Compare the2025 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2025 Volvo XC90

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 XC90 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 XC90 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade and the XC90 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 517 to 1425 pounds more than the Volvo XC90. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade is safer than the Volvo XC90:

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, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade is safer than the Volvo XC90:

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

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Volvo 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 XC90 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 XC90’s 210-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 XC90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Volvo.

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 Volvo With 49 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 9 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 173 more horsepower (420 vs. 247) and 194 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 266) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 125 more horsepower (420 vs. 295) and 150 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 310) than the XC90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade’s fuel efficiency. The XC90 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Escalade and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Escalades have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac Escalade uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XC90 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Escalade has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (24 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Escalade has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XC90. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 XC90.

For better stopping power the Escalade’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The Escalade stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the Escalade’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC90 (285/40R24 vs. 275/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the XC90. The Escalade’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the XC90.

The Cadillac Escalade’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volvo XC90 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 XC90 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 XC90; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The front and rear suspension of the Escalade uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the XC90 (120.9 inches vs. 117.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the XC90.

For greater off-road capability the Escalade Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC90 w/Air Suspension (10 vs. 9.9 inches), allowing the Escalade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 XC90 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 XC90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD is quieter than the XC90 B6 Core:

The Escalade offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the XC90 can only carry 7.

The Escalade has 64.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (168.4 vs. 103.8).

The Escalade has 3.4 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom, 5.7 inches more front hip room, 7.8 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 4.8 inches more rear legroom, 4.5 inches more rear hip room, 7.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.9 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom, 4.5 inches more third row hip room and 15.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

The Escalade’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

The Escalade’s cargo area is larger than the XC90’s in almost every dimension:

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Escalade’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC90 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (7900 vs. 5000 pounds).

The Escalade has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1570 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Escalade has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1580 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The engine in the Escalade is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 34% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 23rd.

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 XC90 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature 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 XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Escalade has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the Escalade Platinum offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XC90 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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 XC90.

Both the Escalade and the XC90 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 XC90.

Both the Cadillac Escalade and the Volvo XC90 have a standard Qi wireeless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the Escalade Platinum also offers an optional wireless charging system with chargers for two devices.

The Escalade’s Adaptive Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Escalade is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escalade will cost $455 to $3405 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escalade is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the Escalade than the XC90, including $588 less for a water pump, $28 less for front brake pads, $322 less for a starter, $57 less for fuel injection and $115 less for a fuel pump.

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 XC90 isn’t in the top three.

The Cadillac Escalade outsold the Volvo XC90 by 1769 units during 2023.