2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received styling updates that mirrored those of its three-row sibling, the Atlas. These updates included new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This feature was first seen on the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport featured a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, part of the new standard LED headlights, which contributed to a more Americanized look. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed specifically for the U.S. market. The rear of the vehicle showcased reshaped taillights that blended into a rear light bar, housing the second illuminated VW logo. The Cross Sport's lower roofline gave it a silhouette akin to the "crossover coupes" of German luxury brands, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers. It was also 5.2 inches shorter and sat lower than the standard Atlas.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, meanwhile, continued to embody old-school Cadillac luxury with its updated design. The most significant exterior change was a new front end that brought the gasoline Escalade closer in style to the Escalade IQ and other Cadillac EVs. The headlights were now large vertical bars, with smaller horizontal daytime running lights just below the hood shut line. At the rear, the Escalade retained its tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. For 2025, 24-inch wheels were available for the first time, complementing the vehicle's massive appearance. Cadillac offered both standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase Escalade ESV body styles, with various trim levels, including the performance-oriented Escalade-V. The interior featured a screen-centric design with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED curved display. The Escalade's interior motifs included Renaissance Red leather with open-pore wood trim and Jet Black leather with carbon fiber trim for the Escalade-V.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). This marked the end of the VR6 engine era for VW, as the new turbo-four engine delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel. While this was slightly less horsepower than the VR6, it offered more torque, with peak torque arriving earlier at 1,550 rpm compared to the VR6's 3,600 rpm. Volkswagen expected the 2024 Cross Sport to be quicker from zero to 60 mph than the 2023 model with the VR6. The Cross Sport's maximum towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated at 2,000 pounds.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel inline-six engine option, leaving only the naturally-aspirated gasoline 6.2-liter V8 engine. This V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, while the Escalade-V featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All Escalade models came with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balance of low ratios for acceleration and high ratios for efficient highway cruising. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard, with four-wheel drive (4WD) optional on most models. The Escalade-V had a model-specific all-wheel drive (AWD) system designed for performance driving. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on all but the base Luxury grade, offering adaptive damping for improved ride quality. The Escalade's V8 power allowed for quick acceleration, but the brakes lacked confidence, with Brembo six-piston front calipers available as part of a performance upgrade package.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport added more standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were now ventilated as well as heated. The SE with Technology trim included a standard power liftgate and tow hitch, while heated second-row seats and leather upholstery were standard on the SEL trim. The Cross Sport's roofline affected rear-seat headroom, making it feel more cramped compared to other vehicles of its size. However, legroom was competitive, and the Cross Sport offered 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 77.6 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, available in both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, offered ample interior space. The long-wheelbase Escalade ESV provided additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade had the most first-row headroom in its class, although second-row headroom was slightly less than competitors like the BMW X7 and Range Rover. The standard-length model offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 121 cubic feet with the front seats folded. ESV models further increased cargo space to 142.8 cubic feet. The Escalade's maximum towing capacity was 8,100 pounds for the standard-wheelbase model and 8,000 pounds for ESV models.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging as standard. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but the haptic touchpads for controls lacked physical feedback. The Cross Sport included four USB-C ports, with the option for up to six, and a USB-C dash cam port on higher trims. The SEL trim had a head-up display as standard, and the premium audio system was upgraded to a Harman Kardon 12-speaker system.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional engineering with a high-tech interface, featuring a 55-inch door-to-door display that incorporated 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, and a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package included 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless device chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn't released ratings for the 2024 model, but the 2023 model earned top "Good" scores in most crash tests. The IQ.Drive package of driver aids was standard on all models, including features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations, and the Escalade featured Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system. Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on mapped roads, although the handoff to manual control could be abrupt. Current crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication.