2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a top recommendation for families due to its practical design and features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load toddlers into rear-facing child seats, and the comfortable third-row seat accommodated additional passengers like grandparents or carpool kids. The Odyssey also offered significant cargo space, rivaling that of a Chevrolet Suburban when the seats were folded down or removed. Despite its practical advantages, the minivan's image was less appealing to some consumers, although the 2022 model had a sense of style, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold first impression with its unapologetically massive size and distinct styling elements, such as a grille and LED lights scaled to match its bulk. The front end resembled a diesel locomotive, emphasizing the vehicle's imposing presence. The Escalade offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featuring bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trim had darkened trim. Despite sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, the Escalade stood out with its unique design and luxurious features.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was front-wheel drive only, with no all-wheel-drive or electrified powertrain options. The Odyssey had an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During a test drive in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. While the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, its brakes tended to overheat and produce pedal vibration during extended downhill driving.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and had rear-wheel-drive or optional four-wheel-drive. The Escalade diesel provided smooth power delivery and a lower torque peak, making it easy to drive in various situations. However, the Escalade's ride was unsettled, with noticeable vibrations and a hard brake pedal. The gasoline engine had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, slightly more than the diesel but less than the Lincoln Navigator's 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan had impressive storage space, including shelving in the front door panels and a handy floor tray. The second-row seats were comfortable and versatile, with the Magic Slide feature allowing for various configurations. The third-row seat was also comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey provided 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a spacious cabin. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches long, while the extended ESV version was 227 inches long. The Escalade offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with second-row captain’s chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat. Cargo space was also generous, with 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, 63.0 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, the raised center console limited storage space, and the front seats, while adjustable and equipped with massage and lumbar support, felt similar to those in other GM SUVs.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto starting with the EX trim. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, while the Touring and Elite trims included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology. The rear-seat entertainment system had a single 10.2-inch display screen, but it was considered outdated. The Elite trim also featured an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was underwhelming, with a small screen and a navigation system that required specific voice commands.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, consisting of a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. The display was well-integrated into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit its shape. The Escalade also had physical toggles for climate control and other functions. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations was awkward, and the rotary controller seemed like an afterthought. The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and it also offered features like night vision, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey earned an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came standard with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Premium Luxury and higher trims, with trailer blind-spot monitoring on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was available as a $2,500 option on most trims. Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways and used a driver-facing camera to ensure attention. While the Escalade had impressive driver-assist features, it lacked crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.