2021 Cadillac Escalade Review

　　

2021 Cadillac Escalade Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2021 Cadillac Escalade is fully redesigned with an array of changes. For one, it's longer than the previous Escalade and has more passenger room (particularly for the second- and third-row occupants) and cargo space. It also gets new technology features, including Cadillac's Super Cruise, which is one of the best semi-automated driving systems around, and a sharp-looking display that spans most of the dashboard.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$274/mo  for Escalade Luxury

　　Escalade Luxury

　　Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $76,195 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $79,195 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $83,195 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $86,195 MSRPSport 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $85,895 MSRPSport 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $88,895 MSRPSport Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $100,595 MSRPSport Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $103,595 MSRPPremium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $100,595 MSRPPremium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $103,595 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Underneath, there's a new independent rear suspension that provides a smoother ride than the previous solid-axle design. The Escalade's standard 6.2-liter V8 is pretty much a carryover, but there is a newly available turbocharged diesel V6 engine, which could be of benefit if you're planning on doing a lot of towing with your Escalade.

　　Overall, we're pleased with the new Escalade. It's worth checking out alongside rival large SUVs such as the Lincoln Navigator and Mercedes-Benz GLS. Check out our Expert Rating for more of our in-depth analysis on the 2021 Escalade.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Escalade drive? Cadillac has done a fine job hiding just how big and heavy the Escalade really is. The Escalade's 6.2-liter V8 might not send it to 60 mph (6.7 seconds) as quickly as some rival SUVs, but it's potent enough. On-ramps and highway passing are no issue, and the V8 sounds pretty good too. The transmission occasionally has some abrupt shifts, and we wish the shift paddles worked in Drive and not just Low, but it's mostly smooth and smart enough to be in the right gear most of the time.

　　We wouldn't call the Escalade sporty, but it's smooth and composed enough around turns. The steering is light and direct, so parking or driving down winding roads doesn't feel like a chore.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Escalade? We don't think the Escalade's ride is quite as refined as that of class leaders such as the Mercedes GLS, but it's certainly comfortable enough most of the time. The seats, too, aren't quite as relaxing as those of the class leaders, but you won't be complaining after hundreds of miles behind the wheel. It's generally pretty quiet too.

　　The climate control system keeps the temperature even, but overall it falls short of the best of the best. There isn't enough adjustment in the vents, and we had to adjust the automatic temperature frequently. Heated seats allow finer control of the zones, which is great.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? As you might expect, the Escalade's interior is vast and spacious. All three rows are large enough for adults, and the wide doors and accessible grab handles make getting in and out simple if a bit of a climb. The seating position is high and truck-like, which is either good or bad depending on your preference. Outward visibility isn't great, but the exterior camera system makes parking relatively easy.

　　Most of the controls are easy to understand, but some are ill placed and hard to see. The climate control settings are difficult to see at night because the toggles that control things aren't illuminated, and we frequently hit the wrong button trying to adjust the temperature.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Escalade offers some of the latest and greatest tech General Motors has to offer. Unfortunately, a lot of it is optional. The adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist systems make driving such a large SUV easier, but some things, such as the night-vision camera, seem more like a novelty.

　　The Escalade features a sleek-looking digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen. There's a decent level of customization, and the Escalade's standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean you can easily run music or podcasts straight from native apps on your phone. There's one wireless charging pad as well as USB-C ports for every row, so everyone has charging options.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Escalade's cargo area is massive. The space is wide and open, and while the liftover is on the high side, the adaptive air suspension can lower when the Escalade is parked to help get stuff inside. Storage for small items is good, too, with plenty of pockets and bins for things such as sunglasses and hand sanitizer bottles. There's an optional chilled center console. The Escalade's tow rating is 8,200 pounds in the right configuration and when properly equipped — that's certainly sufficient for a small or medium-size trailer.

　　Installing a child seat in the rear should be relatively simple. The doors open wide, the anchors are reasonably accessible, and there's plenty of space for a rear-facing seat. The high seats may make getting in a bit of a climb.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? EPA-estimated fuel economy stands at 16 mpg combined with the 6.2-liter V8 and 4WD. That's not so great even for a large SUV. We saw 17.5 mpg during our time testing an Escalade with the V8 and 4WD, so at least you can expect to get the EPA's numbers or a little better. Choose the diesel if you want better fuel economy — it tops out at 23 mpg combined.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Escalade a good value? The Escalade looks and feels pretty nice up front, though we don't think the interior feels quite as premium as the cabins of the best luxury SUVs, especially in the back two rows. The design is clean, and the leather feels great. The dash-spanning digital display looks impressive too. Some of the trim and buttons look a little cheap, but overall it's a fairly nice place to spend your commute if you're the one driving.

　　Pricing lines up right with the competition. Cadillac's four-year/50,000-mile basic and six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranties are average for the class. You also get six years of roadside assistance, but Cadillac only includes a year of scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　Nothing this big and heavy can be considered fun to drive in a sporty sort of way, but there's something enjoyable about cruising around in a big, comfy V8-powered SUV. The stylish interior design makes it feel a cut above most other SUVs. The sharp exterior angles and formidable size are sure to attract attention, but that's always been part of the appeal of driving an Escalade.

　　

Which Escalade does zzdcar recommend?

The base Luxury trim comes well equipped, but we suggest going for the midgrade Escalade Premium Luxury model. In addition to a few more standard features, it offers a wider array of optional features than the base Luxury model, including Super Cruise and an adaptive air suspension.

　　

2021 Cadillac Escalade models

The 2021 Escalade is a three-row large luxury SUV that comes in five trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum. The Escalade seats up to eight with the second-row bench seat. The optional captain's chairs drop the count to seven.

　　All Escalades come standard with a 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft) and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is optional. Also optional is a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft). Both engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

　　Luxury

　　Standard feature highlights include:

　　Full leather seating A dash-spanning 16.9-inch infotainment screen and a 14.2-inch instrument cluster Keyless and ignition with remote start Heated front and rear outboard seats Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Tri-zone climate control A 19-speaker AKG Studio audio system Front and rear parking sensorsPremium Luxury

　　Includes those features and opens up the options list with available features such as:

　　Driver Assist Tech package Adaptive cruise control can speed up and slow down the vehicle with traffic Soft-close doors that catch the doors as they're being closed and gently pull them shut Performance package Revised suspension Trailer hitch assist that helps when lining up a trailer Trailer brake controller that helps control a trailer when on the road A Heavy-Duty Trailering package Rear-seat entertainment system Adaptive air suspension Cadillac's Super Cruise semi-automated driving systemPremium Luxury Platinum

　　Comes with most options as standard equipment but adds:

　　Massaging front seats Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and upper door panelsThe Sport and Sport Platinum trims' features and options generally mirror those on the Escalade Premium Luxury and Premium Luxury Platinum, respectively, with visual touches such as wheels and gloss-black trim separating the models.

　　

2021 Escalade Highlights

Trim: LuxuryPremium LuxurySportSport PlatinumPremium Luxury PlatinumLuxury

　　

Base MSRP	$76,195
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$274/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles