2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade continued to embody the essence of old-school Cadillac luxury, having evolved significantly since its debut in 1999. The updated design for the 2025 model year further distinguished it from its platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The most notable exterior change was the new front end, which brought the gasoline Escalade stylistically closer to Cadillac's electric vehicles, featuring large vertical headlights and smaller horizontal daytime running lights. The rear maintained its tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The introduction of 24-inch wheels for the first time added to the vehicle's imposing presence. Inside, Cadillac enhanced the Escalade's high-tech appeal by replacing the 38-inch OLED curved display with a 55-inch display spanning the entire dashboard. The interior offered a range of luxurious materials and curated motifs, making it hard to believe the Escalade shared a platform with other GM full-size SUVs.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while still unmistakably a minivan, attempted to inject some style into its box-on-wheels design. The trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines gave it a distinctive look, though the hand-vacuum metaphor persisted. The Platinum trim level introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, adding a touch of elegance. Despite its efforts, the Sienna remained a practical choice for those seeking seating for up to eight. Our test vehicle, the top-of-the-line Platinum model, featured the new Magnetic Gray paint color and came loaded with various accessories, bringing the MSRP to $58,634. Inside, Toyota updated the Sienna's interior with a new woodgrain finish, though opinions on its aesthetics varied. Overall, the Sienna's interior was an improvement over previous iterations, offering practicality and comfort for families.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered a robust performance lineup, with the naturally-aspirated gasoline 6.2-liter V8 engine as the sole option after dropping the Duramax turbodiesel inline-six. The V8 delivered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, though it fell short of the Lincoln Navigator's twin-turbo V6. The Escalade-V, however, boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing an impressive 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All Escalade models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth and efficient power delivery. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive optional on most models, while the Escalade-V had a performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system. The Escalade's Magnetic Ride Control damping system, combined with optional air suspension, provided a comfortable ride, though it couldn't match the handling prowess of some luxury competitors. The brakes, while adequate, could benefit from the optional Brembo six-piston front calipers for enhanced stopping power.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna relied on a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The system produced a net horsepower rating of 245, which, while modest, was sufficient for city driving and highway cruising. The electric assist motor(s) provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving for the front-wheel-drive model. However, during testing, the Sienna averaged 26.3 mpg. The Sienna's handling was predictable and secure, though not particularly engaging. The ride was smooth and absorbent, offering excellent impact isolation. The Sienna XSE trim added a sport-tuned suspension for a slightly more dynamic driving experience, but overall, the Sienna prioritized comfort over sportiness.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered a spacious interior with both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations. The long-wheelbase Escalade ESV provided additional cargo space and third-row legroom, making it an attractive option for those needing extra room. The standard-length model offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, 72.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, and 121 cubic feet behind the front seats, all best-in-segment figures. ESV models further expanded cargo capacity to 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 94.1 cubic feet behind the second row, and 142.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The Escalade's towing capacity was competitive, with the standard-wheelbase model rated at 8,100 pounds and the ESV at 8,000 pounds. However, it lacked some of the towing features offered by competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna excelled in form and function, offering practical seating and cargo solutions. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, though they could become uncomfortable on long drives. The Platinum trim's second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were a hit with passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's sliding side doors and second-row seats made loading and unloading easy, even in tight spaces. Cargo space was generous, with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third-row seat and 75.2 cubic feet behind the second-row seats. However, the maximum cargo capacity of 101 cubic feet was less than rivals due to the inability to remove the second-row seats. Toyota's research suggested that most minivan owners rarely removed seats, but for those needing maximum load space, the Sienna might not be the best choice.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional truck-like engineering with cutting-edge technology. The new 55-inch door-to-door display integrated a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. Climate controls were managed via a tablet-like touchscreen, complemented by a rotary dial. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available, along with an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package added luxury features for rear passengers, including 12.6-inch screens, wireless device chargers, and massage seats.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna offered a comprehensive technology suite, with higher-spec models featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The Platinum trim included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system provided access to various connected services plans, with a digital assistant that responded accurately to commands. The Sienna Platinum's infotainment system paired with a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, though sound quality could be improved. The four-zone climate control system was appreciated, and the digital rearview camera offered zoom capabilities for enhanced visibility.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations, and the Super Cruise hands-free driving system allowed for hands-free driving on mapped roads. However, the handoff to manual control could be abrupt. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The TSS 2.0 system performed well, though the lane-centering assist could waver in some situations. The Sienna added a new rear-seat reminder system for 2025, alerting drivers to movement within the cabin. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it scored lower in frontal crash tests.