2023 Cadillac Escalade SUV

　　

2023 Cadillac Escalade Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiVehicle 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 2023 Cadillac Escalade is one of the most recognizable vehicles today. Its massive dimensions and distinctive styling make it an imposing figure on the road. It's anything but subtle, which is likely the statement that owners are out to make. This year, the Escalade lineup adds a new version that will leave an even more outrageous impression: the Escalade-V.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 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

　　$291/mo  for Escalade Luxury

　　Escalade 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) - $88,095 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $91,095 MSRPSport 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $91,095 MSRPSport 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $94,095 MSRPSport Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $105,595 MSRPSport Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $108,595 MSRPPremium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $105,595 MSRPPremium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $108,595 MSRPV 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl S/C 10A) - $149,195 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　If you're familiar with Cadillac, you'll know it uses the V moniker for its high-performance versions. The new Escalade-V follows suit by way of its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that produces a thumping 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque. It's enough to get this big SUV from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, according to Cadillac.

　　Of course, the Escalade isn't the only large luxury SUV in the space since its competitors have a presence all their own. The Lincoln Navigator is as big as the Cadillac and its acres of chrome make it just as recognizable. The Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7 are smaller and less capable when it comes to towing but offer more luxurious interiors. The Escalade doesn't trail by much, so be sure to check out our Expert Rating below to see where it shines and what could use some improvement.

　　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. The heated seats allow for finer control of the zones, which is great.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below