2021 Cadillac Escalade

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade is offered in five trim lines, namely Luxury, Premium Luxury, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport, and Sport Platinum. Pricing begins at $77,890 and climbs up to $105,290 for the top-end model. The Cadillac Escalade competes with its arch-nemesis, the Lincoln Navigator, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, and the newest member of the segment, the 2021 BMW X7. The Caddy and the Lincoln have always been the kings in providing the maximum comfort to all seven of the occupants. The Mercedes and the BMW, however, provide a better driving experience. Let’s see how the redesigned Escalade holds up against the competition.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade comes in five trim options, namely Luxury, Premium Luxury, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport, and Sport Platinum. The Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Premium Luxury Platinum look outright luxurious, elegant, and extremely flashy with a lot of chrome elements all around them, whereas the Sport and Sport Platinum trims are similar to the Premium Luxury and Premium Luxury Platinum in terms of feature set, but as the name suggests, they are much sportier, stealthier, and in a way, better looking than the other duo. However, the preference based on looks is purely subjective, and all of the models, in that case, look beautiful and elegant.

The base Luxury trim is very well equipped with a lot of luxury features, and the pricing starts at $77,890. It can be opted with packages, including the ‘Performance Upgrade Package’ worth $2,795, which adds a Performance Air Intake System and a Cat-Back Performance Exhaust, an Illumination Package, and a Cargo Convenience Package. Next comes the Premium Luxury trim which gets a few more packages on offer along with a more luxurious feature set. The Premium Luxury Platinum, however, comes with the same package options as the base trim as all other features are already included as standard. The Sport and Sport Platinum trims come in a similar configuration as the Premium Luxury and Premium Luxury Platinum trims but differ in the exterior design and some other mechanical features which we will discuss later on in the review. 

We Recommend

The best options to choose from in the Escalade range are either the Premium Luxury trim or the Sport trim. Both of these are mid-level trims and come with some extra luxury over the base trim. As the name of both models clearly suggests, the Premium Luxury leans toward more luxury, whereas the Sport trim along with all of the luxury and features from the Premium Luxury trim further adds an Adaptive Air Suspension and Magnetic Ride Control along with an Electronic Split Differential, hence delivering a more engaging and comfortable driving experience. These trims also come with plenty of packages available to up the game even more.

All trims of the Cadillac Escalade are powered by a 6.2L V8 generating a strong 420 hp of maximum power and 460 lb-ft of maximum torque. The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox which does the job pretty well. The power output is not the sportiest in the segment as power is delivered in a smooth and linear manner. The engine has a decent exhaust note also, which can be further enhanced by opting for the Performance Upgrade Package, which adds a performance air intake system and a cat-back performance exhaust. Overall the Escalade has a beefy brawny base engine with enough punch to carry people around with ease. 

As we know, the Escalade is not a performance SUV even though it has variants named Sport and Sport Platinum on offer. However, it does deliver an impressive performance for a full-size luxury SUV of its size. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade can reach a speed of 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and cross the quarter-mile mark in 14.4 seconds which is admirable. The Escalade delivers the maximum power output at 5,600 rpm, which is a bit higher than the competition. Also, the fact that the maximum torque is not available at a lower rpm is a confusing decision taken by Cadillac, not that it lacks torque in the low range, but still, it is a questionable matter. The top speed of the 2021 Escalade is limited to 155 mph.

We have taken the base variants of all of the luxury full-size SUVs here for comparison, and the BMW and Mercedes offer better, stronger engines at higher price points and different trims. The Cadillac and Lincoln are, however, limited to these engine options even though the Cadillac has a diesel engine option which will be reviewed separately. As we can see, the Lincoln, followed by the Cadillac, are the most powerful vehicles in this comparison, but the X7 and the GLS being more sporty machines developed and fine-tuned to deliver maximum performance and agility, emerge victorious with expected results. 

The BMW X7, even with the least powerful engine, is still the fastest among these, and if the X7 M50i is taken into consideration, it just smokes all of the rivals. The Mercedes is also not far behind delivering blistering performance. The top-end models of the GLS and the X7, the AMG GLS 63 and X7 M50i take 4.7 and 4.1 seconds to reach 60 mph which is super fast by SUV standards, while the Caddy and the Lincoln take the same exact times as their engines remain the same. So in terms of performance, the BMW X7 is the winner, followed by the Mercedes-Benz GLS Class.

How well does the 2021 Cadillac Escalade Drive and Handle?

The handling and driving dynamics of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade has been found to be much better than the last generation model which was on sale till last year. With the 2021 redesign, Cadillac has focused more on making the Escalade a better-handling, easier-to-drive machine, and they have succeeded in doing so to a certain extent. However, it is still far away from being a supersport SUV or the best handling one in the segment. Still, the ride quality delivered by this machine is of exceptional quality. It just glides through the roads providing ample amounts of comfort and soaking up bumps and rough patches of roads. 

The Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, and Sport Platinum models, equipped with the Adaptive Air Suspension and Magnetic Ride Control, perform even better in terms of ride quality. But compared to the competition, the Cadillac performs very well in terms of ride quality but loses out when it comes to handling and driving dynamics. Both the GLS as well as the X7 performs miles better than the Caddy in terms of overall handling, cornering stability, steering feel, and providing an engaging driving experience.

How efficient is the braking performance of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade? 

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade comes with 13.2-inch brake rotors in the front and 13.6-inch ones in the rear, which does a good job of bringing the behemoth SUV to a stop in a respectable time. The Escalade stops from 60 mph at a distance of 122 ft, which is a good distance but not a great or praiseworthy one. There are competitors in the segment that have a significant advantage over the Escalade in terms of braking distance.

As we can see from the table, the X7 and the GLS shine in terms of braking performance too. So it’s not just about the best performance or impressive handling, the brakes on these machines also work efficiently to bring them to a stop at a superb distance of 105 ft. The Cadillac follows with a significant gap, whereas the Lincoln is the weakest in the braking department. The braking performance of the Cadillac is certainly not bad, but it’s just that the rivals just outshine it with superior braking performance.

Fuel efficiency has not ever been a term that was in harmony with the Cadillac Escalade. For 2021, there hasn’t been a significant improvement in the fuel economy of the Escalade even after the redesign. The 2021 Escalade delivers a fuel economy of 15 mpg in the city, 20 on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 17 mpg. It comes with a huge 24-gallon fuel tank, providing a combined range of 408 miles. Even with the advantage of a slightly larger fuel tank, the Cadillac still doesn’t hold up with the rivals.

Once again, the Mercedes and the BMW happen to be the best. They come with the best-combined fuel economy of 21 mpg. The GLS also gets a large fuel tank of 23.8 gallons, which means that it provides the best combined range of around 500 miles. The BMW is not far behind and is followed by the Navigator. The Cadillac happens to be the least efficient, both in terms of fuel economy as well as range. 

Now, this is where the Escalade now and always has shined bright. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade comes with a well-built, super luxurious interior made up of high-quality premium materials and elements. The interior trim comes in various themes, including Parchment with Jet Black accents, Whisper Beige with Gideon accents, and Dark Auburn with Jet Black accents. The top-end Premium Luxury and Sport Platinum trims even feature a leather-covered dashboard with all kinds of luxury materials present everywhere in the cabin. Everything inside the cabin feels nice to see, touch, and feel.

The upholstery options in the different trims of the Escalade include Jet Black leatherette, semi-aniline leather with mini-chevron perforated inserts, and also in the highest trim with Mondrian quilting. All of these options mean that the best quality materials and leather are used in the Cadillac. The seats are extremely comfortable, and the interior space is exceptional. All three rows of seating provide enough space for adults to be seated. The Escalade also comes with a superior cargo capacity of 25.5 cu-ft. Overall the 2021 Cadillac Escalade comes with a truly sumptuous interior. The only drawback happens to be the misplacement of some controls and also that the climate control buttons are not illuminated.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator is the clear winner in terms of overall interior space as it provides the most legroom in the third row by a significant margin while also delivering a great amount of space in the first two rows. But considering luxury and interior quality along with that, the Cadillac and the Mercedes become the champions as they stand just below the Navigator in terms of third-row space while also delivering a far more superior and luxurious interior and features. The Cadillac, however, defeats all of the competition by providing the most cargo space measuring 25.5 cu-ft. Major interior features include:

• Fully automatic panoramic sunroof
• Heated and ventilated front and rear seats
• 16-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage function
• Power soft closing doors
• Three-zone climate control
• Ambient lighting

How intuitive is the 2021 Cadillac Escalade’s infotainment unit?

This is an area where the 2021 Escalade has received a significant upgrade. It now features a super high-resolution 38-inch curved OLED touchscreen infotainment system spread all the way to the center of the dashboard. It is split into a 16.9-inch infotainment screen and a 14.2-inch instrument cluster seamlessly, thus eliminating any bezels or separations. It is one of the highest-end infotainment units ever fitted into a car in the present time. 

The infotainment unit is easy to use and intuitive and comes with all of the features and media options you can imagine. As for audio, a 19-speaker AKG stereo system is standard in the lower trims, whereas the higher trims feature a super-advanced 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference premium audio system. It comes with 3 amplifiers and front and rear subwoofers along with 3D Surround technology. The following are the most important infotainment features-

• A 38-inch curved OLED touchscreen infotainment system
• A dual-display rear media system 
• Wireless device charging
• 36-speaker AKG premium audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4G LTE WiFi hotspot
• Real-time 3d navigation system

The exterior of the new-gen 2021 Cadillac Escalade has gone through a major redesign, while the basic essence and soul of an Escalade has been kept the same. The Escalade now looks sleeker, more fluidic, and definitely more beautiful than the last generation model. It has also been made longer, and that increase has been reflected in more interior space. The styling is differentiated between the Luxury and Sport variants. The Luxury models look more flashy and like how the Escalade has always looked. The design language and the plethora of chrome elements all over the vehicle scream that it is an epitome of luxury from every angle. Whereas the Sport models are for someone who needs a more stealthy, subtle, and strong-looking vehicle with all of the luxury and features but keeping away the bells and whistles from outside. 

The models also differ based on the wheels equipped in each of them. All of the Escalade models, including the base model, come with huge 22-inch wheels. So the type and the styling of the wheels is what changes according to the trim chosen. With the base Luxury trim, you get 22" 14-Spoke alloy wheels with a Bright Silver finish, whereas the Premium Luxury trim gets the same wheels with a Polished finish. Stepping up to the Sport and Sport Platinum trims, you get 22" 12-Spoke wheels with a Dark Android finish, while the Premium Luxury Platinum trim exclusively comes equipped with 22" 10-Spoke wheels with Dark Android finish and laser etching. There are also major differences in the front end design, the Luxury models feature a chrome grille, whereas the Sport models get a more stealthy blacked-out one.

The Navigator is a tad bit heavier than the Escalade, but that’s by a very slight margin, but it comes with more ground clearance than all of the rivals. The Escalade is the longest and widest while also being the tallest. The Mercedes and the BMW have a significant weight advantage over the other two, in which the BMW is the lighter one. This weight advantage also helps them to achieve better performance. And about exterior beauty, all of the vehicles have their own beauty elements, and the choice would be subjective. As for us, the Escalade in the Sport trim and the Mercedes GLS are to be the most beautiful ones. The following are the most important exterior attributes-

• Swept-black headlights
• 20-inch 7-spoke chrome alloy wheels
• Eldorado inspired tail lights
• Adaptive Air Suspension
• An acoustic windshield and Rear Privacy glass
• Active Aero Grille Shutters

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade has been crash-tested and rated by NHTSA, and it has been given a good overall safety rating of 4-stars. It also gets a 4-star rating for overall front protection too. In all of the side crash tests, the Escalade performed exceptionally well and gained a superb 5-star rating under all parameters. However, it gets only a 3-star rating for rollover protection and has a rollover risk of 21.20%. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade comes with a lot of safety features incorporated in it. The major safety features include the following-

• Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
• Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist
• Forward Collision Alert
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Available Night Vision

2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

Both of these offer very similar performances and come with a lot of space in the interior. However, the Escalade is the more luxurious option, while the Navigator is the more spacious option. The Navigator is slightly less expensive than the Escalade, but the Escalade does come with an extra premium for the price. Overall the Escalade is worth paying the extra price, but for the absolute maximum passenger space, the Lincoln Navigator is the option. 

2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is a faster, better handling option than the Escalade with a lot more punch on offer. It also delivers far better fuel economy figures along with more range. The Escalade, however, provides slightly better third-row space and a lot more cargo capacity. Overall, both of these are very capable machines, but the GLS is the overall more superior option for the price paid.

2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 2021 BMW X7

This is a fairly simple choice between the super-impressive drivability, handling, fuel efficiency, and mind-blowing performance of the BMW and the vastly spacious and a tad bit more luxurious interior of the Escalade. A choice has to be made according to your need and use. If you intend to drive your huge SUV, then go for the BMW X7. But if you’re planning to be chauffeured around, then go for the Escalade.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade is still a palace on wheels as it has always been. But this time, it is a high-tech palace with a lot of new and updated technology incorporated into it. The ride quality and comfort are exceptional and best-in-class in this huge SUV. It also provides a huge amount of space for people as well as cargo. The interior is filled with all sorts of luxury and the latest features. The exterior now looks more streamlined and beautiful with different exterior styling options to choose from. The drawbacks include sub-par handling and lower fuel economy. But overall, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade is a great option in the segment.