Compare the2025 Cadillac Escalade ESVVS 2024 Ford Expedition Max

The Cadillac Escalade ESV 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 Expedition Max doesn’t offer knee airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade ESV (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 Expedition Max doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade ESV and the Expedition Max 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 Ford Expedition Max:

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	165
Neck Injury Risk	23%	32%
Neck Stress	312 lbs.	361 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	147 lbs.

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 Ford Expedition Max:

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	118 lbs.	180 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	27 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	434 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s

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

The Escalade ESV comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Expedition Max’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade ESV 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Expedition Max. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Expedition Max ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade ESV second among large premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Expedition Max 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 Ford With 43 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Ford.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 6 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Escalade ESV’s 6.2 V8 produces 40 more horsepower (420 vs. 380) than the Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6. The Escalade ESV’s 6.2 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) than the Expedition Max Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade ESV is faster than the Expedition Max Limited/KR/Platinum:

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.5 sec	11.8 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.2 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.2 MPH	88.2 MPH

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade ESV’s fuel efficiency. The Expedition Max 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 Expedition Max. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.2 inches

The Escalade ESV stops much shorter than the Expedition Max:

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	192 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

The Escalade ESV’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 Expedition Max’s standard 65 series tires. The Escalade ESV’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Expedition Max’s optional 45 series tires.

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

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 Expedition Max doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

The Escalade ESV has .3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more third row headroom and .7 inches more third row legroom than the Expedition Max.

The Escalade ESV’s cargo area provides more volume than the Expedition Max.

	Escalade ESV	Expedition Max
Behind Third Seat	41.5 cubic feet	34.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	94.1 cubic feet	73.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	142.2 cubic feet	121.5 cubic feet

The Escalade ESV’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition Max’s (7300 vs. 6000 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 48% lower rating, Ford is ranked 26th.

The Escalade ESV’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 Expedition Max.

The Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and infotainment readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escalade ESV’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 Expedition Max’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 ESV 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 Expedition Max can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Escalade ESV’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. Push Button Start standard on the Expedition Max only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Escalade ESV’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 Expedition Max’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

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 Expedition Max’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Cadillac Escalade ESV has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Expedition Max.

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

The Escalade ESV 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 Expedition Max.

Both the Escalade ESV and the Expedition Max offer available massaging front seats. The Escalade ESV 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 Expedition Max.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac Escalade ESV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Expedition Max. The Escalade ESV also offers Qi charging for two devices in the second row seat. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

The Escalade ESV’s Adaptive Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Expedition Max (except XLT)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade ESV second among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Expedition Max isn’t in the top three in its category.