Overview
Once upon a time, back in the late 1990s, General Motors slapped a Cadillac grille on a GMC Yukon—and the rest is history. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade will mark the model’s fifth generation and this new one looks to be head and shoulders above the original in terms of luxury, style, and technology. Borrowing elements from the Escala concept car from 2016, the new Escalade offers visual panache worthy of its price tag. Two engines will be offered—a familiar 6.2-liter V-8 and a new turbo-diesel inline-six—both hooked up to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Inside, a series of clever curved OLED displays takes the Escalade’s dashboard to the digital realm, serving as the gauge cluster and infotainment display in one slick assembly.
What’s New for 2021?
The 2021 Escalade has undergone a thorough redesign, complete with a new independent rear suspension, savvier interior technology, prettier styling, and a new optional diesel-powered engine.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
- Luxury: $ 80,000 (est.)
- Premium Luxury: $ 85,000 (est.)
- Sport: $ 90,000 (est.)
- Platinum: $ 95,000 (est.)
- Platinum Sport: $ 100,000 (est.)
To truly deck out the Escalade in its best features, go for the Platinum trim. It adds semi-aniline leather, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with massage, soft-close doors, and an AKG audio system with 36 speakers. The Platinum version also comes standard with a self-parking feature, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control. We’ll know more about pricing and optional features closer to the 2021 Escalade’s on-sale date, which is expected to be this summer.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Cadillac’s biggest SUV will be powered by either a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that makes 420 horsepower and can deactivate half of its cylinders when cruising to save fuel or a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter inline-six. A 10-speed automatic transmission will be standard with both engines, and buyers will be able to choose from rear- or all-wheel-drive setups based on their individual needs. As with its siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the GMC Yukon, the 2021 Escalade now rides on an all-new platform with an independent rear suspension to help provide a smoother ride. Higher-end models also will offer an air suspension with adaptive dampers that use computer-controlled shock absorbers.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA fuel-economy estimates aren’t available for the 2021 Escalade but with the same 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood as the 2020 model, we aren’t hoping for a significant improvement from the current 17-mpg combined rating. Opting for the turbo-diesel engine should make a difference, though, and we’re looking forward to testing both powertrains on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
As the flagship of the Cadillac lineup, the 2021 Escalade is expected to up the ante on in-cabin luxury. Faux leather is used in the base Luxury trim, but all other trims receive the real deal, with Platinum models getting soft semi-aniline hides. Leather-covered dash and door panels, aluminum speaker grilles, and adjustable interior ambient lighting should provide an upscale appearance. Like the outgoing model, both a standard and long-wheelbase model will be offered, the latter of which yielding more legroom for third-row riders and additional cargo space.
Infotainment and Connectivity
In addition to the extra luxury features in the cabin, Cadillac has completely tricked out the Escalade in the electronics department. The main showpiece is the digital dashboard that’s comprised of three curved OLED displays that layer on top of one another to create a cool 38-inches of combined digital real estate, some of which serves as the driver’s gauge cluster while the rest projects the CUE infotainment system for the driver and passenger. The collection of displays is reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class’s giant monolithic infotainment setup, but the Escalade’s stacked setup creates depth and looks less tacked-on than the Benz. Other tech features include an augmented-reality navigation system and an available rear-seat entertainment package that includes two 12.6-inch displays with streaming capability. We expect that Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration and a Wi-Fi hotspot also will be standard. Audiophiles will be in for a treat no matter which Escalade model they choose. Cadillac has partnered with Grammy-award winning audio and acoustics company AKG to develop the Escalade’s standard and optional sound systems. A 19-speaker Studio Sound system will be standard on the Luxury, Sport, and Premium Luxury models, but Platinum trims get the AKG Studio Reference system with a whopping 36 speakers.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have released crash-test results for the new Escalade. Cadillac is set on making its flagship SUV a showcase for driver-assistance technology, though, and in addition to making many of the most popular active-safety features standard, Cadillac says it also will offer its Super Cruise semi-autonomous drive mode as an available feature. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with front and rear pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
We expect the 2021 Escalade to offer the same standard warranty package as the 2020 model. Cadillac’s powertrain warranty stretches for longer than rivals such as the GLS-class and the BMW X7, but the BMW’s complimentary scheduled maintenance plan is far better than the Caddy’s.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
