2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade continued to embody the essence of old-school Cadillac luxury, standing as the largest and most expensive model in the lineup, aside from the Celestiq EV. Its updated design further distinguished it from its platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The most notable exterior change was the new front end, aligning the gasoline Escalade stylistically closer to Cadillac's EVs, with large vertical headlights and horizontal daytime running lights. The rear maintained its tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. For the first time, 24-inch wheels were available, enhancing the vehicle's imposing presence. Inside, Cadillac replaced the 38-inch OLED curved display with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, reinforcing the Escalade's high-tech appeal. The interior offered various trim levels and curated motifs, with the Premium Luxury Platinum model showcasing Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, elevating the Escalade's luxury status.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban, with its long-standing brand equity, remained a staple in the full-size SUV market. Chevrolet managed to update the Suburban's design without alienating its loyal customer base. The profile view stayed largely unchanged, but the new front fascia and rear end added a modern touch, complemented by dramatic lighting signatures. The trim lineup remained consistent, with the LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country trims catering to different preferences. The interior saw significant upgrades, with a more sophisticated lower dash and a new 17.7-inch touchscreen display replacing the outdated 10.2-inch unit. The Suburban's steering wheel and shifter also received modern updates, enhancing the overall driving experience. Despite its size, the Suburban offered a surprisingly light steering feel, and the recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control suspension improved ride quality, especially when paired with the optional air suspension.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel inline-six engine, leaving the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 as the sole engine option, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V, however, boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth and efficient power delivery. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive optional, except for the Escalade-V, which had a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. The Escalade's Magnetic Ride Control damping system, standard on all but the base Luxury trim, provided a comfortable ride, though it couldn't match the handling of some luxury competitors. The optional Brembo six-piston front calipers offered improved braking performance, a worthwhile addition for those seeking enhanced stopping power.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban offered a choice of three engines: a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel engine, now producing 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine, available on multiple trims, provided impressive fuel efficiency and smooth performance. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and the Suburban's steering was surprisingly light for its size. The recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control suspension, standard on higher trims and available on others, improved ride quality, especially when combined with the optional air suspension. The Suburban's towing capacity reached up to 8,300 pounds with the 5.3-liter V8 and Max Trailering Package, while the diesel offered a slightly lower capacity but better fuel economy.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, with the latter providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The standard model boasted 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 121 cubic feet with all seats folded. The ESV model further increased cargo capacity to 142.8 cubic feet. The Escalade's towing capacity reached 8,100 pounds for the standard model and 8,000 pounds for the ESV. While the Escalade excelled in cargo space, it didn't offer the same towing features as some competitors.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in interior space, offering 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 144.7 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Suburban's towing capacity reached 8,300 pounds with the 5.3-liter V8 and Max Trailering Package, while the diesel offered slightly less but better fuel economy. The Suburban's spacious interior and impressive towing capabilities made it an ideal choice for families with multiple children or those with hobbies requiring a trailer.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured a new 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless device chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban introduced a 17.7-inch touchscreen for its infotainment system, complemented by an 11-inch driver information display and an available 15-inch head-up display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-in for seamless integration of Google services. While the new tech improved the Suburban's user experience, some aspects, like the driver information display customization, were less intuitive. The top-range Bose stereo left room for improvement compared to competitors.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, and more. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system was available, offering improved performance over previous iterations. However, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban included a comprehensive list of advanced driver assistance systems, such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera. GM's Super Cruise was available on higher trims, though not immediately at launch. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the 2025 model, but the 2024 Suburban received four out of five stars in overall crash safety from the NHTSA.