2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade showcased a design evolution influenced by the Escala concept, particularly evident in its front fascia. However, from the side and rear, it retained familiar styling elements, such as crisp creases and tall OLED taillights. The Escalade sat on standard 22-inch wheels for the first time, offering a commanding presence. Pricing started at just over $90,000 Canadian for the base Luxury trim, with higher trims like Premium Luxury and Sport priced at $99,898. The Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims offered maximum luxury at $118,398. Our test vehicle, a Premium Luxury trim with 4WD, featured Shadow Metallic paint, a 36-speaker AKG sound system, and other premium features, bringing the total to $119,988 Canadian.

Inside, the Escalade's cabin was a step above its platform mates, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Denali. While the Luxury trim offered black leatherette, other trims provided standard leather with various patterns. Platinum models boasted semi-aniline leather and a simulated suede headliner. Our test vehicle featured Parchment leather with Tamo Ash wood, though the light-coloured carpets showed wear quickly. Despite the high price, some plastic elements in the interior were hard to overlook, though Cadillac attempted to mitigate this with coatings to reduce gloss and hollowness.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained its decade-old body shell, with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights introduced in previous years. The 2021 model didn't see any styling changes, but it came with standard silver 18-inch wheels and optional 19-inch wheels in the Executive package. Despite its age, the GX's design remained coherent, with a massive grille and a tough, aggressive look that appealed to SUV shoppers.

Inside, the GX's interior showed its age with an upright dashboard and high centre console, limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position contributed to a bus-like driving feel. While the wood-trimmed heated steering wheel was standard, the heating elements didn't cover the entire wheel. Visibility was excellent due to the dashboard shape and boxy profile, though forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small centre-console bins and cupholders. The GX offered three rows of seating for seven, but the third row was best for children, and accessing it was challenging. Cargo space was limited, with only 1,833 litres available with the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade offered a choice between a standard 6.2-litre V8 engine and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine. The V8, producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, was the popular choice for its sound and performance. It featured direct fuel injection, an automatic stop/start system, and Dynamic Fuel Management technology for improved fuel efficiency. The V8 delivered power through a 10-speed automatic transmission, achieving 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The turbo-diesel engine, with 277 horsepower and the same torque as the V8, offered a combined average of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres.

The Escalade's ride and handling improved with a new independent rear suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive dampers, and 4-Corner Air Ride suspension. These features minimized unwanted ride motions, providing a smoother experience. The Escalade excelled on winding roads and city streets, though the brake pedal could have offered better modulation. On highways, the Escalade was quiet and comfortable, with the V8 operating efficiently. The upcoming Super Cruise feature promised hands-free driving on limited-access highways.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-litre V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's 2,349-kilogram weight affected its performance, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. Stopping the SUV also required advanced planning, and the ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with low grip and body roll in corners.

While the GX's on-road performance was lacking, it excelled off-road. It featured a Torsen centre differential, a standard 4WD system with a low range, and off-road features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select. The GX offered 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and respectable approach, departure, and break-over angles. It had a maximum towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms, with stability control including trailer-sway control.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's interior benefited from a new independent rear suspension, allowing for a lower floor and increased interior volume. Front-seat occupants enjoyed standard heated seats, with ventilated and massaging seats available in higher trims. The second-row captain's chairs were heated and offered improved leg support. The third-row seat was more spacious, accommodating adults comfortably. Cargo capacity was impressive, with 722 litres behind the third row, 2,064 litres with the third row folded, and 3,426 litres with both rear rows folded. The extended-length Escalade ESV offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior showed its age with limited legroom and an awkward driving position. Visibility was excellent, but storage space was limited. The GX offered three rows of seating, but the third row was best for children, and accessing it was challenging. Cargo space was limited, with only 1,833 litres available with the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved OLED display for instrumentation and infotainment, offering greater pixel density than a 4K TV. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though some user experience improvements were needed. The Escalade's voice recognition technology had limitations, and physical controls were often preferable. The AR navigation system was impressive, and the AKG sound system offered excellent audio quality.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. However, analog controls were easy to use, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and a Safety Alert Seat. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The optional Driver Assist Tech Package included advanced features like adaptive cruise control. The Escalade's size provided inherent safety, but there were occasional false alarms with the safety systems.

The 2021 Lexus GX came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, but the GX lacked some safety features found in other Lexus models.