2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a distinct departure from its predecessors, blending a boxy design with upscale aesthetics. This new look was a significant shift from the sleek, futuristic designs of the Ioniq series, emphasizing storage capacity and elegance. The Santa Fe's aerodynamic efficiency and sophisticated color palette, including matte options, contributed to its upscale appearance. The interior offered premium styling, with the XRT and Calligraphy trims showcasing a mix of soft and luxurious materials, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade maintained its status as a symbol of luxury, with a design that further distinguished it from its GM siblings. The updated front end aligned it with Cadillac's EVs, featuring vertical headlights and large wheels that emphasized its size. Inside, the Escalade boasted a screen-centric design with a massive 55-inch display, enhancing its high-tech appeal. The interior offered a range of luxurious materials and curated motifs, providing a refined experience for passengers.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive optional, except for the XRT trim, which had AWD standard. The Santa Fe also introduced a hybrid option with a 1.6-liter engine, producing 231 hp. Fuel economy varied, with the hybrid achieving up to 36 mpg combined. The Santa Fe excelled in off-road conditions, particularly with the XRT trim, which offered enhanced ground clearance and towing capacity.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped its diesel option, focusing on a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V variant offered a supercharged V8 with 682 hp. A 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, and the Escalade offered rear-wheel drive as standard, with four-wheel drive optional. Despite its power, the Escalade's handling was less refined compared to luxury competitors, and its brakes lacked confidence. The Escalade's towing capacity reached 8,100 pounds, meeting segment expectations.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body. It offered 14.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with seats folded. The interior accommodated up to seven passengers, with various upholstery options and features like heated and ventilated seats. The Santa Fe also introduced a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade provided ample space, especially in the long-wheelbase ESV model, which offered increased cargo capacity and third-row legroom. The standard model provided 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 121 cubic feet. The Escalade's towing capacity was competitive, though it lacked some advanced towing features. The interior offered luxurious seating options and extensive storage solutions.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display, offering intuitive controls and crisp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-speaker Bose stereo and Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims included wireless charging and Hyundai Pay for secure transactions. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade showcased a 55-inch display, integrating various controls and infotainment features. It retained wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 19-speaker AKG audio system standard. The Escalade offered advanced features like an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. The Executive Second Row Package added luxury touches like massage seats and additional screens.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system and remote automatic parking. The Santa Fe introduced driver monitoring to enhance safety.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. It featured GM's Super Cruise for hands-free driving, though it required manual control in certain situations. The Escalade's Safety Alert Seat provided tactile feedback for warnings.