2021 Ford Escape vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was an extended version of the standard Escalade, featuring a complete redesign for the model year. It was notably longer, measuring 226.9 inches compared to the Escalade's 211.9 inches, and slightly lower at 76.4 inches. This additional length was primarily at the rear, enhancing cargo space. The wheelbase was also extended to 134.1 inches, improving stability and design proportions, giving it a more balanced appearance. The Escalade ESV boasted a luxurious exterior with chrome styling on certain trims and blacked-out accents on others, all riding on 22-inch wheels. The grille design varied across trim levels, adding to its upscale look. Standard features included LED headlights, roof rails, and power-extending assist steps, while optional packages offered further enhancements.

Inside, the Escalade ESV's interior was less impressive, particularly in lighter color schemes where the use of hard plastics was evident. The dashboard lacked the special touches expected in a vehicle priced near or above $90,000. Despite this, the Escalade ESV remained a posh vehicle with a focus on exterior luxury and a spacious interior, albeit with some shortcomings in material quality.

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, straddled the line between SUV and hatchback with its curved snout and sleek roofline. It offered a less truck-like appearance compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, but its design was more generic than the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. These upgrades included 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery, and leather trim for higher trims.

The interior of the Escape didn't match the cohesive theme of its exterior, with odd design choices like an angular instrument cluster. Interior materials were considered low-rent, even in the top Titanium model, which lacked standard leather upholstery. Despite these drawbacks, the Escape offered a practical and versatile interior with a sliding rear seat for added legroom or cargo space, making it a competitive option in the compact SUV segment.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV offered two engine choices: a 6.2-liter V8 delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six producing 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations. The V8 engine provided sufficient power, though it could have benefited from more low-end torque for passing at higher speeds. The Escalade ESV's weight ranged from 5,785 to 6,182 pounds, depending on the trim level, which could challenge the engine's performance when towing. Fuel economy was not officially rated by the EPA, but the RWD Escalade ESV averaged around 18 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a range of powertrains, including two gasoline engines, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). An optional 2.0-liter turbo-four engine delivered 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, available only with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a total of 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. The Escape's three-cylinder engine was surprisingly adequate, and the hybrid's transition between electric and gasoline power was smooth. However, the chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering. The Escape's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine, though figures for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid were not specified.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was designed as a comfortable and plush people and cargo hauler, offering leatherette seating surfaces as standard and leather upholstery as an option. Standard features included 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated first- and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and tri-zone climate control. Buyers could upgrade to 16-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functionality and a panoramic sunroof. The Escalade ESV provided ample legroom in the first two rows, while the third row was less accommodating for adults. Cargo space was generous, with 126.6 cubic feet behind the first row, 81.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 42.9 cubic feet behind the third row. The power-adjustable third row could be folded using a switch in the cargo area, though it could get stuck on the second-row seat. The hands-free power liftgate worked inconsistently, and the rear window could be opened for additional storage options. An adaptive air suspension made entry and exit easier, and upscale features like a center console cooler were available.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered competitive interior space for a compact SUV, with first-row and second-row headroom and legroom near the top of the segment. The standard sliding rear seat allowed for adjustable legroom or cargo space, with 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly reduced legroom due to the battery pack placement. Cargo space in gasoline models was 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up, increasing to 37.5 cubic feet with the seat slid forward. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space. Folding the rear seat yielded 65.4 cubic feet in gasoline models and 60.8 cubic feet in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. While the Escape offered practical interior space, competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester provided more cargo capacity.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was a technology powerhouse, featuring a standard 19-speaker AKG sound system with an optional upgrade to a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference audio system. Standard tech included wireless charging, NFC phone pairing, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and seven USB ports. The Escalade ESV boasted a curved 38-inch OLED screen, housing three screens for driver information and infotainment. The OLED technology provided deep blacks and crisp graphics, enhancing the cabin's ambiance. Cadillac's Super Cruise, an advanced driving assist system, was available, allowing hands-free driving on certain highways. Super Cruise included lane-keeping, lane-centering, and adaptive cruise control, though it occasionally struggled in certain conditions. The lane-change technology worked well but could be slow in heavy traffic. Despite occasional failures, Super Cruise was a valuable feature for highway driving.

The 2021 Ford Escape used Ford's older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Sync 3 was user-friendly, but the Escape lacked some standard tech features compared to competitors and missed out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with the newer Sync 4 system.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV came standard with front automatic braking, front and rear park assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, safety seat alert, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision assist. Additional safety technologies included adaptive park assist, a head-up display, rear camera mirror, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, side blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, night vision, advanced adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, and automatic seatbelt tightening. The NHTSA gave the Escalade ESV a four-star rating, with a three-star rating in the rollover test, indicating a higher risk of rollover collisions.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The Escape earned high marks for front-crash prevention technology but received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings for headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.