Compare the2025 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2025 Hyundai Palisade

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

Safety

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The Cadillac Escalade has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Palisade doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade (except Luxury) 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 Palisade doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The Cadillac Escalade weighs 1301 to 1843 pounds more than the Hyundai Palisade. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 is safer than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Escalade	Palisade
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	25
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	113 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	303 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	189
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	36 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	45 G’s

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

Reliability

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Escalade has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Palisade’s 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade second among large premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Palisade isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Hyundai.

Engine

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 129 more horsepower (420 vs. 291) and 198 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Escalade	Palisade
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	7.1 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.3 sec	11.3 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.2 sec	3.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.6 MPH	89.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The Escalade has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade (24 vs. 18.8 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 Palisade doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac Escalade, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Palisade.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Escalade	Escalade	Palisade
Front Rotors	13.5 inches	16.1 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.6 inches	12 inches

The Escalade’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Palisade are solid, not vented.

The Escalade stops shorter than the Palisade:

	Escalade	Palisade
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escalade has larger standard tires than the Palisade (275/50R22 vs. 245/60R18). The Escalade’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (285/40R24 vs. 245/60R18).

The Escalade’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Palisade’s standard 60 series tires. The Escalade’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Palisade’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Palisade. The Escalade’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Palisade.

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

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 Palisade doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

Suspension and Handling

The Escalade offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Palisade’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the Palisade (120.9 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than on the Palisade.

For greater off-road capability the Escalade has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Escalade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Escalade Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 2.1 inches higher than on the Palisade (10 vs. 7.9 inches).

Chassis

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

The Escalade (except Luxury) offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Palisade doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD is quieter than the Palisade Limited HTRAC (66 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The Escalade has 13.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Palisade (168.4 vs. 155.3).

The Escalade has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 3.6 inches more front hip room, 4.3 inches more front shoulder room, 3.3 inches more rear hip room, 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row headroom, 3.5 inches more third row legroom, 5.7 inches more third row hip room and 7.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Palisade.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Escalade	Palisade
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	18 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	45.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	120.5 cubic feet	86.4 cubic feet

The Escalade’s cargo area is larger than the Palisade’s in almost every dimension:

	Escalade	Palisade
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/54”/89.5”	20.8”/49”/82.5”
Max Width	49.5”	53.7”
Min Width	49.4”	43.4”
Height	36.5”	30.5”

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Escalade. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Palisade’s (7900 vs. 5000 pounds).

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 Palisade can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Escalade is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Palisade. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 64% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

Ergonomics

The Escalade’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 Palisade does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade’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 Palisade’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 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 Palisade can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

The Escalade’s available power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The Palisade doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The Escalade’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 Palisade SE/SEL/XRT’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Escalade has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Cadillac Escalade and Hyundai Palisade offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Escalade features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Palisade’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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 is only available on the Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Night.

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

The Cadillac Escalade has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the overhead console. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Hyundai charges extra for Homelink® on the Palisade.

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. Only the Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Night offers wireless charging. The Escalade also offers Qi charging for two devices in the second row seat. The Palisade doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Escalade with a number “5” insurance rate while the Palisade is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escalade is less expensive to operate than the Palisade because typical repairs cost less on the Escalade than the Palisade, including $104 less for a water pump, $37 less for front brake pads, $104 less for a starter and $24 less for fuel injection.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade second among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Palisade was rated third in its category.