North Georgia Ford Compares 2020 Ford Expedition Max VS 2020 Cadillac Escalade Near Calhoun, GA

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Expedition inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Escalade doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Expedition 4x4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escalade doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Expedition’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Escalade doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Expedition and the Escalade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Cadillac Escalade:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Cadillac Escalade:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Expedition’s warranty.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Expedition have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the Escalade.

The Expedition 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 Escalade doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Expedition’s reliability 60 points higher than the Escalade.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 16th in reliability. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 10 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8. The Expedition Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8.

On the EPA test cycle the Expedition gets better fuel mileage than the Escalade:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Expedition’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. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Escalade doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

The Expedition stops shorter than the Escalade:

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Expedition has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Cadillac Escalade has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Expedition’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Escalade doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the Escalade (122.5 inches vs. 116 inches).

The Expedition XLT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Escalade 4WD pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Escalade 4WD (27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade (9.8 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ford Expedition may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Cadillac Escalade.

The Expedition has 51.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escalade (171.9 vs. 120.8).

The Expedition has 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 inches more rear hip room, .4 inches more rear shoulder room, 11.3 inches more third row legroom, 2.1 inches more third row hip room and 1.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Escalade.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Expedition’s middle and third row seats recline. The Escalade’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Expedition. The Escalade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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

The Expedition Limited/King Ranch/Platinum’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Escalade’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s exterior PIN entry system. The Escalade doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s exterior PIN entry system. The Escalade doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Insurance will cost less for the Expedition owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Expedition will cost $595 to $1355 less than the Escalade over a five-year period.

The Expedition will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Expedition will retain 45.81% to 47.05% of its original price after five years, while the Escalade only retains 37.47% to 39.58%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Expedition is less expensive to operate than the Escalade because it costs $182 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Expedition than the Escalade, including $212 less for a water pump, $753 less for a muffler, $55 less for front brake pads, $95 less for a starter, $219 less for fuel injection, $232 less for a fuel pump, $618 less for front struts, $269 less for a timing belt/chain and $656 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Expedition will be $19637 to $19656 less than for the Cadillac Escalade.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Expedition, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Expedition first among large suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Escalade was rated third in its category.

The Ford Expedition/Expedition Max outsold the Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV by over two to one during the 2019 model year.