Compare the2025 Cadillac Escalade IQVS 2024 BMW XM

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac Escalade IQ are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW XM doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Escalade IQ and XM have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Escalade IQ has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XM’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Escalade IQ 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 XM doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade IQ helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The XM doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade IQ and the XM have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

There are over 62 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escalade IQ’s warranty.

The Escalade IQ’s electric motors produces 106 more horsepower (750 vs. 644) and 195 lbs.-ft. more torque (785 vs. 590) than the XM’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid. The Escalade IQ’s electric motors produces 12 more horsepower (750 vs. 738) and 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (785 vs. 738) than the XM Label Red’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid.

The Escalade IQ can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 460 miles, up to 3% further than the XM‘s 340-mile range on a full charge and a full tank of fuel. The XM has to start its internal combustion engine after only 31 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac Escalade IQ higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW XM (7). This means the Escalade IQ produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XM every 15,000 miles.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade IQ has standard 24-inch wheels. Smaller 22-inch wheels are standard on the XM. The XM’s largest wheels are only 23-inches.

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

The Escalade IQ 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 XM doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The front and rear suspension of the Escalade IQ uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XM, which uses coil springs in front. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Escalade IQ has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Escalade IQ’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XM doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade IQ’s wheelbase is 14 inches longer than on the XM (136.2 inches vs. 122.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade IQ is .7 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the XM.

For better maneuverability, the Escalade IQ’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the XM’s (39.3 feet vs. 41 feet).

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

The Escalade IQ has standard seating for 7 passengers; the XM can only carry 5.

The Escalade IQ has 3.1 inches more front headroom, 4.8 inches more front legroom, 5.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear legroom and 6.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XM.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Escalade IQ’s middle row seats recline. The XM’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

The Escalade IQ’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The XM’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Escalade IQ’s cargo door can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The XM doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Escalade IQ’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XM’s (8000 vs. 5952 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 21% lower rating, BMW is ranked 13th.

The Escalade IQ’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the XM doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Escalade IQ to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XM doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Escalade IQ has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XM doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Escalade IQ and the XM offer available massaging front seats. The Escalade IQ also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the XM.

The Escalade IQ 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 XM doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Cadillac Escalade outsold the BMW XM by over 18 to one during 2023.