The fact that the Cadillac Escalade-V is frequently compared to the likes of the Roll-Royce Cullinan is already a victory for the burly yet luxurious full-sized American SUV, considering its base price is less than half that of its British counterpart.
The typical divide splits enthusiasts into two camps: those who favor opulence more than performance, and vice versa. That said, both the Escalade-V and Cullinan offer plenty in either department. Under the hood, the Caddy touts a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that pumps out 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque, and it sends that power to all four wheels via a quick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the Rolls packs a twin-turbocharged V12 under its bonnet, which is good for 563 horsepower and 627 pounds of twist sent to all four wheels by ZF’s tried-and-true eight-speed automatic.
Click play on the embedded video below to find out which one has what it takes to come out on top in head-to-head racing.
In terms of luxury, well, the embedded video above does highlight the fact that the Cadillac Escalade-V, which was refreshed for the 2025 model year, can open and close its rear doors while the Rolls-Royce Cullinan forces its occupants to enter and exit the vehicle the old fashioned way.
An even bigger disparity lies in the fact that the Rolls has a base MSRP of over $400,000, compared to $161,990 for a 2025 Escalade. Additionally, Caddy delivers a sonorous, spine-tingling wail while the exhaust of the Rolls is relatively muted. The contrasting sounds highlight the main difference between these two heavyweights: the American model offers a bit more excitement whereas the Brit offers a bit more refinement.
That said, we were surprised to see the more reserved Rolls-Royce outpace the Cadillac both from a dig (stand-still) and a roll (in-motion). This is where the publisher of the video, Hennessy Performance, can provide some expertise. For an extra $36,000 – which when added to the base price of an Escalade would still equate to less than half the price of a Cullinan before any options – buyers can outfit their ‘lade with the H1000 Performance Package, which carries a 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty. Doing so would ensure that their Cadillac dominates any red light stops or passing zones if ever they find themselves alongside a British rival, or just about any other full-size SUV, for that matter.
Given the choice between the two, which would you take? Sound off in the poll just below.
