Which of these full-size luxury SUVs offers the best blend of style and power, the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer or Cadillac Escalade? Our comparison guide is here to shed some light on this conundrum.
Key Takeaways
- The 2023 Escalade (starting at $80,795) is slightly less expensive than the 2023 Grand Wagoneer (starting at $88,640).
- The Grand Wagoneer comes standard with a much more luxurious lineup, which becomes even more luxurious as you move up its trim levels.
- For more in standard power, choose the Grand Wagoneer. For a high-performance luxury SUV (and more horsepower overall), however, check out the Escalade’s V trim model.
- The Grand Wagoneer tows best-in-class weight ratings of up to 10,000 pounds.
Lowest Price: 2023 Cadillac Escalade
If you want to save a few thousand dollars (compared to the Grand Wagoneer, anyway), the base 2023 Escalade starts at $80,795. The entry-level 2023 Grand Wagoneer starts at $88,640, but it also comes with a much more luxurious lineup and plenty of extra horsepower.
Maximum Luxury: 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
For an SUV that’s absolutely dripping in luxury, choose the Grand Wagoneer. All three trim models are handsomely equipped. The base Series I model gives you more luxury than the competition, with standard leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats with massage settings, and more. And the Series II and Series II models only get more luxurious, with upgrades that include an infrared night vision camera (for pedestrian and animal detection) and a 23-speaker McIntosh sound system.
The 2023 Cadillac Escalade, meanwhile, also has a well-deserved rep for interior luxury. It’s just not as luxurious as the Grand Wagoneer. For instance, its standard lineup includes faux-leather upholstery and heated seats — but no massage settings. There are six Escalade trim models available for those who crave more luxury. Climb the trim models to enjoy genuine leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring (all standard on the Wagoneer).
Premium Performance: 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The Grand Wagoneer Series I delivers incredible power from its base V8 engine. Better still, the Series II and Series III models take your ride up a notch with a 510-horsepower turbocharged powertrain. And every Grand Wagoneer is ready to hit the trail, thanks to its standard four-wheel-drive system.
Engine options depend on which Grand Wagoneer trim you select:
- Series I: 6.4-liter V8 (471 horsepower, 455 lb-ft of torque)
- Series II and III: turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine (510 hp, 500 lb-ft)
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Four-wheel drive
Under the 2023 Cadillac Escalade’s hood, you’ll also find plenty of power. Its two more widely available engines aren’t quite on par with the Grand Wagoneer’s engines, however. On the other hand, if you want a high-performance luxury SUV, check out the Escalade V. Its supercharged V8 makes the most power of any of the aforementioned engine options, delivering blistering speed with 682 horses. Although the Escalade comes standard with rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive is optional. (The Escalade V comes with an exclusive high-performance all-wheel-drive system.)
- Standard 6.2L V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft)
- Optional turbo 3.0L six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft)
- Escalade V: Supercharged 6.2L V8 (682 hp, 653 lb-ft)
- 10-speed automatic transmission
- Rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive
Max Towing: 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
How heavy is your boat? If you need extra muscle to get that baby around, choose the Grand Wagoneer. Properly equipped, Jeep’s full-size luxury SUV can tow best-in-class loads of up to 10,000.
The 2023 Cadillac Escalade can’t tow quite as big a trailer, but it’s still a strong contender in this department. Properly equipped, the Escalade can tow up to 8,200 pounds.
Your Luxury SUV
In the end, the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is the strongest and most luxurious option! Drive off in Jeep’s high-end SUV for the best combination of luxury, style, and truly rugged capabilities.