Compare the2026 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Cadillac Escalade’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Both the Escalade and Grand Cherokee L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Escalade has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Escalade and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, available all wheel drive and night vision systems.

The Cadillac Escalade weighs 792 to 1543 pounds more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. 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 is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

	Escalade	Grand Cherokee L
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	84 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	152/161 lbs.	482/259 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 is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

	Escalade	Grand Cherokee L
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	89
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	147 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	92
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	34 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	375 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	239	376

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

Warranty

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

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

The Escalade’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Grand Cherokee L’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Escalade 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 Grand Cherokee L 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 power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Escalade has a 220-amp alternator. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard 160-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Escalade’s reliability 11 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

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 Jeep 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, Jeep is rated below average.

Engine

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 96 more horsepower (420 vs. 324) and 128 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 332) than the Grand Cherokee L’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Escalade has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (24 vs. 23 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escalade’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Grand Cherokee L:

	Escalade	Grand Cherokee L
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.9 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escalade has larger standard tires than the Grand Cherokee L (275/50R22 vs. 265/60R18). The Escalade’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Cherokee L (285/40R24 vs. 275/45R21).

The Escalade’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 Grand Cherokee L’s standard 60 series tires. The Escalade’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee L. The Escalade’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Grand Cherokee L Summit.

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

The Escalade has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade is 3 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

Passenger Space

The Escalade offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee L can only carry up to 7.

The Escalade has 9.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee L (168.4 vs. 159.1).

The Escalade has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, 4.3 inches more front hip room, 6.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 4.7 inches more rear hip room, 6.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 4.6 inches more third row legroom, 6.5 inches more third row hip room and 10.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

Cargo Capacity

The Escalade’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee L.

	Escalade	Grand Cherokee L
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	46.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	120.5 cubic feet	84.6 cubic feet

Payload and Towing

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee L’s (7900 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Escalade has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1570 vs. 1370 lbs.).

The Escalade has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1580 vs. 1400 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Escalade’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 Grand Cherokee L’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Escalade 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 Grand Cherokee L can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Escalade’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. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Escalade’s available 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 Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a power rear door.

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

The Grand Cherokee L’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Escalade’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 Cadillac Escalade 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 are only offered on the Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit.

The Escalade 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 Grand Cherokee L.

Both the Escalade and the Grand Cherokee L offer available massaging front seats. The Escalade 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 Grand Cherokee L.

The Cadillac Escalade has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the overhead console. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Grand Cherokee L Limited/Overland/Summit.

Compared to traditional radio, the Cadillac Escalade’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

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

The Escalade’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

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

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