Compare the2026 Cadillac Escalade IQVS 2026 BMW iX

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac Escalade IQ are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW iX doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Escalade IQ 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 iX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system standard on the Escalade IQ Premium 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 iX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Cadillac Escalade IQ’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system is only offered on some models of the BMW iX.

Both the Escalade IQ and the iX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Cadillac Escalade IQ weighs 3271 to 3553 pounds more than the BMW iX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

There are over 62 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escalade IQ’s warranty.

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 BMW 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, BMW is rated lower.

The Escalade IQ’s electric motors produces 348 more horsepower (750 vs. 402) and 269 lbs.-ft. more torque (785 vs. 516) than the iX xDrive45’s standard electric motors. The Escalade IQ’s electric motors produces 214 more horsepower (750 vs. 536) and 221 lbs.-ft. more torque (785 vs. 564) than the iX xDrive60’s standard electric motors. The Escalade IQ’s electric motors produces 100 more horsepower (750 vs. 650) than the iX M70’s standard electric motors.

The Escalade IQ can travel longer on a full charge than the iX on a full charge:

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

For better traction, the Escalade IQ has larger tires than the iX (275/50R24 vs. 235/60R20).

The Escalade IQ’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the iX xDrive45/60’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade IQ has standard 24-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the iX xDrive45/60. The iX’s largest wheels are only 23-inches.

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

The Escalade IQ 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 iX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The front and rear suspension of the Escalade IQ uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the iX, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade IQ’s wheelbase is 18.1 inches longer than on the iX (136.2 inches vs. 118.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade IQ is 3 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the iX.

For better maneuverability, the Escalade IQ’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the iX’s (39.3 feet vs. 42 feet). The Escalade IQL’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the iX’s (39.9 feet vs. 42 feet).

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

The Escalade IQ has standard seating for 7 passengers; the iX can only carry 5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Escalade IQ’s middle row seats recline. The iX’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

The Escalade IQ’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the iX’s (7500 vs. 3500 pounds).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the iX, the Escalade IQ Premium has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Escalade IQ Premium’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 iX doesn’t offer a power rear door.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Escalade IQ to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The iX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Escalade IQ 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 iX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Escalade IQ and the iX offer available massaging front seats. The Escalade IQ 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 iX.

The Cadillac Escalade IQ stands out above the BMW iX by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers in the front seat. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility. The Escalade IQ Premium also offers an optional two-device Qi charging system for the second row seat and the iX doesn’t.

The Escalade IQ 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 iX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Cadillac Escalade outsold the BMW iX by almost three to one during 2024.