2026 Cadillac Escalade vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Interior Design

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade and 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV both boast plush interiors focused on personalized comfort. The front seats of both models are standard with heating and power-adjustability, so you and your co-pilot can each find your preferred settings. The Escalade also comes standard with heated second-row seats, while the GLS SUV is standard with ventilated front seats. When it comes to setting the mood, you’ll appreciate the 126-color ambient interior lighting in the Escalade; the GLS SUV is standard with 64-color interior lighting.

Standard Cadillac Escalade interior features include:

• Heated front and rear seats
• Memory settings for the driver’s seat, outside mirrors, and steering column
• Power tilt and telescoping steering column
• Heated, wrapped steering wheel
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• 126-color ambient interior lighting
• Inteluxe seat upholstery
• Auto-dimming rearview and driver’s side mirrors
• Keyless open
• Remote start
• Universal home remote

Standard Mercedes-Benz interior features include:

• Nappa leather multifunction steering wheel
• 64-color LED ambient lighting
• Power front seats with memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Energizing seat kinetics
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Panorama roof
• MB-Tex upholstery
• Retractable luggage cover
• Infrared-remote window opening and closing
• Power tilt/telescoping steering column
• Garage door opener
• Brake HOLD feature

2026 Cadillac Escalade vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Technology

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade and 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV are both equipped with fully immersive technology systems. The Escalade is standard with an impressive 55-inch curved infotainment experience that stretches the entire dashboard from pillar to pillar. Meanwhile, the GLS SUV comes standard with both a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display. To connect to either SUV’s display, you’ll find standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. When it comes to delivering a rich soundscape to the whole cabin, you’ll appreciate the standard AKG™ Studio audio system in the Escalade or the Burmester Surround Sound System in the GLS SUV.

Standard Cadillac Escalade technology features include:

• Navigation capability
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 5G Wi-Fi® hotspot capability
• Wireless phone charging
• 110V power outlet
• 12V auxiliary front power outlet
• Infotainment experience with 55-in. HD curved front display
• AKG Studio 21-speaker audio system

Standard Mercedes-Benz technology features include:

• Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX)
• Voice Control with Natural Language Understanding
• “Hey, Mercedes” keyword activation
• Biometric authentication
• 12.3-in. touchscreen multimedia display
• 12.3-in. digital instrument cluster display
• Touchpad controller
• Steering-wheel touch control buttons
• MB Navigation
• MBUX augmented video for navigation
• Route-based speed adaptation
• Over-the-air software updates
• Multiple USB-C ports
• Hands-free Bluetooth® interface
• FrontBass system
• Burmester surround sound system
• Dolby Atmos with sound personalization
• Two-way in-car communication system
• HD Radio™ capability
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• Front-cabin wireless charging with NFC pairing
• Bluetooth audio streaming
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

2026 Cadillac Escalade vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Exterior Features

Both the 2026 Cadillac Escalade and 2026 Mercedes-Benz are sophisticated, full-sized SUVs with elegantly crafted exteriors. Both come equipped with LED exterior lighting for improved driveability at night. When pulling into your parking space, you’ll appreciate the standard power-folding mirrors included with each SUV. Entering your cargo hold is made easy with the standard power liftgates included with both SUVs.

Standard Cadillac Escalade exterior features include:

• 22-in. 14-spoke alloy wheels with Bright Silver finish
• AutoSense power liftgate
• Illuminating body-color door handles with chrome strip
• Black assist steps
• Automatic headlamp leveling
• Automatic on/off headlamps
• Adaptive forward lighting
• LED taillamps
• Body-color heated, driver-side auto-dimming power-folding outside mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators
• Rainsense™ automatic wipers

Standard Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV exterior features include:

• 21-in. triple five-spoke wheels
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Rear-window wiper with auto-on in Reverse
• LED daytime running lamps and taillamps
• LED intelligent light system
• Adaptive highbeam assist
• Power liftgate
• HANDS-FREE ACCESS
• Power-folding side mirrors

2026 Cadillac Escalade vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Specs & Fuel Economy

Whether you opt for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV, you’ll find an energetic engine beneath each hood. The Escalade is standard with a 6.2L V8 engine, which produces up to 420 horsepower, while the GLS SUV comes with a mild hybrid 3.0L turbo inline six-cylinder (I6) that produces up to 375 horsepower. Of the two, the Escalade offers the more versatile performance capabilities — you’re able to equip your Escalade with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) — the GLS SUV is only standard with a 4MATIC® fully variable AWD system.

Engine specs are shown in the accompanying table.

2026 Cadillac Escalade vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Towing Capacity

Which SUV tows the most, the 2026 Cadillac Escalade or 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV? The Escalade ultimately can tow more — 8,100 pounds. Meanwhile, the GLS SUV tows up to 7,700 pounds.

2026 Cadillac Escalade vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Cargo Space & Size

You’ll find generous space inside both the 2026 Cadillac Escalade and 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV. Both are standard with three rows of seven passenger seating, so everyone can ride to their destination in comfort. You’ll find roughly similar rear seat legroom in both SUVs. The front seats in the Escalade offer more overall legroom — up to 44.51 inches. Meanwhile, the GLS SUV offers up to 40.3 inches of front-seat legroom.

When it comes to cargo, you’ll appreciate the power-folding third row in both SUVs, as well as the Escalade-exclusive power-release second row. The Escalade is easily the more spacious of the two SUVs, offering up to 120.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row. The GLS SUV offers up to 84.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row.

Interior dimensions are shown in the accompanying table.

2026 Cadillac Escalade vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Safety Options

Whether you opt for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade or 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV, you’ll find a number of advanced driver assistance and safety features included with each SUV. The Escalade is uniquely offered with Super Cruise®, advanced driver assistance technology, and an augmented reality system. You’ll appreciate the surround view cameras included with each SUV, which allow you to monitor your surroundings. Plus, both are also available with blind-zone assist and advanced braking systems.

Standard Cadillac Escalade driver assistance and safety features include:

• Super Cruise advanced driver assistance technology
• Augmented reality system
• Interior security camera capability
• Enhanced automatic emergency braking
• Front outboard passenger sensing system
• HD surround vision
• Blind zone steering assist
• Forward collision alert
• Rear pedestrian alert
• Safety alert seat
• Brake assist
• Enhanced automatic emergency braking
• Intersection automatic emergency braking
• Front pedestrian and bicyclist braking
• Reverse automatic braking
• Rear cross traffic braking

Standard Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV driver assistance features include:

• Car-to-X Communication
• Active brake assist
• Mercedes-Benz emergency call service
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
• Active steering assist
• Evasive steering assist
• Crosswind assist
• Active Blind Spot Assist
• Active lane keeping assist
• Active brake assist with cross-traffic function
• Active emergency stop assist
• Active speed limit assist
• Exit warning assist
• Active lane change assist
• Traffic sign assist
• Active stop-and-go assist
• PARKTRONIC with active parking assist
• Surround view system
• PRE-SAFE
• PRE-SAFE PLUS
• PRE-SAFE Sound
• Seat belt technology
• Adaptive braking technology
• Antilock braking system
• Brake assist
• Electronic stability program
• High-strength unibody
• Antitheft alarm system with remote panic feature
• GUARD 360-degree security system