Compare the2025 Volvo EX90VS 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ

The Volvo EX90 (except 6-Passenger) offers an optional built in child booster seat. It’s more crash worthy than an added child seat because of its direct attachment to the seat. Cadillac doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the Escalade IQ. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; EX90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The EX90 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Escalade IQ doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volvo EX90 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Cadillac Escalade IQ has not been tested.

The EX90 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Escalade IQ doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the EX90 and the Escalade IQ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, front seat center airbag, 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Volvo EX90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Escalade IQ has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The EX90’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Escalade IQ’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the EX90 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volvo will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Escalade IQ.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 6 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volvo EX90 (510 HP engine) is faster than the Cadillac Escalade IQ:

For better stopping power the EX90’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Escalade IQ:

The EX90 stops much shorter than the Escalade IQ:

For better traction and acceleration, the EX90 has larger standard rear tires than the Escalade IQ (285/45R20 vs. 275/50R24). The EX90 Ultra’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Escalade IQ (295/45R21 vs. 275/50R24).

The EX90’s standard 285/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escalade IQ’s 50 series tires. The EX90’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Escalade IQ’s optional 50 series tires.

The EX90 Ultra Twin Motor Performance handles at .86 G’s, while the Escalade IQ Sport pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EX90 Ultra Twin Motor Performance executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Escalade IQ Sport (25.9 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EX90’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Escalade IQ’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.8 feet). The EX90’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Escalade IQL’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the EX90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade IQ (8.3 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the EX90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The EX90’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Escalade IQ (8.5 vs. 7.9 inches).

The Volvo EX90 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 2800 to 2900 pounds less than the Cadillac Escalade IQ.

The EX90 is 2 feet, 2 inches shorter than the Escalade IQ, making the EX90 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EX90 is 5.1 inches narrower than the Escalade IQ, making the EX90 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The EX90 is 7.3 inches shorter in height than the Escalade IQ, making the EX90 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The design of the Volvo EX90 amounts to more than styling. The EX90 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Escalade IQ (.321) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the EX90 get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the EX90 Ultra Twin Motor Performance is quieter than the Escalade IQ Sport:

The EX90 has a much larger cargo volume than the Escalade IQ with its rear seat up (67.6 vs. 23.6 cubic feet).

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The EX90 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Escalade IQ doesn’t offer headlight washers.