Anuron DekaContent WriterUpdated on: November 1, 2019
Inspired from the GMC Yukon, the Escalade never really had a character of its own, though it has not abandoned its roots by keeping the design intact over the years. It might feel dated to many young buyers but Cadillac has done a great job updating this humongous SUV to be better fitting with the time. The trucky origin has left its traces in the form of comfortable trailering and being more substance than style. It's a breed that is quickly becoming endangered and needs a rebirth to survive.
The ESV is the longer of the two SUVs offered in the Escalade lineup. The longer wheelbase results in a larger cabin. The third row is more spacious than most cars in the segment. The cargo space is also larger which adds to the practicality and utility of this car.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV packs a 6.2L V8 engine, same as it's smaller brother. It is capable of generating 420 hp of power and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. For gear-shifting, the SUV relies on a 10-speed automatic transmission mode. Prior to the 2019 make, an 8-speed automatic transmission mode was available. Gear-shifting is smooth and effortless.
There are 4 distinct trim options to choose from for the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV, namely Standard, Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum. Pricing options for the trims start from $77,695 for Standard, $83,295 for Luxury, $87,695 for Premium Luxury and $96,795 for Platinum. Each of the trims comes with a number of optional packages and options to choose from.
Trim
Standard
Luxury
Premium Luxury
Platinum
MSRP
$75,195
$83,795
$91,195
$97,295
Key
Features
Standard Features
Features in the Standard trim plus
Features in the Standard trim plus
Features in the Standard trim plus
Heated and cooled driver and front passenger seats
Surround Vision
Head-Up Display
Driver Awareness Package
Illuminating Door Handles
Sueded microfiber headliner and door pillar trim
Selectable Magnetic Ride Control Suspension
Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound 16-speaker audio system
Selectable Magnetic Ride Control Suspension
Selectable Magnetic Ride Control Suspension
Upgraded power front seats with massaging function
Selectable Magnetic Ride Control Suspension
Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound 16-speaker audio system
Rear Seat Entertainment (fold down the 9-inch diagonal screen)
Cooled front-seat center console and two more rear entertainment screens
Three-zone automatic climate control
Rear Camera Mirror
Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound 16-speaker audio system
Rear Seat Entertainment (in front seat head restraints)
Power-adjustable pedals
IntelliBeam headlamps
18-way adjustable seats with Massage
The leather-wrapped instrument panel, console, and upper door trim
Automatic parallel and perpendicular parking assist
Power sunroof
The Standard trim comes with a selectable magnetic ride control suspension and surround vision features. The Luxury trim features a power sunroof, IntelliBeam headlamps, and Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound 16-speaker audio system.
The next trim is Premium Luxury. It comes with illuminating door handles and rear-seat entertainment. The Platinum trim features suede microfiber headliner and door pillar trim and selectable magnetic ride control suspension.
We Recommend
Premium Luxury is the best trim to go for. It has all the features as available with the Luxury trim plus features like rear-seat entertainment and illuminating door handles.
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV Engine and Performance
“Big V8 power is the primary driver of the Escalade's performance. A new 10-speed automatic transmission makes it more efficient than before. The transmission shifts smoothly and even rev-matches downshifts, but the Escalade is too big to be a competent handler”- Edmunds
Engine and Transmission
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV features a 6.2L V8 engine. It is complemented by a 10-speed automatic transmission mode. The 6.2L is capable of generating 420 hp of power and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. Escalade ESV offers the most power as well as torque among its class rivals. Its close competitor in terms of engine power is Infiniti QX80. The coupe features a 5.6L V8 engine, delivering 400 hp of power and 413 lb.-ft. of torque.
Models
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570
MSRP
$78,195
$64,750
$69,550
$90,630
Engine
6.2L V8
5.6L V8
3.0L V6
5.7L V8
Transmission
10-speed automatic
7-speed automatic
9-speed automatic
8-speed automatic
Horsepower
420 hp @ 5600 rpm
400 hp @ 5800 rpm
362 hp @ 5500 rpm
383 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque
460 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm
413 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
369 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
403 lb-ft @ 3600
Lexus LX 570 Three-row features 383 hp of power and 403 lb.-ft. of torque. Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offers 362 hp of power and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. Both of which are the lowest amongst the competition.
Acceleration
The latest revamp of the Cadillac Escalade ESV accelerates to 60 MPH within 5.7 seconds. It takes 14.2 seconds to cover a quarter-mile. Both feats are the best in the class. Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offers the second-best 0-60 MPH acceleration time of 6.1 seconds. L
Lexus LX 570 Three-row has the most sluggish acceleration amongst the competition. It takes 7 and 15.3 seconds to gain 60 MPH acceleration and cover a quarter-mile, respectively.
Models
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570 Three row
0-60 MPH (sec)
5.7
6.2
6.1
7.0
Quarter mile (sec)
14.2
14.8
14.6
15.3
Engine
6.2 L
5.6 L
3.0 L
5.7 L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
10.3
11.0
9.3
11.8
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV comes with a CO2 emission value of 10.3. Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offers the least CO2 emission value of 9.3 among the fraternity. On the other hand, Lexus LX 570 Three-row has the most-in-class CO2 emission value of 11.8.
Ride and Handling
Rather than following a car-based crossover, like most of its class rivals, Cadillac Escalade ESV follows a truck-based approach. As such, it loses much flexibility. Also, it doesn’t offer a much smoother ride as its contemporaries offer.
However, Escalade ESV has a special card up its sleeve and it is dubbed Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension. The feature smoothens rides on rough patches in addition to keeping the giant SUV composed while dealing with turns. For making the ride smoother, it is advised to avoid using the optional 22-inch wheels. This is because getting these will make the ride bumpier over rough patches.
Braking
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV offers a well-balanced braking system. Both its front and rear brakes are 17 inches in size. This is the biggest brakes among its class rivals. Infiniti QX80 and Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 has the smallest front brake, measuring 13.8 inches. Lexus LX 570 Three-row has the smallest rear brake of 13.6 inches.
Model
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570 Three row
Brake Front (in.)
17.0
13.8
13.8
13.9
Brake Rear (in.)
17.0
13.8
13.6
13.6
Curb Weight (lbs.)
5,831
5,676
5,335
6,000
60-0 MPH (ft.)
NA
NA
NA
NA
Towing Capacity
The maximum towing capacity of the Cadillac Escalade ESV Standard is 8100 lbs. This is second only to 8500 lbs. offered by the Infiniti QX80. Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offers a maximum towing capability of 7500 lbs. Lexus LX 570 Three-row offers the least-in-class towing capacity of 7000 lbs.
Model
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570 Three row
Maximum Towing Capacity
8,100 lbs
8,500 lbs
7,500 lbs
7,000 lbs
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV Fuel Economy
Cadillac Escalade ESV Standard offers a combined fuel economy of 17 mpg. It delivers 14 mpg in cities and 23 mpg on highways. This is slightly better than that of 15 and 16 mpg offered by the LX 570 Three-row and QX80, respectively.
Model
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570 Three row
MPG (city)
14
14
17
13
MPG (highway)
23
20
22
18
MPG (combined)
17
16
19
15
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offers a combined fuel economy of 19 mpg. It offers 17 mpg in cities and 22 mpg on highways.
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV Interior
7.0/10
“Aside from the infotainment system, the rest of the interior is a nice place to while away the miles. The only real issues are compromises to the floor of the cabin and third-row seats made for the solid rear axle and non-sliding second-row seats”- Edmunds
Seating and Comfort
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV is tied with Infiniti QX80 and GLS 450 in terms of passenger capacity. The ride comes with a maximum passenger capacity of 7. This is second only to 8 flaunted by the Lexus LX 570 Three-row. Headroom, shoulder-room, and legroom available in the front of Escalade ESV are 42.8, 64.9 and 45.3 inches, respectively. Each of them is the most available among its class rivals.
Model
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570 Three row
Passenger capacity
7
7
7
8
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
42.8/64.9/45.3
39.9/63.8/39.6
41.2/58.5/40.3
38.3/61.0/42.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
39.1/64.4/39.7
40.0/63.5/41.0
40.0/58.3/38.5
38.9/61.4/34.4
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
38.5/62.6/34.5
36.8/60.5/28.8
38.9/50.5/35.0
35.8/62.3/28.3
Headroom, shoulder-room, and legroom available in the middle of Escalade ESV are 39.1, 64.4 and 39.7 inches, respectively. The shoulder-room is maximum in the league. Infiniti QX80 and Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offers the most middle headroom of 40 inches. QX80 offers the most middle legroom of 41 inches.
Headroom, shoulder-room, and legroom available in the rear of Escalade ESV are 38.5, 62.6 and 34.5 inches, respectively. Headroom and shoulder-room are maximumly available amongst the competition. Legroom available in Escalade ESV is second only to 35 inches offered by the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450.
Infotainment System
Cadillac Escalade ESV features the infotainment system right in the center stack. It features an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Additionally, there is a 16-speaker Bose surround sound system coupled with the infotainment system. The infotainment system features a great response time. It is easy and quick to shuffle between menus.
However, a major issue with it is long initial navigation system load times. The infotainment system allows integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There are a total of 5 USB ports available with the system. Moreover, there is a wireless charging pad available right on top of the center armrest.
Cargo Capacity
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV outclasses its rivals in terms of cargo volume. It offers space for 120.9 cubic feet with 2nd row folded. Cargo volume available after folding the 3rd row is 76.7 cubic feet. Total space available when only the 3rd row is up is 39.3 cubic feet.
Model
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570 Three row
Cargo Volume with 3rd row up (ft.3)
39.3
16.6
16.0
15.5
Cargo Volume with 3rd row folded (ft.3)
76.7
49.6
49.4
41.0
Cargo Volume with 2nd row folded (ft.3)
120.9
95.1
93.8
83.1
Interior Features
Comfort and craftsmanship come hand-to-hand in the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The ride has plenty of great features to offer on the inside, including:
Heated and cooled 12-way adjustable front seats
3-zone climate control
Handcrafted interior utilizing authentic genuine leather and wood
Best-in-class interior space
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV Exterior
“The 2019 Cadillac Escalade is brash but refined”- The Car Connection
Design and Dimension
Length, width, and height of Cadillac Escalade ESV are 224.3, 80.5 and 74 inches, respectively. Infiniti QX80 offers the most height of 75.8 inches. Escalade ESV flaunts a curb weight of 5831 lbs. This is more than that of the Infiniti QX80 and GLS 450. Lexus LX 570 Three-row has the most curb weight of 6000 lbs. amongst the competition.
Model
Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
Infiniti QX80
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Lexus LX 570 Three row
Curb weight (lbs.)
5,831
5,676
5,335
6,000
Length(in)
224.3
210.2
202.0
199.4
Width(in)
80.5
79.9
76.1
78.0
Height(in)
74.0
75.8
72.8
73.4
Ground clearance (in)
8.0
9.2
8.5
8.9
Wheelbase (in)
130.0
121.1
121.1
112.2
Track width (in) F/R
67.5/67.9
65.2/65.9
64.8/64.6
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV supports a wheelbase of 130 inches. Again, it is the most available in the segment. Lexus LX 570 Three-row offers the least wheelbase of 112.2 inches. Ground clearance offered by the Escalade ESV is 8 inches, least among the league. Infiniti QX80 offers the most ground clearance of 9.2 inches. Ground clearance for LX 570 Three-row and GLS 450 are 8.9 and 8.5 inches, respectively.
Exterior Features
A plethora of features on the outside makes the Escalade ESV exteriors exquisite. Key exterior features flaunted by the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV include:
Elegant full-LED headlamps
The bold, signature grille
22-inch polished, cast formed aluminum wheels
Hands-free Liftgate
Invisible rear wiper
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV Safety
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV offers standard security features. The ride comes with 4-wheel ABS and turn signal mirrors in addition to child seat anchors. Moreover, the truck-based ride boasts a remote anti-theft alarm system and tire pressure monitoring systems at its disposal.
Safety Features
Rear Door Child Safety Locks
Cornering Lights
Turn Signal Mirrors
Daytime Running Lights
Engine Immobilizer
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
Stability Control
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests
Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
Front And Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes
Dusk Sensing Headlamps
LED Headlamp
Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System
*NHTSA and IIHS has not yet rated Cadillac Escalade ESV standard
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV Competition
Infiniti QX80 vs Cadillac Escalade ESV
With 400 hp of power and 413 lb.-ft. of torque at its disposal, Infiniti QX80 is a prime rival of Escalade ESV. The ride flaunts a 5.6L V8 engine coupled with a 7-speed automatic transmission mode. Pricing options for the QX80 start from $64,750. This is about $13k less than that of the opening bid for the Cadillac Escalade ESV. The ride takes 6.2 seconds to accelerate to 60 MPH. Moreover, it covers a quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds.
Lexus LX 570 Three-row vs Cadillac Escalade ESV
With a starting bid of $90,630, LX 570 Three-row is one of the expensive options among the class rivals. The coupe packs a 5.7L I8 engine. It is capable of generating 383 hp of power and 403 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is complemented by an 8-speed automatic transmission mode. LX 570 Three-row has the slowest acceleration in the league. The SUV takes 7 seconds to hit the 60 MPH. Moreover, it takes the most-in-class time of 15.3 seconds to cover a quarter-mile.
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 vs Cadillac Escalade ESV
GLS 450 comes with a 3.0L I6 engine, capable of delivering 362 hp of power and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. For gear-shifting, Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 relies on a 9-speed automatic transmission mode. The ride is capable of accelerating to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds. This is slower than Cadillac Escalade ESV but faster than other class rivals. The ride has the least CO2 emission value of 9.3 in the league. Furthermore, the ride offers the least-in-league curb weight of 5335 lbs.
Combined fuel economy is something the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 outshines its class rivals at. The ride offers a combined fuel economy of 19 mpg. Comparatively, Cadillac Escalade ESV has a combined fuel economy of 17 mpg. Although the ride has comfortable seating, its interiors aren’t as spacious as that flaunted by the Escalade ESV. Also, the cargo capacity of the ride is unimpressive. GLS 450 supports a towing capacity of 7500 lbs.
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV Final Verdict
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a truck-based SUV that combines luxurious cabin with an exceptional towing capability. Moreover, the ride flaunts a roomy cargo space. However, it has issues like a bumpy ride quality on not-so-perfect roads. Also, the fuel efficiency isn’t as good as offered by other car-based crossovers. Nonetheless, 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a great combo of comfort and space.
