2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Toyota Sequoia

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, featuring design elements like hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The exterior appearance varied significantly with color choices. The Capstone model, with its chrome accents and Celestial Silver paint, appeared somewhat dated, reminiscent of a "cop car." However, a switch to Solar Octane orange and black accents transformed its look to a more playful "Tonka truck" vibe. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, with physical controls for climate and audio. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered a mix of fabric, SofTex, and leather options. All models featured power-adjustable front seats and a standard power moonroof, enhancing comfort and customization.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, as Cadillac's flagship, embodied luxury with its updated design. The new front end aligned it with Cadillac's EVs, featuring vertical headlights and tall taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. Available 24-inch wheels added to its imposing presence. The Escalade offered both standard and extended wheelbase versions, with various trims including the performance-focused Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac distinguished the Escalade from its GM siblings with a screen-centric design, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED display with a 55-inch version spanning the dashboard. The interior featured high-quality materials, with options for leather upholstery and curated motifs, enhancing its luxury appeal.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available as a hybrid, utilizing the iForce MAX powertrain with a twin-turbo V6 and electric motor. This setup delivered 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, surpassing its V8 predecessor. Fuel efficiency improved to 20 mpg combined with 4WD. The TRD Pro model offered 4WD with off-road capabilities, while other trims required an additional cost for 4WD. The Sequoia's 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth operation, and its towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds. The TRD Off-Road package added features like all-terrain tires and Bilstein shocks for enhanced off-road performance.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the diesel option, retaining the 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Escalade-V featured a supercharged V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models had a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth gear shifts. RWD was standard, with 4WD optional, except for the Escalade-V, which had a performance-oriented AWD system. Magnetic Ride Control was standard on most trims, but the Escalade's handling couldn't match luxury rivals. The Escalade's towing capacity reached 8,100 pounds, slightly less than some competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered automatic power-deploying running boards on higher trims, aiding entry. Cargo space maxed out at 86.9 cubic feet with seats folded. The third-row seats, positioned above the battery pack, reduced headroom and legroom, making them less comfortable. Second-row captain’s chairs were available on higher trims, though they lacked bolstering. The Sequoia's interior dimensions lagged behind some rivals, but it offered competitive front-row legroom.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came in standard and extended wheelbase versions, with the ESV offering more cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade provided ample interior space, with best-in-class first-row headroom and legroom. Cargo capacity was impressive, with the standard model offering 121 cubic feet behind the front seats, and the ESV extending this to 142.8 cubic feet. Towing capacity was competitive, though Cadillac lacked some advanced towing features found in rivals.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. A 12.3-inch driver-information display was standard, along with a Panoramic View monitor. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a 14-speaker JBL audio system.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade integrated a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, combining digital instruments and infotainment. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker upgrade available. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with intuitive controls. The Executive Second Row Package added luxury features like massage seats and additional screens, enhancing passenger comfort.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tow Technology Package added aids for trailer maneuvering. While not yet rated by safety organizations, the similar Tundra earned high marks.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered standard driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations. Super Cruise allowed hands-free driving on mapped roads, though it required driver attention. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication.