2023 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade was a commanding presence on the road, towering nearly six-and-a-half feet above the ground and stretching up to 19 feet in length. It was a motorized cargo container with three rows of leather seats and an array of advanced technology. The Escalade ESV variant extended the wheelbase by 15 inches, offering even more space. Despite its massive size, the Escalade managed to look athletic and trim, thanks to design elements like thin LED lights and darkened chrome bits on the Sport Platinum trim. The interior was luxurious in the first row, featuring a 38-inch curved screen and high-quality materials, but the allure faded in the back rows, where cheaper GM parts were evident.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, presented a more compact and stylish appearance. It was considered more premium than its non-European rivals, with standard LED headlights and taillights, and an illuminated grille light line on the SEL R-Line trim. The Tiguan's exterior design was complemented by a fashionable rear end with the model name in all-caps. Inside, the Tiguan offered a mix of practicality and style, though the configurator for color and material combinations could be confusing. The top trim featured real leather, a panoramic sunroof, and advanced climate control, making it a comfortable and well-equipped choice for those seeking a compact SUV with a touch of luxury.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for towing up to 8,200 pounds on the RWD model. However, its acceleration felt heavy, and the 10-speed automatic transmission was not particularly eager. The Escalade-V variant addressed this with a supercharged Corvette V8, delivering 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque, making it more responsive. The optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 provided smoother torque delivery and better fuel economy at 22 mpg combined with 4WD. The Escalade's magnetic dampers and air suspension improved handling, but wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan offered FWD as standard, with AWD available for an additional cost. The AWD system slightly reduced fuel economy, with the base Tiguan S achieving 25 mpg combined. The Tiguan's power delivery was inconsistent, with some lag in acceleration, but it offered good visibility and handling. The ride was comfortable, though the seating surfaces drew some complaints from passengers.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted an exceptionally spacious interior, with 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 73 cubic feet behind the second row, and 121 cubic feet with both rows down. The Escalade ESV offered even more room, with a maximum of 143 cubic feet. The independent rear suspension allowed for generous headroom and legroom in all rows. The controls were user-friendly, and features like a front console refrigerator and power-retractable side steps added convenience. However, the second-row seats were not powered like the third row.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, in its two-row configuration, provided 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, or 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The three-row Tiguan offered less cargo space, but passenger space was hardly affected. The driver and front passenger enjoyed up to 39.6 inches of headroom and 40.2 inches of legroom, while the second row offered 38.7 inches of legroom. The third row, available only in FWD models, was tighter, with 33.8 inches of headroom and 27.9 inches of legroom. Despite the limited space, the Tiguan was one of the few compact crossovers to offer a third row.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured a massive span of OLED screens across the dash, providing sharp and clear displays. The front camera offered a high-resolution feed with navigation overlays, and Super Cruise, a $2,500 option, was the best hands-free highway driving system available. The Escalade also included night vision with pedestrian detection, a 36-speaker AKG audio system, and massaging front seats. The rear-seat entertainment system could stream apps like Hulu, and the LED headlights were exceptionally bright.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came with haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. The infotainment system featured an 8-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the graphics were monochromatic. The Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the SEL R-Line offering a fully configurable 10.25-inch display. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System was a highlight, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a Safety Alert seat, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included reverse emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and Super Cruise.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan received a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and its safety offering improved for 2024 with the standard IQ.DRIVE suite. This included adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Additional features included rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection.