2017 Cadillac Escalade vs 2017 Chevrolet Suburban: Which is Best?

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?

The Escalade comes in two models: Escalade and the longer, roomier and heavier Escalade ESV. The Suburban comes in one model, which is the virtually the same size as Escalade ESV, sharing a 130-inch wheelbase and 224-inch overall length. (The Chevy Tahoe is a match for the smaller Escalade.) 

The Suburban is available in three trim levels: LS (starting at $51,210); LT (starting at $56,450); and Premier (starting at $66,135). Add $3,000 for 4WD. The Escalade comes in four trim levels: Escalade (starting at $74,590); Luxury (starting at $79,590); Premium Luxury (starting at $84,090); Platinum (starting at $93,390). Add $3,000 for 4WD. Escalade ESV has the same trim breakdown, with each level starting at $3,000 higher than Escalade.

Advantage: Suburban.

Styling is, by its very nature, a matter of taste. Both the Escalade and Suburban present commanding presences by virtue of their sizes. The Escalade announces its arrival with a bold grille, vertically arrayed full LED headlamps and tons of chrome. The Suburban comes with a more subtle grille and stacked halogen (HID optional) headlamps. Body sides are very similar between Escalade and Suburban.

Around back, Escalade has cool LED tail lamps that live along the D-pillar edges, while Suburban’s more traditional tail lamps live in lower, larger housings. Note that the Escalade ESV looks more balanced and substantial than the shorter wheelbase Escalade, primarily due to its longer side windows. Overall, though both vehicles are substantial, stately vehicles, Escalade is striking while Suburban is stealth.

Advantage: Escalade.

The old saw of “you get what you pay for” applies to the Escalade and Suburban. Though they share a basic layout and some switchgear, Escalade comes to the party with a more extensive list of standard equipment, and then builds from there. Suburban starts out in the 1LS base trim with cloth seats, manual-folding seats, a manual-opening lift gate and other expected features. You can step up in trim levels to 1LT and Premier, with more content at each level.

Keep checking boxes and adding luxury features like rear-seat entertainment, adaptive cruise control, and others to the Suburban Premier, and you’ll find yourself in the $80,000 range very quickly. Escalade can trump Suburban at almost every turn, even when Suburban is feeling pretty luxurious itself.

Advantage: Escalade.

Comparing apples to apples, we have to look at Escalade ESV vs. Suburban and leave the short-wheelbase Escalade out of the picture with its relatively skimpy 15.2 cubic feet of space behind the third row and 94.2 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Suburban and Escalade have identical capacities behind the third row (39.3 cubic feet) and with the third row folded (76.7 cubic feet), and the Chevrolet has a slight advantage with the second and third rows folded (121.7 cubic feet vs. 120.9 cubic feet).

Meanwhile, the Escalade arrives out of the box with up to 8,100 lbs of towing capability, while the standard tow equipment on Suburban LT is good for 6,300 lbs. You have to add the max trailering package ($300) on Suburban to get the number up to 8,300 lbs.

Slight Advantage: Suburban.

Both Escalade and Suburban are body-on-frame SUVs and come with independent coil-over shocks in the front and a solid axle with five-link location and coil springs in the rear. The Suburban can be ordered with an air suspension, which smooths the ride substantially, but Escalade comes with standard Magnetic Ride Control front and rear. This system continuously monitors road conditions and adjusts the suspension within milli-seconds for the best damping and rebound performance. Magnetic Ride Control is also standard on Suburban Premier, but it is not available on the other trim levels.

Both Suburban and Escalade deliver pleasingly athletic and composed handling for vehicles their size, but Escalade is better, smoother and more consistent.

Advantage: Escalade.

Each Suburban model comes with a 5.3-liter V8 engine with direct gasoline injection, tuned to produce 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive is standard; four-wheel drive is optional on all trim levels. EPA fuel economy ratings are 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway on the 2WD version, while selecting 4WD reduces highway mileage by one mpg. 

The Escalade gets a massive 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed Hydra-Matic (great name) automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels or all four. The EPA estimates that Escalade and Escalade ESV with 2WD can achieve 15 mpg city/22 mpg highway, with 4WD models rated at 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway.

Advantage: Escalade.

Suburban models start with a nice level of equipment, even at the base LS trim level. Thrifty buyers with specific needs can add many options a la carte, or they can choose packages of options bundled together with areas of concentration. With careful planning and a patient dealer, it is possible to save some money while putting together a Suburban that suits your needs. Suburban base models start out with 18-inch wheels, with the option of choosing 20-inch or 22-inch hoops.

The Escalade starts with a more comprehensive list of standard features and a simpler build sheet with fewer packages and options available. Stepping up to the next trim level brings progressively more standard features, but requires big chunks of cash. It comes standard with 20-inch wheels, with six different 22-inch wheel designs available as upgrades.

Advantage: Suburban.

Even though you could argue that a Suburban Premier approaches luxury levels of features and equipment, an Escalade is – well, an Escalade. There’s a reason that Cadillac has not tampered with the big SUV’s name, while every other current Caddy has an alpha-numeric nameplate. Escalade, for better or worse, represents a certain kind of American luxury (and excess). Drive up in an Escalade, and you’re making a statement.

The Suburban can make a statement of its own. It is big, impressive and understated in every trim level. You can choose between making a star entrance in an Escalade, or slipping in like a spy in a Suburban.

Advantage: Even.

luxury suvs like the Cadillac Escalade come with high price tags, which means that there’s more of a risk of big dollar depreciation over time. Because you can get a Suburban for a much lower starting price, your potential depreciation and value at risk is less. Even if Escalade and Suburban depreciate at the same rate, Suburban looks like the better buy.

Advantage: Suburban.

This is a tough one to call. If your budget allows for it, Escalade and Escalade ESV deliver a great combination of luxury, performance, and style, along with some desirable high-tech features (like LED headlamps) that Suburban just can’t match.

If money is an issue, the option to pick and choose which features are essential to your needs without breaking the bank tips the scales to Suburban. But the bigger engine and luxury badge lead us to declare Escalade as the winner.

Advantage: Escalade.