F-150 Raptor R vs Escalade V: America's Wildest Family Hauler?

Intro

Earlier this year, I was given two chances of a lifetime. First, to spend a half day full-throttle tearing across the desert behind the wheel of the wildest and most insane pickup truck in Ford Motor Company history, the 2024 F-150 Raptor R. And second, a full week living with the wildest and most insane SUV in Cadillac history, the 2024 Escalade V. In many ways, they're vastly different in terms of goal and even pricing. But then again, they're also body-on-frame, full-sized vehicles with supercharged American V8 engines.

In that sense, in an era where the future of V8 engines is unknown, the Raptor R and Escalade V represent the last, fiery breath of gluttonous and wondrous engineering bravado. Not to mention the pinnacle of performance and pricing for their respective brands. And so for today, I ask you, friends, between Ford and Cadillac, who really makes the wildest and most insane family hauler of 2024? 

In this slideshow, we're going to define both vehicles and then compare the pricing, performance, styling, exhaust, interior features, suspension, hands-free driving, practicality, and fuel economy. Let's dive in.

2024 F-150 Raptor R Quick Look

The 2024 Raptor R is what happens when you tic every option in the Ford Performance and F-150 catalog, and assemble it into one vehicle. It's the widest, tallest, fastest, and most capable half-ton Ford pickup truck in the company's history (although the all-electric Lightning can hang out in a race to 60mph). The heart of this beast is a 720-horsepower 5.2L supercharged V8 borrowed from the 2020-2023 Shelby GT500. The Predator. The R got a small bump in power this model year thanks to a revised air intake and new tune, and it pulls like a rocketship on a straight shot to the freakin' moon, revving up to 7,000 RPM just like its cousin, the 5.0L Coyote V8. 

The R's other miraculous cheat code is its suspension. First, the truck is noticeably wider than the standard F-150, giving it a mean stance as well as more control for running, jumping, and corning off pavement and on. Second, there's the new dual-valve Fox Live Valve 3.1 dampers, which actively monitor road (ground?) conditions as well as the Raptor's pitch and roll to react in real time to all sorts of conditions. This suspension also features an enormous amounts of travel, which cushions landings and provide an otherwise pillowy soft ride quality. The system offers three firmness settings to boot; normal, sport, and off-road.

On the inside, the Raptor R boasts the latest Bang & Olufsen sound system with speakers everywhere, heated and ventilated Sport front bucket seats, and a spacious, two-row interior with tons of legroom for five passengers. The only thing the Raptor R doesn't have is massaging seats, which you'll find on other high-end F-150s like the King Ranch and Platinum. Oh, and a trunk. For that, you'll have to pony up for a tonneau cover.

2024 Cadillac Escalade V Quick Look

The Escalade V is what happens when you take the most luxurious Cadillac in history and drop in the latest, hand-built version of the General's iconic LT4 V8, a supercharged 6.2L all-aluminum monster pumping out 682 peak horsepower with gobs of torque to match. From the outside, the V looks just like the normal standard-wheelbase Escalade, save for all the blacked-out trim, wheels, grilles, and badging. Yeah, the only chrome left on these bad boys is the V badging on the fenders and the giant Cadillac badge on the rear tailgate, which also acts as the button for opening up said gate.

If the stealthy V badges don't grab your attention, the blacked-out quad-tip exhaust certainly reveals the V's true identity. Roaring to life like an angry demon upon each day's first cold start, giving it honestly one of the loudest factory exhausts I've ever heard. C7 Z06 owners certainly had to go into the aftermarket to achieve this sonic slice of 'Muricana.

Like the Raptor R, the Escalade V gets a revised, sportier suspension. This one is an air ride system with multiple height settings and two firmness settings: Tour and Sport. 

On the inside, the V gets a unique Dark Auburn and black two-tone color scheme with all the same amenities from its more premium, standard-engine siblings. The interior, as we'll soon discuss is among the finest ever crafted by an American company, offering heated/ventilated/massaging front seats with adjustable torso bolster. There are also second-row heated captain's chairs along with third-row leather seating. USB charging ports are everywhere, as are the speakers, plus multi-zone climate controls, and even a fridge/freezer cool box up front. 

The Escalade V is the literal definition of loaded.

Pricing & Value: Raptor R

Raptor R

• Base Price: $112,360
• As Tested: ~$115K

Escalade V

• Base Price: $152,290
• As Tested: $162,855

If you've got a cap on your budget, the F-150 Raptor R is going to save you about $50 grand compared to the Escalade V, assuming you can find either one and that a greedy dealership hasn't stepped in to rase the price of these rare beasts. However, as we'll soon discuss, the Caddy's higher price tag might be worth it if you prioritize luxury and creature comforts.

Style & Presence: Draw

Visually speaking, the Raptor R and Escalade V operate in two different dimensions. The Raptor, since its debut roughly 15 years ago, has always been about announcing itself with in-your-face graphics and wheels and tires. It's the truckiest truck that ever trucking trucked! The Escalade V is more of a sleeper, as equipped with a package that murdered out its appearance.  Until a V's owner stomps on the gas, it's very hard to tell what it is.

Still, I personally love the design on them both for different reasons. The Raptor R, I'd argue, has more presence. The V, conversely, offers more style with its chilled angles and tall front-and-back lighting schemes. If you want loud, get a Raptor. If you want elegance, get a Caddy.

Power & Performance: Raptor R

Raptor R

• Horsepower: 720
• Torque: 640
• 0-60 mph: 3.6
• 1/4 Mile: 12 seconds
• Curb weight 5,960-6,060 lbs

Escalade V

• Horsepower: 682
• Torque: 653
• 0-60 mph: 4.7 seconds
• 1/4 Mile: 13.1 seconds
• Curb weight 6,217 lbs

Both of these monsters feature quick-revving, supercharged V8 engines with 10-speed transmission and four-wheel-drive systems that make launches shockingly easy at these obscene power levels. But with nearly 40 extra horsepower and weighing 200-300 fewer pounds, the Raptor R is the clear winner.

To be clear, the Escalade V is quick in the SUV world. But it ends up feeling more like the C6 Corvette, 6th Gen Camaro, or newer Mustang in terms of acceleration. Very good, but not as shocking or as exciting as the Raptor R or GM's newer Corvettes. The Raptor R, for its part, can feel heavy at times; it doesn't shove you back in your seat when you're already at highway speeds. But right off the line -- even on a dry lake bed out in the desert -- it roars to life and feels like you're own personal roller coaster.

Interior & Amenities: Escalade V

Ford has improved its interior quality immensely since I was a kid. And the Raptor R, along with the Platinum and King Ranch, offers once of the F-150's best interiors ever. Terrific radios. Amazing truck seats. All the tech and charging. But at the end of the day, it's still a Ford with tons of plastic everywhere.

Cadillac, with its latest Escalade, has brought the brand back to a world competitor in the luxury department. Sure, you can look around to find some plastics on the lower edges of door panels and seats. But the rest of it is European quality in its sumptuousness. The leather surfaces are incredibly soft, and there are tons of real wood and metal accents all around. The technology is also top-notch, from the radio's sound quality to the way it integrates the infotainment and digital gauge clusters to look like one panel. Next year, for 2025, the screens are set to invade much of the vehicles' front dash. But for my two pennies, this 2024 setup is the perfect blend of modern capability, elegance, and physical tactility. You also can't go wrong, as a driver, with heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats. Cadillac also offers the ability to ventilate the entire seat (top and back) or heat just the back or the full seat (top and back) and adjust the side bolsters on the driver's torso.

It's easy to see why the Cadillac is more expensive than the Ford. In terms of interior quality and refinement, there's no contest.

Sound: Draw

Pick your poison, as the saying goes. The Raptor R and the Escalade V sound remarkably different. Although both are supercharged, one is a dual-overhead-cam V8 and the other is a direct-injection pushrod V8 with a larger displacement. The Escalade V sounds simply barbaric, at times, like a C7 generation Corvette with longtube headers. The Raptor R howls like a banshee, revving to the moon in a way that only 4-cams can produce; the R also boasts a little more audible supercharger whine in my experience.

For V8 soundtrack lovers, is one 'better' than the other? No, this one comes down to subjective personal tastes and I honestly can't choose.

Suspension & Handling: Raptor R

Another tough decision and close call. Both six-figure monsters boast top-of-the-line suspensions for full-size body-on-frame vehicles with adaptive dampers. Both deliver an extremely comfortable ride quality around town. And neither is particularly adept at diving into sharp corners at higher speeds (#physics).

The Escalade, as it's designed, probably delivers a touch more elegance in erasing the imperfections while cruising highways and city streets. But overall the Raptor R just handles a touch better. It's more capable, in the sense that it can deliver on and off-road. The Raptor's wider track is also extremely helpful given the R a better sense of balance than the V.

Both suspensions are marvelous, and important features in these vehicles, but the Raptor R is just one step above the V.

Practicality: Escalade V

Raptor R

• Interior cargo volume: 52.8 cubic feet
• Seating: 5
• Rows: 2

Escalade V 

• Interior cargo volume: 168.4 cubic feet
• Seating: 6
• Rows 3

I love trucks for their versatility and what they represent to many Americans. But SUVs (and wagons) are just more useful and practical for anyone who isn't hauling loads of rough materials. And let's be honest, there are probably a few heroes out there working their Raptor R on various job sites. But this is a high-end performance truck, not a workhorse. So the Escalade just takes the win here for being a better family vehicle, people hauler, and covered gear transporter.

(It also offers a fridge/freezer cool box for keeping drinks cold. Ford really needs to get in on that game because it would be extremely helpful after a day playing in the desert.)

Towing: Raptor R

Raptor R

• 8,700 pounds

Escalade V

• 7,000 pounds

If you need to tow often, a super truck (or super SUV) probably isn't your best choice. Still, the Escalade V tows a respectable 7,000 lbs while the Raptor R steps up to 8,700 lbs. For context, those numbers are more in line with mid-sized trucks than full-sized half-ton models. Raptor R takes the win.

Fuel Economy (LOL): Escalade V

Raptor R

• 10 mpg city / 15 mpg highway / 12 mpg combined

Escalade V

• 11 mpg city / 16 mpg highway / 13 mpg combined

You probably already know this, but don't buy either of these vehicles for fuel economy. Because, as the old saying goes, the only thing these beasts can't pass... is a gas station. In my experience with the 2023 and 2024 R, and the 2024 V, they all delivered abysmal fuel economy. Around town and fun-having is routinely in the single digits while highway cruising can get you up into the low-teens. Still the Escalade V technically wins by 1 mpg.

Hands-Free Driving: Draw

On the Raptor R side, we have Blue Cruise 1.2, while the Escalade V offers the latest version of Super Cruise.  As Level 2 autonomous driving systems, both are essentially one step above adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. The main difference is that you can take your hands off the wheel and the computer won't get mad.

Blue Cruise 1.2 currently works on a national network of divided highways. The latest iteration adds the ability to change lanes by using the vehicle's turn indicator as well as a lane-centering off-set that leaves extra room for large vehicles like semi-trucks. Essentially, tap a few buttons on the wheel, and when the screen turns blue, take your hands off the wheel and keep your eyes on the road.

Super Cruise works very similarly. Press a couple of buttons and, once a green light appears on the steering wheel and gauge cluster, the vehicle will drive itself. Super Cruise can also change lanes, but the system will look for opportunities to do so even when the driver doesn't make a specific request. GM is also rolling out the technology onto different types of roadways; not just divided highways.

In practice, both systems provide a relatively safe and consistent driving experience, reducing driver stress during commuting traffic while freeing up some mental bandwidth to pay attention to the road. (I spent my time, for example, looking for road obstacles and potentially aggressive drivers.) In terms of performance, accuracy, and comfort, both systems deliver very similar experiences, making it hard to crown one as best or better.

However, what I noticed is this: Super Cruise is currently more capable than Blue Cruise 1.2, but was less refined when driving around long sweeping corners, and a little buggier (I experience some random hard braking moments in stop-and-go traffic, and some wheel shake after bumps.) Blue Cruise 1.2 feels smoother in day-to-day driving, but isn't available in as many places and requires a few more manual inputs.

Still, despite a few reminders that, as a driver, you need to always be paying attention, I wouldn't hesitate to use either. Over the course of nearly 1,000 miles, they've really won me over.

And the Winner Is... Raptor R

Raptor R

• Price & Value
• Power & Performance
• Suspension & Handling
• Towing

Escalade V

• Interior & Amenities
• Practicality
• Fuel Economy

Draw

• Style
• Sound
• Hands-Free Driving

Being a Ford site, you probably think we're biased. But quite honestly I love both of these obscene V8-powered monsters equally. Yet, based on the results we randomly made up for this slideshow article, the Raptor R wins this extremely close competition between two of America's wildest family haulers. The Raptor R is quicker and generally more capable on and off-road while being significantly more affordable. (Something I'd never thought I'd write about a six-figure pickup truck, but such is life in the 21st century.) That being said, the Escalade V is an absolute blast to drive and it boasts far more luxury and interior passenger/cargo volume. It's quite simply the best Cadillac Escalade ever made. We just wish it were a little quicker and cheaper.