New Cadillac Escalade Review 2025

Overview

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade is a bold and stylish full-size SUV built for those who love space, comfort, and high-tech features. It’s Cadillac’s top luxury SUV, and it now comes with a fresh new look that matches the brand’s latest electric models, like the Escalade IQ and Lyriq.

Even though it’s based on the same strong frame as the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, the Escalade is all about luxury. It can carry up to eight people comfortably in three rows, offering a smooth ride and lots of high-end features. Competing with other big luxury SUVs like the Lincoln Navigator, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and Lexus LX600, the Escalade stands out for its size, power, and style.

Inside, the cabin feels modern and premium. One of the coolest features is the huge curved OLED screen that now stretches across the entire dashboard, making it look futuristic and high-tech. If you need more space for luggage or gear, the extended ESV version offers extra room behind the third row.

Under the hood, the standard engine is a strong 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower—perfect for highway driving or family road trips. But if you’re craving more power, the Escalade-V comes with a supercharged V8 that pumps out 682 horsepower. It’s a beast that gives a luxury SUV muscle vehicle energy.

With its mix of power, comfort, and high-end features, the 2025 Escalade continues to be one of the top choices in the full-size luxury SUV market.

What’s New for 2025?

In keeping with Cadillac’s most recent EV design, the 2025 Escalade sports a new appearance. At the front, it now has a bigger grille with new designs, sleeker daytime running lights placed just under the hood line, and wide horizontal LED lights for a bold appearance. The back also gets small updates like new taillights, a redesigned lower bumper, and some trim changes to make it look cleaner and more modern. Cadillac has also added a new option for huge 24-inch wheels—the biggest ever offered on any Escalade, giving it a stronger road presence. Buyers can now choose from three new paint colors: Deep Sea metallic, Latte metallic, and Aegean Stone, giving more options for a custom look. Inside, the digital display that curves across the dashboard has grown from 38 inches to 55 inches, now stretching fully from one side to the other. The steering wheel has a new design for a more stylish feel. For a new cabin design, two new interior color packages—Sheer Gray and Renaissance Red—have been unveiled. The high-performance V-Series version also adds extra carbon-fiber interior trim and unique quilted leather seats for a sporty and upscale vibe. One of the biggest changes for 2025 is that Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driving tech, is now standard on all Escalade models, making long drives easier. Also, Cadillac has removed the diesel 3.0-liter inline-six engine, so now only gas-powered options remain.

If you want to know more about this car? Watch our New Cadillac Escalade Review 2025 video: Watch Now

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade starts at $90,295 for the base model and can go all the way up to $167,695 for the high-end V-Series version. There are several trims and drivetrain options, including both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). You’ll find choices like Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, and the top-tier Platinum trims, each with different features. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim is a great pick because it comes with an advanced air suspension for a smoother ride, an impressive 36-speaker AKG sound system, premium semi-aniline leather seats with built-in massage, and new power doors that open and close with just a touch. If you want the most powerful and performance-focused version, the Escalade-V is the best option. Cadillac’s Arlington Assembly factory in Texas will start producing the 2025 Escalade in late 2024.

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Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade runs on a strong 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower. This engine is paired with a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission and comes with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. For 2025, Cadillac dropped the option for the older diesel engine. That diesel version was good on fuel but felt weaker in performance, so now it’s all about powerful gas engines.

If you’re someone who loves fast SUVs, the Escalade-V is the one for you. Its 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine produces an incredible 682 horsepower. In addition to providing significant speed, this strong engine produces a deep, aggressive sound that many drivers will find appealing.

The Escalade has an independent rear suspension, just like the GMC Yukon, Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe. This setup helps improve third-row legroom, which was tighter in older models with solid rear axles. The higher trims also come with air suspension and adaptive dampers, which adjust the ride to stay smooth on bumpy roads. While this makes the Escalade feel better to drive than regular large SUVs, the high-performance Escalade-V still isn’t as sporty as some rivals like the Mercedes-AMG GLS63 or BMW Alpina XB7.

0–60 MPH Times

Although we haven’t tested the most recent 2025 Escalade yet, the V8-powered 2021 long-wheelbase Escalade ESV reached 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 682-horsepower engine of the Escalade-V makes it even faster. In our most recent test, it reached 60 mph from 0 in just 4.3 seconds and completed the quarter-mile at 111 mph in 12.7 seconds, which is impressive for a large SUV.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade with the standard V8 engine and rear-wheel drive gets about 14 miles per gallon in the city, 19 on the highway, and 16 combined. If you choose all-wheel drive, highway mileage drops slightly to 18 mpg. Fuel efficiency is even lower for the high-performance Escalade-V, which only manages about 11 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the interstate. For more details on fuel efficiency, you can visit the EPA’s official website.

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Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

As Cadillac’s top SUV, the Escalade offers a very luxurious interior. The base model comes with fake leather, but all other trims use real leather. The top Platinum trims get extra-soft semi-aniline leather. Inside, you’ll find leather-wrapped dashboards and doors, stylish aluminum speaker covers, and mood lighting that gives a premium feel. Some buttons and controls are shared with other GM vehicles. You can choose between a standard-size Escalade or the longer ESV version, which gives more space in the third row and more cargo room in the back.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Escalade is packed with high-tech features. Its standout feature is the huge digital dashboard made of three curved OLED screens that combine into a massive 55-inch display—bigger than last year’s 38-inch version. The driver gets a digital gauge display, while the rest of the screen runs Cadillac’s infotainment system. There’s also a special navigation system that shows directions using real-world visuals, and you can add rear entertainment screens (two 12.6-inch displays) for passengers.

All models come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can use your smartphone apps on the screen. A Wi-Fi hotspot is also available. The sound system, which Cadillac collaborated with the famous audio firm AKG, will appeal to music lovers. While Platinum trims boast an amazing 36-speaker system (or 40 speakers if you choose the second-row Executive package), base, sport, and premium luxury trims have a 19-speaker arrangement.

Safety and Driver Assistance

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade is built not just for luxury and power—but also for safety. Cadillac has included many important safety features as standard and also added some high-end technology like Super Cruise, which lets you drive hands-free on certain roads.

Here are the key safety features:

• Automatic emergency braking (detects people in front and behind)
  
• Lane-keeping assistance and lane departure warning (which keep your SUV in its lane)
  
• Optional adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving (Super Cruise)
  

If you want to check official crash test ratings, visit the websites of NHTSA or IIHS.

Warranty and Free Maintenance

Cadillac gives the Escalade a solid warranty, just like other Cadillac models. It beats rivals like Mercedes GLS and BMW X7 in some areas, especially for engine coverage. However, BMW still wins when it comes to free maintenance.

Here’s what the Escalade warranty includes:

• Basic warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles
  
• Powertrain warranty (engine & transmission): 6 years or 70,000 miles
  
• Free maintenance: Only for the first service
  

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Specifications

Escalade-V (2023) – Quick Look at Specs
This is Cadillac’s high-performance version of the Escalade.

Price: Starts around $151,490
Tested Price: $155,215 (with extras like Super Cruise and special paint)

Engine:

• Type: Supercharged 6.2L V8
  
• Power: 682 horsepower
  
• Torque: 653 lb-ft
  
• Transmission: 10-speed automatic
  
• Drive: All-wheel drive
  

Performance:

• 0–60 mph: 4.3 seconds
  
• Top Speed: 125 mph (limited)
  
• Braking from 70–0 mph: 178 feet
  
• Fuel economy (real-world): Around 11 mpg
  

Size & Weight:

• Wheelbase: 120.9 inches
  
• Length: 211.9 inches
  
• Height: 76.7 inches
  
• Weight: Around 6,290 lbs
  
• Passenger Space: 177 cubic feet
  
• Cargo Space: 26 cubic feet
  

Escalade ESV 4WD (2021) – Extended Version Specs
This is the longer version of the Escalade with more passenger and cargo room.

Price: Base $83,490 | As Tested: $112,965
Engine:

• 6.2L V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft torque)
  
• Transmission: 10-speed automatic
  
• Drive: Rear or 4-wheel drive
  

Performance:

• 0–60 mph: 5.9 seconds
  
• 1/4 mile: 14.5 seconds at 97 mph
  
• Braking from 70 to 0 mph: 176 feet
  
• Observed Fuel Economy: 14 mpg
  

Size & Weight:

• Wheelbase: 134.1 inches
  
• Length: 227 inches
  
• Passenger Space: 180 cubic feet
  
• Cargo Space: 43 cubic feet
  
• Weight: 6,270 lbs