2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Cadillac Escalade

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a range from about $43,000 for a base GT with a V6 engine and RWD to nearly $100,000 for the SRT Hellcat with a supercharged V8 engine and AWD. The SRT Hellcat Premium with the Silver Bullet special edition package, featuring Triple Nickel paint, had an MSRP of $115,315. This edition added a satin black hood, unique wheels, dark badges, and black exhaust tips, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued look with dark red premium Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner, though some plastic surfaces detracted from its luxury feel.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, the largest and most expensive Cadillac, continued to embody luxury with its updated design. The new front end brought it closer stylistically to Cadillac EVs, featuring large vertical headlights and 24-inch wheels. Available in standard and long-wheelbase versions, the Escalade offered various trims, including the performance-focused Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac replaced the 38-inch OLED display with a 55-inch screen spanning the dashboard. The interior featured high-quality materials, with options like Renaissance Red leather and open-pore wood trim, providing a luxurious experience.

The 2025 Dodge Durango streamlined its powertrain offerings, with the GT featuring a 295-hp 3.6-liter V6, the R/T a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, and the SRT Hellcat a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. The SRT Hellcat boasted 645 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph and a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango SRT Hellcat had poor fuel economy, rated at 12/17/13 mpg. It featured a full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes, offering a performance akin to a taller Charger.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel, leaving the 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Escalade-V's supercharged V8 produced 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models had a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD optional. The Escalade-V featured a performance 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 Brembo calipers available as an upgrade.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a roomy and comfortable interior. The SRT Hellcat Premium featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though they lacked support during spirited driving. The second-row captain’s chairs provided good leg support, and the third row was accessible and spacious. Cargo space was generous, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The power liftgate was conveniently placed for easy access.

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 standard model provided 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 121 cubic feet with seats folded. ESV models offered even more space. The Escalade's towing capacity was 8,100 pounds, slightly less than some competitors. The interior featured power-folding seats and a power liftgate, enhancing functionality.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and offered SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The voice recognition system worked well but required specificity.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade introduced a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, incorporating a digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. It featured a 19-speaker AKG audio system, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a user-friendly interface. The optional Executive Second Row Package added screens and controls for rear passengers, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were basic, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. It received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA and a concerning performance in IIHS tests. The adaptive cruise control was functional but reduced speed excessively in curves.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, and a 360-degree camera system. It featured GM's Safety Alert Seat and Super Cruise for hands-free driving. While crash-test ratings were unavailable, the Escalade's safety features were comprehensive and effective.