2023 Cadillac Escalade V

　　

2023 Cadillac Escalade-V 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 TakahashiSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　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 V 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl S/C 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

　　$357/mo  for Escalade V

　　Escalade V

　　V 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl S/C 10A) (Most Popular) - $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-V drive? The supercharged V8 is this big SUV's calling card. You'll hear the Escalade-V coming before you see it, and that's kind of the point. In zzdcar' testing, our test vehicle needed just 4.8 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. That's significantly quicker than any other domestic large SUV and about 2 seconds quicker than a regular Escalade. There's plenty of power available throughout the engine's rev range, and you'll be tempted to floor it everywhere.

　　Around corners, you'll feel the Escalade-V's bulk. It stays reasonably flat and stable, but you can just tell that this SUV's focus is straight-line performance. Plus, the stability control system activates at the first hint of hooliganism. In our 60-0 mph braking test, the Escalade-V stopped in 121 feet, which is a bit better than the result we got from a regular Escalade. However, we found it hard to consistently stop smoothly and accurately in city driving.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Escalade-V? 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