2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV

　　

2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　The Escalade's size, luxury and power have made it a popular choice for people looking for a large and capable premium SUV for nearly 25 years. Cadillac's flagship SUV is versatile enough to haul a large family around in the lap of luxury while having the capability to tow a heavy load (up to 8,000 pounds). The 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV is longer than the regular Escalade. Its extra 15.1 inches of length gives it 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row versus the regular Escalade's 25.5 cubic feet. It also has a little more legroom for third-row passengers.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV 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

　　$291/mo  for Escalade ESV Luxury

　　Escalade ESV Luxury

　　Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $79,295 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $82,295 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $87,895 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $90,895 MSRPSport 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $90,595 MSRPSport 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $93,595 MSRPSport Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $104,595 MSRPSport Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $107,595 MSRPPremium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $104,595 MSRPPremium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $107,595 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Cadillac redesigned the Escalade lineup for the 2021 model year. Cadillac packed it with loads of tech and advanced driver aids and a smoother-riding independent rear suspension that helped to boost passenger and cargo space. For 2022, Cadillac added more standard advanced driver aids and a new Touring package. Premium Luxury and Sport trims now come with adaptive cruise control, upgraded automatic emergency braking and rear automatic braking.

　　The Escalade ESV is a compelling choice for a large and powerful premium SUV, but it's not alone in the large luxury SUV segment. Its direct rival, the Lincoln Navigator L, is highly rated and was updated for 2022. Jeep is also about to launch an extended-length version of its new Grand Wagoneer for the 2023 model year. But if you're looking for a large, high-tech luxury SUV with a commanding presence that packs a large V8 or turbodiesel engine, the Escalade ESV should be at the top of your list.

　　

Which Escalade ESV does zzdcar recommend?

If you don't want to spend six figures on the top Platinum trims, we recommend opting for the Premium Luxury trim. Besides what the base Luxury trim has, the Premium Luxury adds a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, real leather seating and several advanced driver aids. More important, it opens up the availability of several stand-alone options and packages including the Performance package and the 36-speaker AKG Studio audio system.

　　

Cadillac Escalade ESV models

The 2022 Escalade ESV is a large three-row luxury SUV that comes in five trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum. The Escalade ESV seats up to eight with the optional second-row bench seat. The standard captain's chairs drop the count to seven.

　　All Escalade ESVs come standard with a 6.2-liter V8 (420 horsepower, 460 lb-ft of torque) and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is optional. A turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft) is also optional. While it's not as quick as the V8 gas engine, the diesel should net better fuel economy. Both engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

　　Luxury

　　Standard features for this base trim include:

　　22-inch wheels LED headlights Automatic high-beam headlights Hands-free liftgate Keyless entry and ignition Remote engine start 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster Tri-zone climate control Inteluxe synthetic leather seating Power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats Heated front and rear outboard seats Power-adjustable and heated steering wheelThe Escalade ESV also includes a comprehensively equipped infotainment system:

　　16.9-inch touchscreen display Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Amazon Alexa Built-in Connected services with subscription access to a Wi-Fi hotspot Satellite radio Navigation with augmented reality 19-speaker AKG Studio audio system Wireless smartphone charging These safety features are also standard on all Escalade ESV trim levels:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Escalade and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Rear seat reminder (alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle)Premium Luxury

　　Includes the above features and adds:

　　Panoramic sunroof Leather seating Ventilated front seats Digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)The Premium Luxury trim adds these advanced driver aids:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Escalade and the car in front) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)These packages and options can be added to the Premium Luxury trim:

　　Touring package Adaptive air suspension Soft-close doors Illuminated doorsills Performance package Magnetorheological adaptive suspension Electronic limited-slip differential Trailer hitch assist (helps with lining up a trailer) Integrated trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cabin) Trailer blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot while towing) Vehicle and smartphone towing app (an in-vehicle and smartphone app that assists with various aspects of towing) Heavy-Duty Trailering package Trailer camera Trailer tire pressure monitoring system Two-speed transfer case (4WD models) Additional engine cooling Rear-seat entertainment system Two 12.6-inch seat-mounted rear touchscreen displays Content-streaming capability Two HDMI and USB-C ports Two Bluetooth AKG headphones Premium Luxury Platinum

　　The range-topping trim adds:

　　Performance package contents Touring package contents Massaging front seats Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and upper door panels Upgraded leather seating Synthetic suede headliner 36-speaker AKG Studio audio system Rear-seat entertainment systemThe Sport's and Sport Platinum's features and options are similar to those found on the Premium Luxury (with the Performance package) and Premium Luxury Platinum trims, respectively. Visual touches such as unique wheels and gloss-black exterior trim separate the sporty trim levels.

　　Notable stand-alone options include:

　　Super Cruise (hands-free adaptive cruise control with lane keeping system) Console refrigerator with freezer mode Night vision (assists with visibility in low light conditions) Power side steps with LED lighting Front six-piston Brembo brakes Performance exhaust system Second-row bench seat (for eight-passenger seating)

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