Cadillac and Chevrolet are at the polar ends of General Motors’ family of brands. Cadillac represents the peak of GM luxury, while Chevrolet is the everyday car for the working stiff. But the distinctions are not so simple when it comes time to decide between the 2017 Cadillac Escalade and 2017 Chevrolet Suburban.
The reason Escalade and Suburban are so challenging to rank is that the two full-size SUVs share a platform and a lot of mechanical parts. Platform sharing is nothing new; it’s been the lifeblood of the automotive industry for decades. Take a look at GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Pontiac sedans from the 1980s as proof.
The Escalade and Suburban are not mere examples of badge engineering, however. They are each unique models with strengths and weaknesses. Which is best?