A grey 2022 Grand Wagoneer is shown parked in the mountains after winning a 2022 Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade comparison.

A Luxury Match-Up: 2022 Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade

There’s no denying the Escalade’s presence no matter where it travels, and when you want a top-level luxury vehicle, the Escalade is it. With its dialed-in style and high-end air of sophistication radiating throughout, one look at this large-scale refined traveler and you’re drawn in by its beauty. Few vehicles can even come close to competing with the Escalade and all it brings to your ride; however, there’s a new car in town, and it’s about to change the way you see SUVs for the foreseeable future. We’re talking about the all-new Grand Wagoneer, accentuated with cutting-edge design, heaps of luxurious features, and fierce capabilities. When it comes to elevating your ride to the highest expectations, this vehicle does so with effortless ease. Taking a closer look at the 2022 Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade, we’re about to find out if the Escalade’s reign will remain or if it’s about to be replaced.

Opulent Interiors

Let’s start off with some of the style elements that go into each of these sophisticated vehicles. The newcomer, Grand Wagoneer, not only offers you a roomy cabin equipped with everything you’ve ever wanted in a traveler, and it offers this with the utmost elegance in mind. With room for up to eight, the Grand Wagoneer showcases premium appointments, like Nappa leather seating and available quilted Palermo leather-trimmed seating, as well as second-row captain’s chairs, ambient interior lighting, and available 24-way power-adjustable seats with massage and memory functions.

Perhaps what’s most incredible about the Grand Wagoneer’s interior is the technology inside, including a 12-inch center touchscreen, as well as a 10.3-inch passenger touchscreen, premium McIntosh audio system with 23 speakers, and all the connectivity features you desire. All of this tech, combined with the sheer elation you feel as soon as you take a seat inside of its cavernous interior, and you’ll be sold on the all-new Grand Wagoneer.

So, can the 2021 Cadillac Escalade compete with all of that? Although you won’t find real leather seating in its base trim, you’ll get to enjoy Nappa leather seating in higher-level trims, as well as leather-encased door panels, adjustable ambient lighting, and a beautifully laid-out interior cabin with efficient room for passengers and cargo alike. Enjoy its 36-speaker AKG sound system and its curved OLED display, an industry first, which provides access to all you need to stay effectively in-tune with your drive and more.

Although both style-savvy vehicles sure do make an impact, one out-shows the other when it comes to design. Because you’re able to get premium appointments right off the bat in the Grand Wagoneer, as opposed to faux leather in the Escalade’s base trim, it just places the newcomer ahead of the game when it comes to design. We like that you’re able to enjoy premium features without having to upgrade, and with the addition of a passenger-side touchscreen, the Grand Wagoneer is paving the way for the future of design for large-scale luxury travelers. Although the Escalade has a number of outstanding features, combined with its timeless elegance, the new Grand Wagoneer is stepping up to the plate and offering drivers more.

A blue and a grey 2021 Cadillac Escalade are shown parked in front of a modern house in the desert.

Elegant Exteriors

You’ll notice that the 2022 Grand Wagoneer is unique as soon as you lay eyes on it. With its show-stopping features and impeccable exterior elements, it’s no wonder why drivers everywhere are intrigued. Although inspired by nature, the Grand Wagoneer effortlessly blends the ruggedness of the outdoors with the lavish luxuries found in upscale vehicles, making for a truly remarkable traveler.

With sculpted features and sweeping curves, the Grand Wagoneer stands confidently in any situation. With its functional enhancements, like a hands-free power liftgate, color-tinted glass, and more, the Grand Wagoneer proves that it’s not just for show. Classic style paired with modern luxury makes for a vehicle unlike all the others. With refined elements like 22-inch machined aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and more, the Grand Wagoneer proves that it’s ready to take its place among top-tier vehicles.

The Escalade has always had a bold, fearless style, matched with undeniable sophistication, and the 2021 model doesn’t let us down. Offering cool lighting effects, including the Cadillac crest portrayed on the ground around it, as well as chiseled features, the Escalade sure knows how to make an entrance. Its sport grille provides loads of additional style, while its sleek 22-inch wheels give off an air of ferocity, making for one high-end traveler that stops at nothing to be revered as the best. Its lower stance not only makes a striking statement on the outside, it also provides its interior with even more space. While we’ve been seeing this vehicle for decades now, we’re still impressed with every slight tweak that it receives with its design.

When it comes to exterior style, both vehicles offer up exquisite appearances, donning sleek designs, massively impressive features, and auras that just emanate refinement. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, rugged outdoor style, paired with chic luxury, the Grand Wagoneer is a top pick, really giving drivers a balance between both styles. However, if pure lavishness is the name of the game, the Escalade does a great job of portraying immaculate greatness year after year. The choice is up to you, but with everything you’re offered in each of these vehicles, we’re positive that both will have their fair share of admirers.

Copious Capabilities

Now, this wouldn’t be a proper competition if we didn’t touch upon what these strong vehicles can actually do, aside from wowing us with their impeccable style. We’re talking about performance, and if you think that both of these luxurious travelers are the same under the hood, think again. While the Escalade does offer up two different engines to choose from, whereas the Grand Wagoneer only has one, it’s the Grand Wagoneer that truly impresses us with its strength, able to tow up to 10,000 lbs without losing steam. Although it is only equipped with one engine to choose from, a 6.4L V8, this engine is strong and provides it with enough power to plow through obstacles while offering a smooth and controlled ride on any terrain.

The Cadillac Escalade comes in one of two flavors, a 6.2L V8 or a 3.0L turbo-diesel. It’s nice for drivers to have a choice; however, its towing capacity isn’t quite on par with that of the Grand Wagoneer. Able to tow a maximum of 8,300 lbs, the Escalade isn’t as equipped to handle the more rugged parts of your ride, which places the Grand Wagoneer ahead of the game here, especially for adventurous drivers. When it comes to fuel efficiency, you will find that these large travelers offer up ratings that are very much in line with their class. In the end, the Grand Wagoneer just offers up a stronger engine that has more capabilities than the Escalade, making it our pick when it comes to performance.

A blue 2021 Grand Wagoneer is shown from the rear parked on a river bank next to a fisherman.

2022 Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade

It’s evident that both the 2022 Grand Wagoneer and the 2021 Cadillac Escalade are leaps and bounds ahead of their competition. With striking designs, unrivaled features, and an air of extravagance surrounding them, both sophisticated travelers are turning heads wherever they go. If you want to take advantage of bold design coupled with unmatched elegance, the Grand Wagoneer showcases a blended style that can’t be replicated; with its ultra-modern tech and powerful engine, its undeniable presence can’t be avoided. The Escalade is also an exceptional vehicle, but as the years go on, we’re seeing more from its rivals, making us believe that its time in the spotlight is coming to an end.