standard 70 series tires.

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

The Escalade 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 GX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the GX (120.9 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GX.

The Escalade’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the GX’s (52.2% to 47.8%). This gives the Escalade more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Escalade Air Suspension has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GX Overtrail (10 vs. 8.9 inches), allowing the Escalade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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

The Escalade offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the GX can only carry up to 7.

The Escalade’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

The Escalade’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX Overtrail.

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus GX is limited to 8000 pounds. The Escalade offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Escalade 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 can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Escalade has a much higher standard payload capacity than the GX (1636 vs. 1235 lbs.).

The Escalade has a higher maximum payload capacity than the GX (1647 vs. 1545 lbs.).

The Escalade’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 GX.

The GX’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’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 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 GX.

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

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s Adaptive Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

The Cadillac Escalade outsold the Lexus GX by 31% during 2023.