 | Home > General & Technical (L663) > Comparison: The Cadillac Escalade and Land Rover Defender |
 
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018   
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 Click image to enlarge "The Cadillac Escalade and Land Rover Defender are two of the biggest luxury SUV icons on the scene today. Although they come from different origins, both exist in 2021 as two of the freshest and most modern SUV choices on the scene, and two compelling ways for shoppers to access an SUV driving experience with plenty of technological and engineering pedigree built right in. The Defender and Escalade are vastly different in many ways, but very similar in others. Below, we’ll talk specifically about the strengths, weaknesses, and key differences between these machines, and how you can use that information to make a better purchase decision for your needs. Both of these SUVs are offered in various wheelbase and powertrain configurations to suit a range of shoppers. The comments and observations below come from approximately 3,000 kilometers of testing, evenly split between a Land Rover Defender 110 (roughly $90,000 as-tested) and a fully decked-out Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, with an as-tested ask of about $120,000. Let’s start by comparing the key strengths of these machines by identifying the specific situations where each makes its driver feel the most comfortable. The Escalade does its best work as a long-distance highway cruiser; the specialized suspension and advanced sound-deadening measures ensure a creamy-smooth, uneventful, and whisper-quiet ride. Even beyond the speed limit, there’s literally no need to raise your voice for a phone call, or a conversation with a nearby passenger. Advanced displays, including a wide-screen instrument cluster with home theatre-grade graphics, help keep drivers up to date and connected. Wireless Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay) plus wireless charging and a ventilated slot gives you full connectivity and recharging on the move, with no wires or an overheating phone. And although that 6.2-litre V8 with 420 horsepower is rarely heard or felt during gentle driving, it does give this enormous machine some pleasing hustle when you get it working, with both output, sound effects, and forward thrust unmatched by the turbocharged, mild hybrid straight-six engine in the Defender. The list goes on, but when it comes to creating a fantastic long-distance driving environment, few vehicles on the road do it as well as the Escalade. It’s one of the best highway touring machines I’ve ever driven. In similar highway conditions, the Defender’s cabin is much louder and the powertrain doesn’t feel as responsive. However, road feel is surprisingly good and it feels more planted and stable at speed than its looks lead on. It’s a comfortable highway ride in all, even if higher cruising speeds rapidly increase wind noise levels. Thing is, the Defender excels in one specific setting that actually reveals the Escalade’s biggest weakness: ride quality on rough surfaces. The real strength of the 2021 Land Rover Defender is its ride quality on rough surfaces. Click image to enlarge The Escalade’s highway ride set my expectations high for ride comfort on the sort of poorly-maintained secondary and backroads common in my neck of the woods in northern Ontario. The Cadillac’s enormous wheels and thin tires are partly to blame, but on roads like this, ride comfort can fall further than some drivers will like. Not in the Defender. Its overbuilt off-road suspension is tough, rugged, and enhanced with some advanced tech to help further optimize the ride. The result, on very rough surfaces, is the opposite of the Cadillac: peace and quiet from the suspension beneath, no wincing, and an enhanced sense of durability. Drivers set on exploring their surroundings via smooth highways with maximum comfort as their top priority can consider the Escalade their best bet here. But those planning to get out and explore via the road less travelled will be more comfortable in the Defender, which supports its asking price with an array of specialized off-road equipment including customizable off-road drive modes, locking differentials, and no shortage of accessories and add-ons designed to help owners confidently get out and explore. It’s a rolling collection of some of the most advanced off-road tech, used to create one of the most capable off-roaders on the scene. Advanced displays, including a wide-screen instrument cluster with home theatre-grade graphics, help keep 2021 Cadillac Escalade drivers up to date and connected. Click image to enlarge Conversely, the Escalade’s specialized equipment is deployed towards giving owners a futuristic driving experience. The screen comprising most of the forward dash has the most beautiful display graphics I’ve ever seen in a vehicle, and the augmented-reality camera is a sci-fi touch that superimposes important navigational data over a real-time video feed of the road ahead, right in your instrument cluster. My tester also included a 34-speaker AKG Studio sound system, and one of the most powerful lighting systems I’ve ever used. I concluded my time with the Escalade most impressed by its highway drive, beautifully finished cabin, and the completely smug sense of satisfaction you get driving it in a blizzard with some good tires as you relax in total comfort while all winter driving hell breaks loose outside. The ride, the graphics, and the camera system, complete with its augmented reality function that never gets old, are all what blew me away the most about this machine. But for the money and despite a basically perfect highway ride, I wished it was more comfortable over the potholes and frost heaves. The Defender’s cabin uses colour and texture for added richness, and the control console is an off-road toolkit right at your fingertips. Click image to enlarge I concluded my time with the Defender most impressed by its suspension. Even over rock-strewn moguls, body motions are admirably managed, the suspension remains quiet under fire, and you feel like you’re driving something sturdy and solid and built to take a licking with no second thought. The Defender’s interior left an impression, too: the Escalade may be the way to go if you’re a graphics aficionado, but I loved the way Defender blended upscale with rugged, the way the cabin uses colour and texture for added richness, and how the control console sort of gives you this off-road toolkit right at your fingertips. So, the lasting impression was one of feeling backed right up for any driving I wanted to do. So, two icons, two ways. The Escalade is one of the ultimate on-road experiences in the luxury SUV universe, and Defender one of the ultimate off-roaders. You’re on the cutting edge of comfort, connectivity, and display tech in the Escalade, and with the Defender, you’ve got a machine that feels at home quickly moving over rough ground and built with a lifetime of off-road capability for you to grow into. In all, these are two very compelling ways to spend the money, if you’re after a modern-day SUV icon to enjoy for years to come." https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/wheels/c...ys-543729/ Is this, in part, what the new Defender is up against in the US? Yes they might be completely different vehicles but does JLR need to convert a few Escalade owners to get it's sales figures back on target? |
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24th Jan 2021 10:58am |
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| SN Member Since: 29 Jun 2007 Location: SK6 Posts: 729 |
I've had the Escalade's twin the Chevy Suburban as a rental car in the USA - an absolute monster of a vehicle and I loved every minute of driving it - except for an unnervingly long stretch of uphill driving on the Pallisades Parkway where its 5.4 V8 (i think thats right) refused stubbornly to give me any more than 7mpg
I've also had the Tahoe (the shorter one) as a rental car too (detect the pattern here?) - and loved that as well, a little more practical round the Mall parking lots! 
Obviously didn't take either of them off-road but I would say both felt a bit wallowy compared to the Land Rovers I've owned and probably wouldn't have fancied it. My two in-car experiences in the New Defender thus far are the complete opposite of that! Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history) |
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24th Jan 2021 11:37am |
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| Philip Member Since: 09 Mar 2018 Location: England Posts: 510
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If there’s one thing GM are good at, it’s V8s - they make a bit more than 420 with a supercharger on top.
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24th Jan 2021 11:56am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17366 
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I never really thought I'd live to see the day when the preferred ride of the Gangsta, the Escalade, and the Defender were ever mentioned in the same breath, let alone considered as competitors in the same market space! Mind you, I never thought I would live to see the day when someone described the Defender as a "luxury SUV icon".
How times change! |
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24th Jan 2021 12:00pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018
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Getting it out is not the problem for JLR, it's getting it to stay in for a decent period of time before going bang... |
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24th Jan 2021 12:56pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2641 
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What a ridiculous comparison
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24th Jan 2021 1:00pm |
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| shropshiredefender Member Since: 05 Jun 2017 Location: Shropshire Posts: 834  
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I thought so at first - then remembered that when my brother moved to the USA the first car that he acquired on finance was an Escalade, the next a FFRR then a RRS, then a RR Velar. His current car is on order, a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 with a 6.4l V8.
I think that the New Defender fits into his "demographic" rather well! Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right. |
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24th Jan 2021 1:22pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2641
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You could compare the Escalade with the Range Rover perhaps, though even then at least the RR has some off-road pedigree rather than being solely designed for ‘mall crawling’ as the yanks call it.
The Defender on the other hand is a practical semi-utilitarian family SUV with class-leading off road capability, much like the older Discovery vehicles before they pushed that so far up market it basically became a Range Rover. |
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24th Jan 2021 1:34pm |
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| shropshiredefender Member Since: 05 Jun 2017 Location: Shropshire Posts: 834
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The choice for some people is more to do with -
01. What is trendy? 02. What looks good parked outside my office? 03. What are the monthly payments? Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right. |
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24th Jan 2021 2:35pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20339
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The Escalade is awesome, but isn’t an off-roader by nature. It’s a luxury all terrain suv. Personally, I like GMC more especially the GMC Sierra Denali HD Dually.
The Wrangler and Bronco are more off roaders by design. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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24th Jan 2021 2:57pm |
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| Zed Member Since: 07 Oct 2017 Location: In the woods Posts: 3274 
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That is also Land Rover's brief when designing new cars. WARNING. This post may contain sarcasm. |
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24th Jan 2021 3:52pm |
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| C&M Member Since: 28 Aug 2020 Location: Hampshire Posts: 185
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Pallisades ? IBM land? Been there many times  , I used to get a Tahoe and took one of those all around Raleigh as well in my days over there with IBM Defender D250 HSE
Dender 110 XS - sadly gone VW Polo VW Caravelle - Gen 6 |
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24th Jan 2021 4:30pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2630 
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I prefer the options list for the GMC Yukon.....M25 here i come....
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24th Jan 2021 6:56pm |
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