Compare the2025 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Cadillac Escalade has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tahoe doesn’t offer knee airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade (except Luxury) 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 Tahoe doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Escalade’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Tahoe doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Escalade and the Tahoe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The Escalade comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Tahoe’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 Chevrolet covers the Tahoe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Tahoe ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Escalade’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Tahoe runs out after 100,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Escalade has a 800-amp battery. The Tahoe only offers a standard 730-amp battery.

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 65 more horsepower (420 vs. 355) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 383) than the Tahoe’s standard 5.3 V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Chevrolet Tahoe:

The Escalade has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Tahoe. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Escalade stops much shorter than the Tahoe:

For better traction, the Escalade has larger standard tires than the Tahoe (275/50R22 vs. 265/65R18).

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 Tahoe’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Tahoe.

The Escalade has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Escalade flat and controlled during cornering. The Tahoe’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD handles at .67 G’s, while the Tahoe Z71 4x4 pulls only .63 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Escalade (except Luxury) offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Tahoe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tahoe’s (7900 vs. 7700 pounds).

The Escalade’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Tahoe’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Escalade the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Tahoe can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Escalade has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Tahoe doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 costs extra on the Tahoe and aren't offered on the LS.

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the Escalade Platinum offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Tahoe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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 Tahoe.

The Escalade Platinum has standard massaging front and optional massaging second row seats. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Tahoe.

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. Chevrolet charges extra for Homelink® on the Tahoe.

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. Only the Tahoe LT/RST/Z71/Premier/High Country offers wireless charging. The Escalade also offers Qi charging for two devices in the second row seat. The Tahoe doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Escalade with a number “5” insurance rate while the Tahoe is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escalade is less expensive to operate than the Tahoe because typical repairs cost much less on the Escalade than the Tahoe, including $113 less for a water pump, $10 less for a starter, $6 less for fuel injection, $53 less for a fuel pump and $246 less for a timing belt/chain.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its December 2020 issue and they ranked the Cadillac Escalade Sport 4WD higher than the Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4x4.

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