2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Hyundai Palisade

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its bold design, moving away from rugged off-roader styling to a more angular and technical look after its 2023 refresh. This design choice sparked mixed reactions, but many appreciated its upscale appearance, which seemed like a bargain at its price point. Inside, even the base model offered a modern and upscale feel, with higher trims featuring luxury touches like premium leather and metal speaker grilles. However, some control markings were difficult to read in daylight. The Palisade was packed with thoughtful details, such as USB ports in the front seatbacks and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade embraced its role as a symbol of Cadillac luxury, with a design update that aligned it more closely with Cadillac's EV lineup. The new front end featured large vertical headlights, and 24-inch wheels were available for the first time. Inside, Cadillac worked to differentiate the Escalade from its GM siblings with a screen-centric interior, now boasting a 55-inch display across the dashboard. The Escalade offered a range of curated interior motifs and luxurious materials, making it hard to believe it shared a platform with other GM SUVs.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and averaged 22 mpg in combined driving. Despite its age, the Palisade's driving dynamics remained impressive, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer feel on highways. The powertrain was smooth and refined, though not particularly fuel-efficient, recording 16.9 mpg in city driving during tests.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped its diesel option, leaving a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V variant boasted a supercharged V8 with 682 hp. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth shifts and efficient cruising. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with optional four-wheel drive. The Escalade's ride quality was impressive for a body-on-frame vehicle, but it lacked the handling polish of some luxury competitors. The brakes were adequate, but the optional Brembo package was recommended for better performance.

The Hyundai Palisade offered three rows of seating, with our test model featuring a seven-passenger setup. The interior was comfortable, with premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated second-row captain's chairs. The third row was also heated, a rarity in this segment. Cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 86.4 cubic feet with seats folded. The Smart Liftgate added convenience, though it could open unintentionally.

The Cadillac Escalade came in standard and long-wheelbase versions, with the ESV offering more cargo space and third-row legroom. It provided ample interior space, with best-in-class first-row headroom and legroom. Cargo capacity was impressive, with up to 121 cubic feet in the standard model and 142.8 cubic feet in the ESV. The Escalade's towing capacity was 8,100 pounds, slightly less than some competitors. Power liftgate and folding seats made reconfiguring the interior easy.

The Hyundai Palisade's technology felt slightly dated compared to newer models, with separate digital instrumentation and infotainment screens. It featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though smartphone connectivity required a cable. The system included Bluetooth, wireless charging, and a Harman Kardon audio system. Voice recognition performed well, and the Palisade offered a head-up display and surround-view camera.

The Cadillac Escalade's tech was cutting-edge, with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. It included a 19-speaker AKG audio system, with a 36-speaker option available. The Escalade retained wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and featured a rotary dial for controls. The optional Executive Second Row Package added screens and controls for rear passengers. The Escalade's tech was user-friendly, though voice recognition lagged behind some competitors.

The Hyundai Palisade came equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, offering features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Highway Driving Assist. The SEL trim added rear occupant alert and parking sensors, while the Calligraphy model featured Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick from IIHS through 2024, but a Poor rating in a new test affected its 2025 accolade. NHTSA ratings included five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance.

The Cadillac Escalade included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations. Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system, was available and improved over previous versions. Current crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication.