Cadillac Escalade vs Lincoln Navigator

2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

Escalade:

Price as tested: $105,000

6.2 Liter V8 420 HP

12.3 MPG (yes really)

Navigator:

Price as tested: $105.000

2021 Lincoln Navigator

3.5 Liter Twin Turbo V6 450 HP

16.0 MPG

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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi

So it’s only been a few weeks since our last Escalade review but this time we were granted a full week with Caddy’s largest offering…it was well worth it. The last encounter with the Escalade left me feeling ‘meh’. You can read on the ‘meh-ness’ here but let’s just say this time the Caddy delivers! Well…mostly

The best way I can review this Escalade is to stack it against it’s Dearborn rival….the Lincoln Navigator. Here are two vehicles that were made to compete against each other in the full size luxury SUV domain. They are so close in nature that:

“The Escalade and the Navigator are mirror images of each other...for everything that makes the Escalade great makes the Navigator weak and everything that makes the Navigator great makes the Escalade weak.”

Let’s start off with what sells vehicles the most now…

Escalade Tech:

It is teaming, burgeoning, exploding with technology from every crevice of it’s humongous body. The Escalade is a rolling technological tour de force, the issue is that the amount of tech is seemingly overwhelming in the first few days. From the expansive, multilayered, full dash LED screens, Augmented Reality mode, Nightvision, to the new infotainment system…it is just a lot. Yes, the technology is amazing and don’t get me wrong…I LOVE technology but the Escalade jams it in your face and doesn’t let go.

Navigator Tech:

The Navigator is not living in the past and it too has plenty of technology but it pales in comparison to what is offered in the Escalade. BUT with the lack of tech, comes the simplicity of just getting in the Navigator and driving. There is no reaching for the manual to figure out simple activities. There is no ‘wtf is that' when you are trying to pull into a parking space. The Navigator is intuitive from the get-go

Escalade Interior:

Visually the interior of the Escalade is 21st century through and through. From those splendid LED panels, to the ambient lighting to the infotainment. The Escalade screams futuristic.

Unfortunately it also screams cost savings. For some odd reason, every switch, knob and button in the Escalade feels well….cheap. Every-single-button has too much play, feels hollow and honestly just feels it was pilfered from the GM parts-bin.

The ‘wood’ on the dashboard is just a fake plastic veneer, the bottom door panels are cheap and flexible plastic, the headliner is lifted from Chevrolet and overall while it looks amazing…the Escalade feels just disappointing and lacks that solidity you would expect from a luxury vehicle of this caliber.

Navigator Interior:

Visually the interior of the Navigator is a rolling Victorian mansion! It’s awash in rich leathers, woods and metals that glisten day and night. The second you step inside the Navigator you instantly feel better about yourself. The touch and feel of the dials, buttons and most of the switchgear have substance, weight and gravitas to them. They feel bespoke, special and indeed luxurious! Yes, I know some switchgear are from the Ford’s part’s bin but the parts that are not feel absolutely stupendous.

There is also one other thing about the interior of the Navigator that sets it apart…build quality. The Navigator feels authoritative, solid and machined to a degree. Best way I can describe it is this:

Close the door on either vehicle and this is what you feel and hear:

“Escalade: Feels like a Silverado and closes with a ‘thud’. Not bad…but not premium feeling

Navigator: First it’s heavy and feels substantive, then it swings shut like a bank vault with an audibly delicious ‘clink’ that makes you go o0o0o”

Escalade Powertrain:

Oh that glory that be the small block Chevy. The most divinely inspired powertrain in the whole of human history. It has the flexibility that no other engine can match and in the Escalade it makes all the difference. It’s so smooth and yet (in the best way) it is not transparent around town. There is always a subtle reminder that it’s lurking in the shadows, with a quietly deep rumble that accompanies you in your travels. Oh it’s not loud by any means and don’t get me wrong, you have to have keep a nerdy ear out and have an ass that is finely tuned to feel drivetrain subtleties…but trust me…it’s there.

When the opportunity extends itself…squeeze your right foot and the 6.2 Liter V8 opens up a thunderous roar from Mjolnir itself. It helps blast the Escalade to 60 in 6.1 Seconds and the 10 speed automatic is always available for quick downshifts to keep her in the powerband.

Navigator Powertrain:

The 3.5 Liter Twin Turbo EcoBoost V6, if anything makes more power and more torque than the Escalade…and helps propel the Navigator to 60 even faster (5.9 seconds)! The turbocharged goodness helps it ride a wave of torque around town that can be genuinely fun! BUT it lacks the refinement, subtleties and honestly the sound the Escalade can deliver…it’s just not on the same level.

Escalade Looks:

The Escalade literally stops people in the tracks. People gawk, people stare…you physically feel their jealousy as you drive along. It’s pretty intoxicating to say the least. Is it good looking? Eh…but damn it gets some attention.

Navigator Looks:

The Navigator literally stops people in their tracks. People gawk, people stare…you physically feel their admiration as you drive along. That’s the difference and it’s pretty palpatable. Let me put it another way:

When people see the Escalade: Wow, is that new Escalade? Nice…then they mutter ‘douche’ under their breath

When people see the Navigator: Wow, is that new Navigator? Nice! Lincoln did a great job! Oh wow…honey…look at that interior!

Overall:

If I could make the perfect American full size luxury SUV…I would take the following from each:

Escalade:

-Body (sans the front)

-Drivetrain

-Tech (even with it’s foibles)

Navigator:

-Front End

-Interior

-Build Quality

Bolt all the above together…that is my perfect luxury SUV.

But since I can’t do any of that…which one would I choose? That is an extremely hard one…I’m in love with the tech in Escalade (even with it’s steep learning curve) the build quality of the Navigator is almost without equal.

At the end of the day…it’s how it makes you feel. There is something about the combination of stellar interior, low-end torque and build quality that makes the Navigator more appealing to me.