2021 Cadillac Escalade – The New Gold Standard for Luxury SUVs

It is still a solid body on frame construction, but the new rear independent suspension coupled with the optional air suspension turns this bad boy into one of the smoothest riding and handling SUVs on the road. A new, impressive exterior appearance, an incredibly high tech interior packed with convenience features and the room to enjoy them, and an expanded cargo capacity all make the Escalade a first choice in its class.

You’re Definitely Going to See this Ride Coming and Going

Riding on 22-inch wheels and with a massive textured grille sporting the Caddy logo, dramatic aluminum trim, horizontal headlamps and distinctive vertical Daylight Running Lights (DLR), it will be impossible not to recognize the Escalade coming at you. As it zooms by you may notice the metal treatment around the wheel wells that gives the impression of fender flares and the distinctive black accents. When you see it in your rearview mirror you will undoubtedly notice the long, 3D, vertical taillights and the rear spoiler.

The Interior – Let’s Talk Luxury 

The first thing you’ll notice about the Escalade’s interior is its spaciousness. The new design allows for plenty of leg room for the second row captains’ chairs and a full 10 inches of extra space in the third row making it a legitimate adult seating option. Toss in 25 cu. ft of cargo space behind the third row (51 cu. ft. with the third row down) and you have an accommodating interior space.

The list of interior features is impressive and long, so we will just list a few to give you a taste:

Leather upholstery everywhere

• 3-zone climate control
• Seats with a minimum of 12 power adjustments up to 16 adjustments (including massage)
• 19-speaker stereo system
• Rear facing camera
• A thorough suite of safety systems including lane-keeping assist and a blind-spot warning system

And a few fun options:

• Super Cruise, almost entirely autonomous driving over 200,000 miles of highway in the U.S. and Canada including braking, acceleration, and even lane changing.
• Night Vision
• Console cooler
• Third row entertainment center
• 36-speaker AKG stereo system

And we saved the best interior feature for last. Dominating the dash is a 38-inch Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) that is actually two screens that run seamlessly across the driver’s side. The center screen is a programmable instrument cluster and video monitor that meshes into the Escalade’s infotainment system. The resolution on these screens is amazing and the speed of infotainment system is downright awesome.

What Makes the 2021 Cadillac Escalade Go?

Sitting in the sumptuous driver’s seat gazing at three feet of OLED displays, it would be easy to imagine that a small Scottish engineer lived under the hood tending a dilithium crystal powerplant capable of warp 9. Well, that’s just fantasy…for now. What you do have is a choice of two engines that provide all the oomph and torque you need for performance that matches styling and design.

Standard on all trims is a 6.2L, direct injection, aluminum block V8 that generates 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. EPA ratings on this engine are 14/20 for RWD and 14/19 for 4WD platforms. This is a tested powerplant that is currently used in the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra.

The big news is a no option cost diesel that debuts in the Escalade. This 3.0L turbocharged in-line six will put out 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. While it has not been tested by the EPA yet, it is expected it will run at 30 mpg on the highway which will make the Escalade one amazingly economical road trip ride. Something the competition is not. Both engines are mated to Cadillac’s 10-speed automatic transmission.

As hinted above, you can get the Escalade as an off-road 4-WD vehicle. Equipped with the air suspension, the driver can pump up a few more inches of clearance for off pavement activities. This can come in handy if you are towing up to 8200 pounds of camper or boat to your favorite remote spot.

How much Will the Escalade Cost? 

If you are talking base models, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Mercedes-Benz GLs are about the same. The Escalade MSRP is $77,490. However, when you go up the trim line and add some of the cooler options you can easily hit the $100,000. Luxury costs in America.

But if you want a luxury people mover for your tribe, and you like the idea of 30 mpg, you most definitely want to check out the new 2021 Cadillac Escalade when it hits the showrooms next year!