Compare the2025 Cadillac Escalade-VVS 2024 Audi SQ8

Safety
Warranty
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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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Escalade-V are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Cadillac Escalade-V 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Escalade-V’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Escalade-V and the SQ8 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, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Cadillac Escalade-V weighs 1147 to 1305 pounds more than the Audi SQ8. 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-V is safer than the Audi SQ8:

	Escalade-V	SQ8
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	146	296
Neck Injury Risk	23%	30%

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-V is safer than the Audi SQ8:

	Escalade-V	SQ8
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	60
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	128 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	260 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	141
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	684 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	239	282
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	49 G’s

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

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the SQ8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the SQ8 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 85 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escalade-V’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escalade-V 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 SQ8 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 start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Escalade-V has a standard 800-amp battery. The SQ8’s 380-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Audi vehicles. With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Audi.

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 Audi With 79 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 3 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The Escalade-V’s 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 182 more horsepower (682 vs. 500) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (653 vs. 568) than the SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade-V’s fuel efficiency. The SQ8 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escalade-V’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ8 (24 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escalade-V ESV’s standard fuel tank has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ8 (28.3 vs. 22.5 gallons).

The Escalade-V 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac Escalade-V, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the SQ8.

The Escalade-V’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The SQ8 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escalade-V’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the SQ8:

	Escalade-V	SQ8
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	15.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade-V has standard 24-inch wheels. Smaller 22-inch wheels are standard on the SQ8. The SQ8’s largest wheels are only 23-inches.

The Cadillac Escalade-V’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi SQ8 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Escalade-V 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Escalade-V has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the SQ8; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade-V’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the SQ8 (120.9 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade-V is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the SQ8.

For better maneuverability, the Escalade-V’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the SQ8’s (40.6 feet vs. 43.6 feet). The Escalade-V ESV’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the SQ8’s (43.4 feet vs. 43.6 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Escalade-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The SQ8 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escalade-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The SQ8 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Escalade-V ESV offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the SQ8 can only carry 5. The Escalade-V has standard seating for 7.

Cargo Capacity

The Escalade-V’s cargo area provides more volume than the SQ8.

	Escalade-V	SQ8
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	30.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121 cubic feet	60.7 cubic feet

The Escalade-V ESV’s cargo area provides more volume than the SQ8.

	Escalade-V	SQ8
Third Seat Folded	94.1 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	30.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	142.2 cubic feet	60.7 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Escalade-V’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The SQ8 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escalade-V uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The SQ8 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 29% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

The Escalade-V’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 SQ8 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade-V’s 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer a power rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escalade-V has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the SQ8 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The SQ8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Escalade-V’s standard 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-V 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Escalade-V has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats cost extra on the SQ8. The Escalade-V 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 SQ8.

Both the Cadillac Escalade-V and the Audi SQ8 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-V also offers an optional wireless charging system with chargers for two devices.

The Escalade-V 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 SQ8 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escalade-V will cost $4760 to $5440 less than the SQ8 over a five-year period.

Recommendations

The Cadillac Escalade outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by over three to one during 2023.