2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims like LE, XLE, and XSE, presented a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias. Despite the absence of "swagger wagon" commercials, its vibe persisted. The Sienna offered stylish colors such as deep blue, red, and green, with LED lighting standard across all trims. The XSE trim featured a sporty appearance with a black metallic mesh front grille and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, designed for off-road readiness, included roof rails, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance. Inside, the Sienna provided cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight, with options for leather-trimmed heated and cooled seats in higher trims.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, a symbol of Cadillac luxury, showcased a new front end aligning it with Cadillac EVs. It featured large vertical headlights and tall vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. The Escalade offered 24-inch wheels for the first time, enhancing its imposing presence. Available in standard and long-wheelbase versions, it came in trims like Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. Inside, Cadillac focused on a screen-centric design, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED display with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. The interior boasted real leather upholstery, with options for semi-aniline leather and curated motifs, providing a luxurious feel.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While it offered a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode, the Sienna's performance felt sluggish, especially with its CVT, which made acceleration smooth but slow. The minivan excelled in town driving, with modes like Normal, Eco, and EV for different conditions. However, its brakes were a bit grabby, and the steering was light and accurate.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped its diesel option, leaving a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Escalade-V featured a supercharged V8 with 682 hp. All models had a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth shifts. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive optional. The Escalade-V had a performance-focused AWD system. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on most trims, but the Escalade's handling couldn't match luxury competitors. The V8 provided quick acceleration, but the brakes lacked confidence, with an optional Brembo upgrade available.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna offered practical interior features, including a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide 25 inches, providing up to 40 inches of legroom. However, the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible, offering 39 inches of legroom when the second row was moved forward. The Sienna had tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, available in standard and long-wheelbase versions, offered ample space. The ESV model increased cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade provided seating for up to eight, with options for captain’s chairs. It boasted best-in-class first-row headroom and legroom, with competitive cargo space. The standard model offered 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 121 cubic feet with seats folded. The ESV model further increased cargo capacity. The Escalade had a maximum towing capacity of 8,100 pounds, with power liftgate and power-folding seats for convenience.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It included physical buttons for common menus, but the backup camera's quality was lacking. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM radio, and an optional JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter was available. Optional features included a rear-seat entertainment system and a head-up display.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional engineering with advanced technology. It featured a 55-inch display incorporating a digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with easy-to-use icons and haptic feedback. The optional Executive Second Row Package added screens, wireless chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Sienna received four stars from NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, and automatic emergency braking. It featured a vibrating Safety Alert Seat and Super Cruise for hands-free driving. While crash-test ratings weren't available, the Escalade offered comprehensive safety features, including teen-driver monitoring.