Compare the2026 Cadillac VistiqVS 2026 Ford Explorer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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Both the Vistiq and Explorer have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Vistiq 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 Explorer’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 Cadillac Vistiq has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Explorer doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Vistiq 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 Explorer doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Vistiq. But it costs extra on the Explorer.

A passive infrared night vision system standard on the Vistiq Premium Luxury/Platinum 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 Explorer doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Cadillac Vistiq’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Ford Explorer does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Vistiq and the Explorer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Cadillac Vistiq weighs 928 to 2014 pounds more than the Ford Explorer. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

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

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

The Vistiq’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Explorer’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

Engine

The Vistiq’s electric motors produces 315 more horsepower (615 vs. 300) and 340 lbs.-ft. more torque (650 vs. 310) than the Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder. The Vistiq’s electric motors produces 215 more horsepower (615 vs. 400) and 235 lbs.-ft. more torque (650 vs. 415) than the Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac Vistiq is faster than the Ford Explorer:

	Vistiq	Explorer turbo 4 cyl.	Explorer turbo V6
Zero to 60 MPH	3.6 sec	6.2 sec	5.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.1 sec	17.8 sec	13.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.8 sec	7.2 sec	5.9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	1.8 sec	4 sec	3.2 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	2.3 sec	4.7 sec	3.8 sec
Quarter Mile	12.1 sec	14.9 sec	13.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	114 MPH	93 MPH	101 MPH
Top Speed	132 MPH	125 MPH	146 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Vistiq gets better mileage than the Explorer:

			MPGe
Vistiq
	AWD	Electric Motors	93 city/78 hwy
Explorer
			MPG
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
		Tremor 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/23 hwy

The Vistiq can travel with zero emissions for 300 miles. The Explorer can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Vistiq’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Explorer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac Vistiq higher (10 out of 10) than the Ford Explorer (5 to 6). This means the Vistiq produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Explorer every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Vistiq Platinum’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Explorer:

	Vistiq Platinum	Explorer	Explorer ST
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.6 inches	14.3 inches

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

The Vistiq stops shorter than the Explorer:

	Vistiq	Explorer
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Vistiq has larger standard tires than the Explorer (285/45R21 vs. 255/65R18). The Vistiq’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Explorer (305/35R23 vs. 275/45R21).

The Vistiq’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Explorer’s standard 65 series tires. The Vistiq’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Explorer’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Vistiq has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Explorer. The Vistiq’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Explorer.

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

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires standard on the Vistiq can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. Self-sealing tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the Explorer.

Suspension and Handling

The Vistiq has a standard 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 Explorer’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Vistiq has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Explorer doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Vistiq’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Explorer (121.8 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

The Vistiq Sport handles at .78 G’s, while the Explorer 4WD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Vistiq Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Explorer 4WD (26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Vistiq has .2 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more third row headroom and .2 inches more third row hip room than the Explorer.

Cargo Capacity

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

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

Servicing Ease

The Vistiq uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Explorer uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Explorer (except Active), the Vistiq has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Vistiq’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 Explorer, and is not available on all models.

The Vistiq Premium Luxury/Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Explorer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Vistiq’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 Explorer’s 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 Vistiq the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Explorer can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Vistiq’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 Explorer’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

When the Vistiq 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 Explorer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Cadillac Vistiq 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 Explorer and aren't offered on the Active.

The Vistiq 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 Explorer.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac Vistiq has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console for two separate devices. Wireless charging costs extra on the Explorer and isn’t available on the Explorer Active, and only charges one device.

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