Compare the2024 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Sequoia doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Escalade are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Escalade has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Sequoia doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escalade offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Sequoia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Escalade. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Sequoia.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Escalade has a standard HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sequoia only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Escalade and the Sequoia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Escalade comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Sequoia’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Sequoia. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Sequoia ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Escalade’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Sequoia’s (6 vs. 5 years).

The Escalade has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Escalade has a standard 220-amp alternator (250-amp - Escalade Diesel). The Sequoia’s 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Escalade has a standard 800-amp battery (900 Diesel). The Sequoia’s 710-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade first among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Sequoia isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 39 more horsepower (420 vs. 381) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 401) than the Sequoia’s 5.7 DOHC V8.

The Escalade’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 401) than the Sequoia’s 5.7 DOHC V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Toyota Sequoia:

	Escalade	Sequoia
Zero to 30 MPH	2 sec	2.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	6.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15.6 sec	18.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.5 sec	6.9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.3 sec	3.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.2 sec	4.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	15.3 sec
Top Speed	125 MPH	115 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Escalade gets better mileage than the Sequoia:

			MPG
Escalade
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	21 city/27 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	14 city/19 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	20 city/26 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	14 city/18 hwy
Sequoia
	RWD	5.7 DOHC V8	13 city/17 hwy
	AWD	5.7 DOHC V8	13 city/17 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade V8’s fuel efficiency. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escalade’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Sequoia doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Escalade has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Escalade has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Sequoia. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Cadillac Escalade, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sequoia.

For better stopping power the Escalade’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sequoia:

	Escalade	Sequoia
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.9 inches

The Escalade stops much shorter than the Sequoia:

	Escalade	Sequoia
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	192 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	163 feet	Consumer Reports

The Escalade’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sequoia SR5’s standard 65 series tires. The Escalade’s tires are lower profile than the Sequoia TRD Sport/Limited/Nightshade’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Sequoia SR5. The Sequoia’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Cadillac Escalade’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Toyota Sequoia only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Escalade has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sequoia doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Escalade offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Sequoia’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The front grille of the Escalade (except Diesel) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sequoia doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD is quieter than the Sequoia 4x4 (42 vs. 45 dB).

The Escalade has 7.5 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom, 4 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 3.7 inches more third row headroom than the Sequoia.

The Escalade’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sequoia.

	Escalade	Sequoia
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	18.9 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	66.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121 cubic feet	120.1 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Escalade’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Sequoia doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Escalade’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sequoia’s (8000 vs. 7100 pounds).

The Escalade has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Sequoia (1636 vs. 1250 lbs.).

The Escalade has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Sequoia (1647 vs. 1350 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The engine computer on the Escalade automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The Sequoia’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escalade’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sequoia’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Escalade and the Sequoia have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escalade is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Sequoia prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Escalade the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Sequoia can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The Escalade’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Sequoia’s power window (except driver window), power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Escalade’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sequoia’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Escalade’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Sequoia’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sequoia doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Escalade’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Sequoia’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

When the Escalade is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Sequoia’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Sequoia doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Escalade’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Sequoia doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Escalade Platinum has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Sequoia.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac Escalade has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Sequoia doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s Adaptive Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Sequoia doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Escalade with a number “5” insurance rate while the Sequoia is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escalade is less expensive to operate than the Sequoia because typical repairs cost much less on the Escalade than the Sequoia, including $54 less for a water pump, $650 less for a starter, $94 less for a fuel pump and $361 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV outsold the Toyota Sequoia by almost 8 to one during 2022.