The 2025 Cadillac Escalade Finally Stands On Its Own: Review

Picture by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Common Motors graced its large body-on-frame SUVs with some mid-cycle updates for 2025. That features the Escalade, which doesn’t look a lot completely different on the surface, however holy potatoes is it completely different inside. Serving as GM’s flagship SUV, the Escalade is second solely to the ultra-expensive (and ultra-exclusive Celestiq) as Cadillac’s premier automobile.

For all intents and functions, the Escalade is Cadillac. To essentially perceive what which means, you must reboot your mind and suppose like an prosperous, image-conscious shopper as a substitute of somebody looking for a neat SUV.

The large query right here is whether or not it instructions tens of hundreds of {dollars} greater than the GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban—automobiles which might be simply as comfy and succesful however lack the Caddy’s bling. Let’s discover out.

Engine & Drivetrain: Acquainted V-8, Goodbye Diesel

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Amid the outside and inside modifications, the powertrain is identical as it has been for years. The 6.2-liter V-8 nonetheless burbles within the background, barely noticeable all through the Caddy’s inside. For that matter, it’s barely noticeable exterior as effectively, concealing its 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque via a bevy of piping and mufflers. The mill nonetheless connects to a 10-speed automated transmission turning the rear wheels, although four-wheel drive is optionally available on all trim ranges besides the hi-po Escalade-V, the place it’s normal.

Talking of the V, it nonetheless makes use of the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 making 682 hp and 683 lb.-ft. On the other finish of the spectrum, the eco-minded 3.0-liter Duramax diesel is now gone from the lineup. Until you shell out large bucks for the supercharged V, you’ll be residing with the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter engine in each Escalade trim degree.

There’s loads of muscle to hustle the SUV alongside the freeway with out ever feeling underpowered. It’s additionally fairly remoted for obligation within the Cadillac—I drove a Suburban RST earlier within the 12 months with the identical engine, and it was simply noisy sufficient to make you are feeling like an American badass in a sport-themed SUV. That essence is absent within the Escalade; sound right here is unobtrusive, and automated gear modifications from the 10-speed transmission are nearly unnoticed. In different phrases, the Escalade behaves precisely how a luxurious automotive ought to.

Know-how & Infotainment: Screens For Everybody

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Right here’s what units the 2025 Escalade other than earlier fashions. The big central show is gone, changed by a totally new sprint which includes a pillar-to-pillar 55-inch display screen. The only unbroken pane comes straight from the Escalade IQ and technically accommodates three areas. One is for driver-centric info that spans the area behind the steering wheel. Infotainment features are largely situated in the course of the display screen. And a devoted 20.0-inch show takes up the passenger aspect.

The motive force and middle programs are built-in right into a 35.0-inch space, and as you’d anticipate, they’re configurable. Biking via numerous driver options is definitely performed via steering wheel controls, however infotainment features will probably be performed via a management wheel within the console. That’s as a result of the show units again into the sprint fairly far, making it a little bit of a attain for the motive force to simply use options like navigation or audio settings.

Fortuitously, a lot of the common-use gadgets are accessed via yet one more display screen, mounted on the entrance of the middle console. That is simply inside attain, and it’s the place you’ll do all the things from inside temperature management to seat settings, HUD changes, and even turning on the headlights, must you want to override the Escalade’s automatic-lighting settings. There are optionally available 12.6-inch screens for second-row passengers that may stream your favourite web channels so long as headphones are related.

By means of the varied screens, passengers can do all the things from looking YouTube and checking e-mail, to monitoring the Escalade’s present standing. In the meantime, in entrance, the motive force can deliver up an augmented actuality digital camera that gives a decrease view of the highway forward. At evening, the optionally available evening imaginative and prescient system actually sees at the hours of darkness and tracks motion of warmth sources, alerting you if there’s a collision threat with an animal you possibly can’t see on the aspect of the highway.

The tech is definitely plentiful, however it may be fairly overwhelming and a bit irritating till you get used to it. Working example: it took me 5 minutes to determine learn how to activate the headlights. However in the event you favor a digital expertise with only a few bodily controls, the Escalade has it in abundance.

Design: Nonetheless Massive And In-Cost

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The Escalade will get a minor exterior facelift, largely centered on a redesigned entrance fascia that includes new vertical lights on the corners and slender operating lights on the high. The modifications are definitely noticeable, however not a lot as to make it stand out definitively from final 12 months’s mannequin. Doubtless of higher curiosity is the addition of 24-inch wheels, now accessible from the manufacturing unit for the primary time.

The facelift brings a extra upright look to the entrance clip regardless of the minimal modifications. The traces look clear and satisfying, and there’s no lacking the massive Cadillac crest within the grille. Photographs don’t do that badge justice, and there are few passenger automobiles on the highway the place 24-inch rims look appropriately sized.

Passenger & Cargo House: Comfy, Succesful

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If you happen to can’t get comfy contained in the Escalade, the issue is with you. Massaging seats can be found for each entrance and second-row seats, although you don’t want them for a soothing journey. The headrests are splendidly supportive, and the Escalade’s second-row seats particularly are good and vast. The third row is comfy, too. In truth, the Escalade may have essentially the most comfy third-row lodging amongst all SUVs, full-size or in any other case.

What’s usually not talked about with the Escalade is the accessible cargo room. Fold the rear and second-row seats, and also you immediately have 121 cubic toes of area to work with. I doubt anybody will probably be loading a washer behind their $120,000 Caddy, however you definitely may.

Right here’s a extra sensible technique to comprehend that determine: You possibly can have seven adults inside, enjoyable in consolation, and nonetheless have gobs of area for an aggressive buying journey in Beverly Hills. That’s the place the Escalade shines.

Driving Impressions: Comfortably Numb

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The Escalade rides splendidly, due largely to GM’s Magnetic Journey Management suspension that’s normal on all Escalades save for the entry-level Luxurious trim. Even with thin-sidewall tires on 24-inch wheels, solely the biggest of potholes resound with notable drive. On typical highways, the Escalade simply hums alongside with out disturbance. Rougher sections are barely noticeable, by no means thoughts annoying.

That doesn’t imply the suspension is made from Jell-O. It’s composed and steady while you need it to be, compliant when it must be. And with soft-open/shut doorways, it’s even swish while you’re stepping contained in the cabin. As soon as shifting, there’s little or no highway noise and no reverberation via the cabin. No marvel so many chauffeur providers use these items

From a driver’s perspective, the Escalade is comfortably numb. I imply that in a great way, as a result of that’s precisely how a six-figure luxurious automobile ought to drive. The dimensions and relative silence have a approach of augmenting your sense of velocity, making 80 mph really feel easy. You’ll wish to depend on SuperCruise to maintain your self off the literal radar of John Q officer. Fortuitously, SuperCruise remains to be the very best Degree 2+ driver help system accessible at the moment.

However there’s a catch. Nearly as good because the Escalade is, it’s solely marginally completely different than the Chevrolet Suburban RST I drove a couple of months in the past. The important thing components that make the Escalade such a cushty, succesful, three-row SUV are present in higher-level Tahoe/Suburban trims. That features Magnetic Journey Management, cozy seats, neat tech, and legroom to spare. You possibly can even get 24s on the ‘Burb… and also you’ll pay lots much less for it.

Gas Financial system: Worst In Section

Typically talking, in the event you’re paying six figures for any automobile (until it’s an EV) you most likely aren’t involved about financial system. That stated, the Escalade likes to devour gasoline en masse. The EPA charges it at simply 14 mpg within the metropolis, 18 on the freeway, and 16 mpg mixed.

That’s the bottom amongst its rivals, notably with regards to freeway mileage the place smaller turbocharged engines fare a bit higher. It’s additionally far under the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali, which presents 90-percent of the Escalade expertise however with the thriftier 3.0-liter Duramax diesel.

Pricing & Verdict: Not A Tahoe In A Tuxedo

Taking a sensible take a look at the Escalade… truly you possibly can’t take a look at this virtually. The Platinum 4WD mannequin featured right here has a sticker worth of $124,515, together with Cadillac’s $1,995 vacation spot cost. In the meantime, a well-optioned Chevrolet Tahoe presents all of that and a really related driving expertise for round $90,000. You possibly can get a base mannequin Escalade Luxurious for $90,295, however it doesn’t have the nice suspension, the massive wheels, four-wheel drive, and a lot of the cool tech. Why on earth would anybody pull that set off?

Right here’s the place you must reboot your mind. Shopping for an Escalade has nothing to do with practicality. It’s a life-style selection, aimed toward loyal Common Motors patrons who merely need the very best, interval. For higher or worse, that’s been the GM playbook for many years, and the Escalade—albeit adorned with leather-based, chrome, and some additional choices—was basically a Tahoe in a tuxedo. However that’s not the case anymore.

Whether or not you like or hate digital-heavy interiors, the brand new Escalade lastly distinguishes itself from its Chevy/GMC siblings. And whereas I’m not a fan of touchscreening all of the issues, I shortly fell in love with the Escalade’s new digital look.

It may use a couple of extra buttons for some common-use controls, and a hybrid possibility wouldn’t damage both. However the 2025 Escalade earns its stripes as a gorgeous, succesful, and feature-rich luxurious SUV that present Escalade followers will love. And it simply would possibly pull a couple of folks away from different manufacturers as effectively.

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Supply: Christopher Smith / Motor1