2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade showcased a design heavily influenced by the Escala concept, particularly evident in its front fascia. However, from the side and rear, it retained a familiar look, featuring 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 the Premium Luxury and Sport priced at $99,898. The Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims, offering maximum luxury, were available for $118,398. The test vehicle, a Premium Luxury trim with 4WD, came equipped with numerous features, including a 36-speaker AKG sound system and a Driver Assist Tech Package, bringing its price to $119,988 Canadian.

Inside, the Escalade's cabin was a step above its predecessors, with various leather options and wood trims available. The Premium Luxury test vehicle featured Parchment leather with Tamo Ash wood, though the light-coloured carpets showed signs of wear early on. Despite the high price tag, some plastic elements in the interior were hard to overlook. Nevertheless, the Escalade's interior was a significant improvement over previous models, offering a luxurious experience that justified its premium price.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling, with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well within the Volvo lineup. It featured "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and a simple oval grille, with gasoline models offering a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, was distinguished by a blanked-off grille, unique badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also had a gloss black roof and mirror caps, with a charging port replacing the fuel filler.

The XC40's interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents blending seamlessly. While the XC40 wasn't the most spacious in its segment, it offered clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the centre console and large door bins. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, but the Recharge's frunk was notably small.

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 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering impressive acceleration. It featured direct fuel injection, an automatic stop/start system, and Dynamic Fuel Management technology for improved efficiency. The test vehicle averaged 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The turbo-diesel option, 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 were significantly improved, thanks to a new independent rear suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive dampers, and 4-Corner Air Ride air suspension. These features provided a smooth and controlled ride, with minimal body motions. The Escalade was remarkably manoeuvrable for its size, though the brake pedal could have offered better modulation. It excelled on freeways, with the V8 operating efficiently and quietly.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, while the T5 offered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featured one electric motor per axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh of usable capacity.

The XC40 Recharge accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.4 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 180 km/h. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It offered one-pedal driving, using regenerative braking for most deceleration, and had a towing capacity of 900 kilograms when properly equipped.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade boasted a larger and more useful cabin, thanks to its new independent rear suspension and longer wheelbase. Front-seat occupants enjoyed standard heated seats, with ventilated and massaging options available in higher trims. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and offered improved leg support, while the third-row seat provided ample space for adults. The Escalade's 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 down. The extended-length Escalade ESV offered even more space, with up to 4,044 litres of cargo volume.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models, but it wasn't particularly spacious. It had less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Recharge's frunk was small, with much of the space occupied by powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated for the lack of space with clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the centre console and large door bins. A wireless charging pad was optional, but second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved OLED display for instrumentation and infotainment, offering greater pixel density than a 4K television. It included a 14.2-inch instrumentation screen with Gauge, AR Camera, and Map displays, though switching between them required navigating through menus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but the voice recognition technology had limitations. The Escalade's AR navigation superimposed directional arrows onto the camera view, and a 19-speaker AKG sound system was standard. The optional 36-speaker AKG Reference system provided sensational audio quality.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge was the first XC40 variant with OTA update capability, allowing for software updates without visiting a dealership. It lacked a start button, with the car starting when the driver shifted out of park. The Polestar 2's Digital Key feature was expected to be available in an OTA update, but Volvo hadn't confirmed it for the XC40.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's safety started with its size, weighing 2,515 kilograms. It came with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. The Safety Alert Seat buzzed the driver when a hazard was detected. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The optional Driver Assist Tech Package included higher-speed forward emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Escalade's technology occasionally issued false alarms, but Cadillac planned to offer its next-generation Super Cruise technology later in the model year.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. The XC40 came with standard safety features like lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. The Recharge model included Volvo's latest sensor suite, allowing for future advanced driver aids. The XC40's safety features were comprehensive, providing peace of mind for drivers.