2019 ESV vs Denali XL

[Zihmer001]

Hi all - been a while! I have a ‘14 Yukon Denali XL with everything but power running boards. It’s at 68k miles and I am tempted to upgrade to a 2019 CPO ESV premium luxury OR a 2019 CPO Denali XL.

What would the big differences be? I’m struggling to find any. Both have adaptive cruise, HUD, RSE. Am I missing something?

One other question - for CarPlay does that work over Bluetooth or must the phone be plugged in?

Thanks!

 

[sickk23]

Escalade has LED headlights, a longer bumper-to-bumper warranty and a nicer interior by far. But its all preference.

 

[mikeyss]

The Escalade has a better audio system with more speakers, and the mag ride has different selections. Some of the escalades have massage seats too

 

[PG01]

denali is just a suburban with covered cup holders and a 6.2.
cadillac is ....well a caddy....

 

[Zihmer001]

Definitely had not realized the longer warranty. I’ll do some homework on the mag suspension. Also looks like caddy has front and maybe side cameras?

I can’t / won’t shell for a platinum so massage seats are no go for me.

i feel like my current Denali is a suburban with AWD and a better engine. Which isn’t a bad thing. But I want to know any differences for the Escalade other than it being cool (my dad had an 83 Sedan deVille - I’ve always really liked Cadillac)

 

[GTNator]

Agree with all the above. I considered both the Denali XL and Escalade ESV and ended up going with Escalade. But honestly, I would have been completely happy with the Denali too. There are differences, I recommend downloading the owners manual for both and compare. Then go drive them both. Bottom line, you can’t go wrong with either.


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[GTNator]

Definitely had not realized the longer warranty. I’ll do some homework on the mag suspension. Also looks like caddy has front and maybe side cameras?

I can’t / won’t shell for a platinum so massage seats are no go for me.

i feel like my current Denali is a suburban with AWD and a better engine. Which isn’t a bad thing. But I want to know any differences for the Escalade other than it being cool (my dad had an 83 Sedan deVille - I’ve always really liked Cadillac)

Ha, my dad an an 84 Sedan DeVille, and I won’t lie, the nostalgia of riding in a Cadillac pops into my mind more than I expected.


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[adventurenali92]

Drivetrain wise both trucks are identical. Both have the 6.2L V8 and 10 speed trans. At least from 2018^. Both come in 2WD and 4WD with the auto 4 mode. The major difference is the mag ride suspension like mentioned above. The Denali will have just standard mag ride suspension where as the ESV will mag ride with adjustable modes that can be selected on the fly while driving. The interiors are pretty different. I think the caddy does have more comfortable seats. It does have the surround view camera system, one front mounted camera, a camera under each side view mirror and then the rear camera. The Denali does not have this feature at least from the ones I have detailed for clients. I just detailed a platinum 2020 regular wheel base Escalade for a client and she had a neat feature I really liked. She had an extra camera on the tailgate that when selected turns the center rear view mirror into a full screen reverse camera. It’s pretty cool. I would guess that was designed so that if your rear hatch window was blocked like with luggage or other big items you could click that on and it would be like looking into the rear view mirror. Pretty cool I think. I have yet to see that feature on a denali package Yukon. I did not however like that on this 2020 platinum caddy the button to keep the running boards extended out while I was detailing is not where it was located on previous year trucks. It used to be right beside the gear shifter at the top of the infotainment set up. It wasn’t there in hers and I couldn’t find any setting that would allow me to keep the boards extended while I was cleaning. I really didn’t like that. Otherwise it was a really nice ride. As for your personal choice on which to go with it all comes down to what features you deem a must have and what you decided you don’t need. For the most part feature wise they are similar. But like mentioned above the caddy has a few things the Denali doesn’t.

 

[Zihmer001]

Drivetrain wise both trucks are identical. Both have the 6.2L V8 and 10 speed trans. At least from 2018^. Both come in 2WD and 4WD with the auto 4 mode. The major difference is the mag ride suspension like mentioned above. The Denali will have just standard mag ride suspension where as the ESV will mag ride with adjustable modes that can be selected on the fly while driving. The interiors are pretty different. I think the caddy does have more comfortable seats. It does have the surround view camera system, one front mounted camera, a camera under each side view mirror and then the rear camera. The Denali does not have this feature at least from the ones I have detailed for clients. I just detailed a platinum 2020 regular wheel base Escalade for a client and she had a neat feature I really liked. She had an extra camera on the tailgate that when selected turns the center rear view mirror into a full screen reverse camera. It’s pretty cool. I would guess that was designed so that if your rear hatch window was blocked like with luggage or other big items you could click that on and it would be like looking into the rear view mirror. Pretty cool I think. I have yet to see that feature on a denali package Yukon. I did not however like that on this 2020 platinum caddy the button to keep the running boards extended out while I was detailing is not where it was located on previous year trucks. It used to be right beside the gear shifter at the top of the infotainment set up. It wasn’t there in hers and I couldn’t find any setting that would allow me to keep the boards extended while I was cleaning. I really didn’t like that. Otherwise it was a really nice ride. As for your personal choice on which to go with it all comes down to what features you deem a must have and what you decided you don’t need. For the most part feature wise they are similar. But like mentioned above the caddy has a few things the Denali doesn’t.

I really appreciate this feedback.

Are the mag suspension modes noticeable? Just curious. I had a 2004 corvette, but it was z51 and therefore didn’t have the mag ride. Conceptually, it makes sense.

I’m surprised that I’m not seeing a huge difference in price between the two vehicles. Cadillac is more, but not as much as when I bought my current Denali. I’m also keeping my eyes on offers from Laura GMC on a potential new Denali plus if GMC brings back 84month / 0% like they had in May.

one other dumb question. Do the vehicles have mag suspension with airbags? My current Denali has the air ride rear. Is that still a thing?

 

[sickk23]

Yeah they still have rear load leveling

 

[adventurenali92]

I really appreciate this feedback.

Are the mag suspension modes noticeable? Just curious. I had a 2004 corvette, but it was z51 and therefore didn’t have the mag ride. Conceptually, it makes sense.

I’m surprised that I’m not seeing a huge difference in price between the two vehicles. Cadillac is more, but not as much as when I bought my current Denali. I’m also keeping my eyes on offers from Laura GMC on a potential new Denali plus if GMC brings back 84month / 0% like they had in May.

one other dumb question. Do the vehicles have mag suspension with airbags? My current Denali has the air ride rear. Is that still a thing?

Yes. This is how GM designed the auto level control function. I can notice a difference in the suspension setups from the two. So my best friends parents have a 2015 esv luxury package. We live up in the mountains in a ski resort town and I’ve gone with them up and down several times. When the sport mode is elected in the suspension settings it makes a huge difference. Stiffer suspension does the cornering and grades and such. Very different than normal mode and I think that’s worth it.

 

[GTNator]

I really appreciate this feedback.

Are the mag suspension modes noticeable? Just curious. I had a 2004 corvette, but it was z51 and therefore didn’t have the mag ride. Conceptually, it makes sense.

I’m surprised that I’m not seeing a huge difference in price between the two vehicles. Cadillac is more, but not as much as when I bought my current Denali. I’m also keeping my eyes on offers from Laura GMC on a potential new Denali plus if GMC brings back 84month / 0% like they had in May.

one other dumb question. Do the vehicles have mag suspension with airbags? My current Denali has the air ride rear. Is that still a thing?

Yes the adjustable MRC modes are noticeable. “Normal” is a smooth comfortable ride; what you’d expect from a Cadillac, and doesn’t feel like a truck. “Sport” changes the ride and transmission. It drives like a Camaro; takes sharp turns with no lean, and gears ride up the RPMs and stay that way as the transmission is ready for acceleration at any moment. “Snow/Ice” is good for, as the name suggests, snow and ice, lol. I keep mine in Normal most of the time, unless I’m late and need to get somewhere quick.

The other feature I use a lot is the 360 surround camera system for parking. The video rear view camera that was mentioned by someone is pretty cool too for when you have the back totally filled with cargo or if the drop down DVD screens are in use. It also provides a wider view of the rear.

Also, there are extra safety features like all speed full front/rear auto stop and some other little things like that.

But like I said you really need to drive them and see for yourself. I honestly could have gone with either Denali XL, Escalade ESV, or Suburban for that matter. Nothing beats these triplets for space, comfort, and safety. The perfect road trip vehicle.


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[cardude2000]

I really appreciate this feedback.

Are the mag suspension modes noticeable? Just curious. I had a 2004 corvette, but it was z51 and therefore didn’t have the mag ride. Conceptually, it makes sense.

I’m surprised that I’m not seeing a huge difference in price between the two vehicles. Cadillac is more, but not as much as when I bought my current Denali. I’m also keeping my eyes on offers from Laura GMC on a potential new Denali plus if GMC brings back 84month / 0% like they had in May.

one other dumb question. Do the vehicles have mag suspension with airbags? My current Denali has the air ride rear. Is that still a thing?

Denali ride with MRC is awful IMO. I special ordered mine with non 20” wheels to add some rubber to the jarring ride which helped a bit...

If ride quality is important to you and you are only able to consider GM products, go for the escalade since you can dial out the brashness. If you aren’t the escalade type, can you wait for the new Yukons? Their rides should be markedly improved over the current gens due to the redesigned rear suspension.

 

[sabasigh]

Denali ride with MRC is awful IMO. I special ordered mine with non 20” wheels to add some rubber to the jarring ride which helped a bit...

Got a '20 Denali wirh MRC/22" wheels. Ride is definitely meh over rough roads.

 

[91RS]

I will start by saying I would keep the 14.

To your question, I think everyone has pretty well covered the feature differences, which aren’t as massive as they used to be in the past. What sets the Cadillac apart from the Chevy and GMC is little things. Once again, these aren’t quite as massive as they once were but it is still there. The glass is better so it blocks more heat and noise, the insulation is better, etc. Drive a Tahoe Premier or Yukon SLT, then drive a Denali, and then drive the Escalade. You’ll notice the differences in the little things if you’re looking for them.

 

[sickk23]

can you wait for the new Yukons? Their rides should be markedly improved over the current gens due to the redesigned rear suspension.

Probably not the place for this topic but the next gen's don't just have a redesigned rear suspension. The MRC is improved/changed and there's an optional air suspesion (with MRC). I found this news VERY exciting!

 

[sickk23]

I will start by saying I would keep the 14.

To your question, I think everyone has pretty well covered the feature differences, which aren’t as massive as they used to be in the past. What sets the Cadillac apart from the Chevy and GMC is little things. Once again, these aren’t quite as massive as they once were but it is still there. The glass is better so it blocks more heat and noise, the insulation is better, etc. Drive a Tahoe Premier or Yukon SLT, then drive a Denali, and then drive the Escalade. You’ll notice the differences in the little things if you’re looking for them.

The difference is more now between the two than it use to be, actually. Heck in the old ones the steering wheels and seats were exactly the same. And prior to '09 so was the suspension. At least there are actually differences now, not just relying on a motor and a crest. And thankfully the crest is gone.

The glass isn't better. A Premier has the same amount of acoustic glass as a Premium Luxury Escalade. Not sure about heat blocking but I doubt it. Maybe on a Platinum to justify that ungodly price.

A Tahoe premier isn't the equivalent to an SLT. The Denali is identical aside from 6.2 which is now an option on the Premier, making them exactly the same.

Edit: denali has real stainless and wood trim. Premier does not. The only difference lol

 

[sickk23]

Got a '20 Denali wirh MRC/22" wheels. Ride is definitely meh over rough roads.

This is an understatement. Pebbles on a newly paved road feel almost jarring.



Sorry for the 3 separate quotes in a row. Multi quote was malfunctioning on my end.

 

[91RS]

The difference is more now between the two than it use to be, actually. Heck in the old ones the steering wheels and seats were exactly the same. And prior to '09 so was the suspension. At least there are actually differences now, not just relying on a motor and a crest. And thankfully the crest is gone.

The glass isn't better. A Premier has the same amount of acoustic glass as a Premium Luxury Escalade. Not sure about heat blocking but I doubt it. Maybe on a Platinum to justify that ungodly price.

A Tahoe premier isn't the equivalent to an SLT. The Denali is identical aside from 6.2 which is now an option on the Premier, making them exactly the same.

Edit: denali has real stainless and wood trim. Premier does not. The only difference lol

You are right about the Denali having the better glass also but I didn't have a Tahoe Premier around to verify. I was thinking of the 07-14 body style where the door glass in the Escalade is Saint-Gobain Sekurit. You're also right the Premier is above the SLT, I meant to say Tahoe LT (meaning it would have the passive suspension and not have the extra deadener and such the Denali and Escalade have). The seats were not the same in the past. Get in a Tahoe/SLT and then get in a Denali or Escalade, you can see the difference in the material alone.

The suspension is basically the same from 07-20 (yes there are some revised/changed parts which is why I said basically). You also have to realize that even if a Tahoe LTZ/Premier, Denali, and Escalade all have the "same" suspension the Mag/Auto Ride allows the ability to tune them differently electronically.

 

[sickk23]

The seats were not the same in the past. Get in a Tahoe/SLT and then get in a Denali or Escalade, you can see the difference in the material alone.

The material in leather was the only thing that was different in the past, I meant the Escalade has its whole own different seat now. A different design.