If for any reason, you miss the days when American companies were driven by the mantra “bigger is better”, you’ll be pleased to know that several carmakers continue to offer automotive behemoths dressed under the guise of a full-size SUV. Two of the newest arrivals in the category are the 2015 Cadillac Escalade and 2015 Lincoln Navigator.

The two larger-than-life SUVs have a lot in common, from their similar exterior and interior dimensions to their boxy-styling, the ability to seat up to eight passengers and traditional body-on-frame constructions.

They also have notable differences, however, including the powertrain options and the fact that the Cadillac is an all-new model, while the Lincoln is a redesign of the third-gen Navigator that has been around since 2007.

As with the current-generation models, both full-size SUVs will be offered in two body lengths; standard (Navigator: 207.4 inches or 5,268 mm / Escalade: 203.9 inches or 5,180 mm) and extended (Navigator L: 222.3 inches or 5,646 mm / Escalade: 224.3 inches or 5,698 mm).

Even though the Cadillac is slightly bigger in either form, according to the manufacturers’ data, the Lincoln offers a bit more space behind the seats of all three rows.

Standard wheelbase models:

Navigator: 103.3 cu.ft. (2,925 liters) of cargo space behind the first row, 54.4 cu.ft. (1,540 liters) behind the second row, and 18.1 cu.ft. (513 liters) behind the third row.

Escalade: 94.2 cu.ft. (2,667 liters) space behind the first row, 51.6 cu.ft. (1,461 liters) behind the second row, and 15.3 cu.ft. (433 liters) behind the third row.

Extended length versions:

Navigator L: 128.2 cu.ft. (3,630 liters) of cargo space behind the first row, 86.3 cu.ft. (2,444 liters) of cargo space behind the second row, and 42.6 cu.ft. (1,206 liters) behind the third row.

Escalade ESV: 120.5 cu.ft. (3,412 liters) of cargo space behind the first row, 76.5 cu.ft. (2,166 liters) of cargo space behind the second row, and 38.7 cu.ft. (1,096 liters) of cargo space behind the third row.

Perhaps the biggest oddity between the two is what you cannot see – the powertrain. As a newer model, you’d expect the Cadillac to sport the more modern powerplant, yet it’s the other way around, actually.

The 4th-gen Escalade makes do with a big ‘ol V8 unit with a displacement of 6.2-liters delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (with an old-school style steering-column shifter) driving either the rear, or optionally, all-four wheels.

Ford’s luxury division might have chosen to extend the life of the current Navigator with a refreshed body and interior, but under the hood, it opted to replace the aging 5.4-liter naturally-aspirated V8 with a modern 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine twisting out “at least” 370 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque, again linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission and either 2WD or 4WD.

As two of the most expensive vehicles in the respective lineups of Cadillac and Lincoln, both SUVs will offer an array of comfort, safety and tech-orientated systems and amenities, either standard or optional, with more details to be shared when they go on sale later this year.

There’s also the aspect of price, though, at this point, we don’t know how much they will cost – there was a report about Cadillac hiking the entry price for the 2015 Escalade by $3,725 over the base 2014 model at $72,690, with destination and handling included (D&H), but we haven’t confirmed this with GM yet. Lincoln has not made any comments on pricing.

For the record, the outgoing 2014 Escalade has a starting price of $68,965 with D&H, close to $12,000 more than the current 2014 Lincoln Navigator ($57,160), though, that didn’t stop Cadillac from delivering almost three times as many Escalades (22,514 units) than Lincoln did with the Navigator (8,613 units) in the U.S. last year.

The new Escalade is scheduled to go on sale in the States this spring, while the 2015 Navigator will drop in showrooms later in the fall.

So, the big question; if you’re interested in a big and luxurious American SUV, which of the two would you be more inclined to shop, judging from what you see and know today? Cast your vote in the poll below and elaborate further in the comments.

By John Halas