I was in high school when the Escalade first made its debut in 1998 as a response to the introduction of the Lincoln Navigator. The Escalade and Navigator went head-to-head in a battle as the ultimate luxury SUV. Both are still around today, along with many other luxury SUV contenders. Arguably, these two are still at the top of their game as they've continued to evolve over the past 20+ years. The Escalade is now in its fifth generation which debuted in 2021 and just this year, Cadillac announced a new all-electric Escalade IQ is on the horizon.
The Escalade is currently offered in a standard size with up to 121 max cu.ft. of cargo space or the longer ESV version which delivers 142.8 max cu.ft. of cargo space. Both come standard with a 420 horsepower 6.2L V8. Other available powertrains include a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6 diesel with 277 horsepower and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. Rear wheel drive is standard, but all wheel drive is available.
For 2024 there are four models available known as Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, or Sport Platinum. Prices start at $83,890 for a RWD Luxury model and climb to a starting price of $115,790 for either the Premium Luxury Platinum, or Sport Platinum. Options are built into the various trim levels for the most part, but there are a few things you could add that would drive the price as high as the $122,000 range. Also available is the Escalade-V, which is a high-performance variant that gets the aforementioned supercharged engine, AWD and more for a price range of $155,515 - $163,000. I spent a couple weeks in a $110,000 Sport model and here's what stands out...
Exterior Style (+)
The original has aged well while maintaining its iconic Cadillac look. It comes with a sophisticated color palette with tones of black, gray, blue, red, and white that each give it a different vibe. I spent time in a Dark Moon blue model that glimmered when the sun hit it. The front features a bold grille with various finishes and inserts depending on the model. The Sport variant was blacked out with a mesh-style grille flanked by slim horizontal LED headlights. On either side of the front bumper are vertical LED daytime running and turn signal lights. The entire front end has a chiseled look with a confident stance. The side profile has stayed true to its heritage with an upright, boxy shape and sharper angles. Around back, vertical 3' LED taillights stretch from the bumper to the roofline and the Cadillac crest doubles as the tailgate release when pushed in. Each model comes with different wheel designs that complement the rest of the look. The Sport model was equipped with 22" 12-spoke gloss black wheels that worked well with the rest of the black accent trim.
Regardless of which model you choose; the Escalade still has a grand presence that evokes luxury. It was very apparent for me when I pulled up to take my teenage daughter and her friends to the high school dance and all the teens were in awe of the Escalade. They immediately wanted a picture with the Cadillac... thus suggesting to me that the Escalade carries on as an icon worthy of selfies for Instagram or TikTok.
Powertrain (+)
For now, the Escalade carries on with a powerful 6.2L V8, however, look for a new electric variant called the Escalade IQ to arrive in the next year. The base V8 engine churns out 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It's enough power to get this heavy SUV from 0-60 MPH in a respectable 6.1 seconds. It packs plenty of power for entering the highway and passing other cars. It shifts smoothly through the gears for a confident drive. Maximum power comes in the Escalade V with the 682-horsepower V8 option that jets from zero to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.
Handling (+/-)
Despite its large size, the Escalade is easy to drive and handle. It doesn't feel overly bulky on the road as it rides smoothly over various terrains and road imperfections. It is composed around corners with appropriate steering feedback. Steering is well-balanced, making it maneuverable on the roads and in the parking lot. The suspension is firm as it is based on a truck platform. Despite its firmness, the available air-suspension does a good job of balancing it out for an overall smooth and comfortable ride. It's a great vehicle to pack the family in for a road trip or just a nice day of cruising around town.
Super Cruise (++)
Super Cruise is a semi-autonomous hands-free driving feature that is standard in the Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport Platinum, and Escalade V . I have driven similar systems in other models but have to say that Super Cruise takes the lead on this technology. The system is easy to engage with and operates incredibly smoothly. Once cruise control is on, the Super Cruise light will illuminate on the digital cluster if available. It will currently engage on over 400,000 miles of compatible roads throughout the US and Canada including both divided and undivided highways. When it is safe to do so, press the Super Cruise button on the steering wheel to engage Super Cruise. When the symbol and steering-wheel light bar illuminate in green, you may remove your hands from the steering wheel. Do not remove your hands from the steering wheel unless the light bar is green, which indicates that Super Cruise is steering the vehicle. To disengage Super Cruise, press the Super Cruise button again or press the brake pedal.
Once engaged, it maintains its placement on the center of lane thanks to multiple real-time cameras, sensors, GPS, and LiDAR precision map data. The distance behind the vehicle in front is set by the driver and maintained automatically. Super Cruise also features automatic lane changing or lane change on demand. If you approach a car that is driving slower than your set speed, the Escalade will automatically change lanes to pass the vehicle ahead of you. Before changing lanes, it will notify the driver via the digital cluster and seat vibrations. It will also change lanes automatically if it senses a vehicle behind you following closely to get out of the way for that driver. It works seamlessly and appropriately, never "cutting off" other drivers. The lane change system can also be engaged on-demand when the driver turns a turn signal on.
A small camera ensures driver attentiveness and focus on the road ahead. If the car senses the driver is not focused, the steering wheel light-bar flashes for the first alert, turns red on the second alert, the seat vibrates, and it will direct the driver to take over control. If the driver does not take over, the Escalade will slow down and safely come to a stop. Super Cruise was beyond impressive as I was able to let the Escalade drive me home from work on the highway minimizing the stress of traffic. Kudos to GM & Cadillac for developing such an intelligent system that is easy to operate.
Fuel Economy (-)
When it arrived with a full 24-gallon tank, it offered around 384 miles of driving range. The 6.2L V8 gets an estimated 14/18/16 MPG city/highway/combined running on premium fuel. After two weeks of suburban driving, I averaged 15.3 MPG. Annual fuel expenses are estimated at $4,100 with it costing over $100 to fill the tank. More efficiency is available in the diesel option with 20/26/22 MPG city/highway/combined getting up to 528 miles of range. Keep an eye out for details on the Escalade.IQ if this is an area of contention for you.
Interior Vibe (+)
Hopping inside is like stepping into a luxury suite. Filled with high-quality materials of leather, aluminum, wood and more... this is truly the flagship of the Cadillac lineup. The layout is contemporary with technology at the forefront paired with ambient lighting and comfort to deliver a top level in-vehicle experience. Quilted genuine leather seats available with ventilation, heating, and massage functions ensure drive and passenger comfort. Pop open the lid on the center console for the available console refrigerator (with a freezer mode) to keep up to six 24-oz. bottles cooled at temperatures ranging from 41 - 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Pair all this comfort with Cadillac's Super Cruise and driving in rush hour or for a road trip becomes something you can almost look forward to.
Every seat in the Escalade is spacious and comfortable. It seats up to seven total in standard configuration or will accommodate eight with a second-row bench seat. Access to the third row is easy either between the two captain's chairs or by pulling on one of the levers to fold the second-row seat forward. Look up and you'll find an available panoramic moon roof that extends over the second row and opens for the front passengers. And for maximum immersion, the headrests are available with built in speakers for a full 360-degree surround sound experience as part of the available 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference audio system.
Technology (+)
Taking over the dash is a curved OLED screen with 38" total diagonal display. Per Cadillac, it's the industry's first display of its kind with twice the pixel density of a 4k TV. Imagery on these screens is crystal clear and offer features such as augmented reality-enables navigation with real world camera view popping up on the digital cluster screen, in-cluster navigation, a full-color head-up display and more. The screen consists of a 14.2" digital cluster behind the steering wheel, a 7.2" digital control panel, and a 16.9" primary touch screen. It wirelessly integrates with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while also providing a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless device charger.
If you have younger passengers, you might consider opting for the available rear seat entertainment system for second and third-row passengers. It allows you to play video and audio from compatible devices directly to the 12.6" high-definition touchscreen displays mounted on the rear of the front seats. Other tech features include a full-color head-up display, conversation enhancement through the speakers, parking assist, and the MyCadillac mobile app. The best part of all the technology available in the Escalade is that it is easy to use and navigate.
Cargo Capacity (+)
The Escalade offers an impressive amount of cargo space for the large luxury SUV class. Regular-wheelbase models provide 25.5 cubic feet of room behind the third row, 72.9 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded and 121 cubic feet with all the rear seats folded. Long-wheelbase Escalade ESV models step it up to 41.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 94.1 cubic feet behind the second row and 142.8 cubes with both rear rows folded. A hands-free power liftgate is standard. Overall cargo space is slightly more than the Lincoln Navigator and slightly less than the Grand Wagoneer. The Escalade's space feels more than sufficient with a nice wide-open space when the tailgate is open. And it's a nice trick to press the Cadillac crest to open the tailgate. As a bonus, you can open just the glass of the hatch at the touch of a button above the license plate.
Safety / Driver Assist (+)
Standard on all models is the Cadillac Smart System which includes forward-collision warning with automatic braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-departure warning, lank-keep assist, safety alert seat, rear park assist, HD rear vision camera, vehicle diagnostics, teen driver settings, and rear seat reminder. Safety alert seat is a driver's seat that vibrates as a warning to the driver of potential hazards. Teen drivers let you do things like set speed and audio volume limits for secondary drivers. Enhanced Automatic parking assist, automatic seat belt tightening, head-up display, lane change alert with side blind zone alert and rear cross traffic alert are standard on Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, and Sport Platinum. My family was particularly fond of the automatic seat belt tightening which provided a little reassuring "hug" every time we drove off. The Escalade has just about every safety feature imaginable and the higher trim you choose will include more.
Final Statement:
An original icon has aged with dignity while continuing to evolve flagship luxury. Escalade is a name everyone knows for good reason. The latest version of this premium SUV is impressive on all levels. Outside it still evokes Cadillac heritage with modern touches of LED lighting, blacked out trim, massive wheels and more. Inside the technology blends with comfort redefining how you drive. Speaking of driving, it practically does that for you as well... and does it better than any competitor in my humble opinion. If you're in the market for a high-class full-size SUV, the Escalade remains a top contender.
First Impression Summary:
Test Vehicle: 2023 Cadillac Escalade Sport
Exterior Color: Dark Moon Metallic
Interior Color: Brandy Genuine Leather
Notable Options: Quilted Leather Seats ($2,000), Premium Paint ($625), Touring Package ($2,550), Power-retractable Assist Steps with LED Perimeter lighting
MSRP as tested (including delivery & processing fees): $111,110 |
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