Used 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade is a large luxury SUV with an enormous cabin and cargo hold that could double as a Manhattan studio apartment. With its three rows of roomy seating, the Escalade has space for up to eight passengers on board. Better still, its lineup of available V8 and turbodiesel inline-6 engines deliver the expected power and towing capability from Cadillac’s biggest and most expensive SUV.

Cadillac has raised the bar even higher this model year with the addition of the Escalade-V. Powered by a 682-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, this range-topping performance variant comes standard with all-wheel-drive (AWD), an air suspension, Brembo performance brakes, and 22-inch alloy wheels, among many other features.

For SUV shoppers with the means to afford one, this posh Cadillac SUV competes against strong rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and Lincoln Navigator.

Having received a complete makeover for the 2021 model year, there are no major changes in store for the bulk of the 2023 Escalade range outside of the addition of the potent V-Series model.

The sheer scale of the Escalade is imposing, though the exterior is relatively understated and elegant in its detailing. Step inside and be prepared to be amazed. The massive 38-inch curved organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is sleek, modern, and complemented by high-quality trim everywhere you look.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are wireless device charging, a 19-speaker AKG audio system, Wi-Fi hotspot, heated first and second-row seating, a power-folding third row, and a helicopter landing pad on the roof.

We’re kidding about that last one — though the Escalade in extended-wheelbase ESV format could likely accommodate one.

Basically, the 2023 Escalade comes full of the things luxury SUV shoppers want. And that’s without even mentioning the acceleration afforded by the 420-horsepower V8 engine, much less the tire-smoking V-Series with its supercharged V8. With 682 horsepower on tap, Cadillac estimates the Escalade-V needs only 4.4 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph.

While the Escalade comes standard in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) format, it’s possible to add 4-wheel drive to all trims. On the Escalade-V, you get power to all four wheels as standard.

A 277-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 turbodiesel is also available and delivers notably better fuel economy than the gasoline V8. While it doesn’t have anywhere close to the same horsepower figure, the diesel matches the standard V8’s torque output but at much lower rpm.

You can opt to make the Escalade more cavernous inside by ticking the option box for the ESV variant. Thanks to its 13.2-inch longer wheelbase, the Escalade ESV delivers a degree of space and luxury on par with parking a private jet in your driveway. For $3,000 extra, the ESV treatment is available on all Escalade trims, including the Escalade-V.

Despite its substantial size and weight, we’ve found the Escalade remarkably easy to drive and one of the most comfortable means of getting down the road. Because it sits so high off the ground, outward visibility is excellent, and the driver has a commanding view of the road ahead.

An independent rear suspension carved out more interior space with the latest-generation Escalade, and it also provides a much smoother ride over all types of road surfaces.

It’s hard to fault the standard 420-horsepower V8 when it comes to sheer performance. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain offers quick and seamless acceleration whenever it’s needed.

One major drawback is fuel economy. The EPA combined average of 16 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving is dismal even for a large SUV. The available diesel engine is the one to choose if you’d like to limit your familiarity with every local gas station.

And then there’s the 682-horsepower Escalade-V, the first SUV to earn Cadillac’s revered “V” badge. That one we drove a couple hundred miles across the Desert Southwest, and we can vouch for Cadillac’s claim that it’ll do 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Thankfully, Cadillac has also included upgraded brakes, magnetic ride control, and an air suspension to keep this XL-sized performance SUV under control. On the downside, the Escalade-V is rated by the EPA at 11 mpg city/16 mpg highway/13 mpg combined.

The Cadillac Escalade comes standard with second-row captain’s chairs, which means there is seating for seven people aboard this luxurious SUV. Should you need one extra seat, a second-row bench is optional for no added charge and boosts capacity to eight.

Unlike the previous generation of Escalade, the third row now comfortably accommodates adults and no longer feels like the bottom cushion is much too low, forcing an awkward knees-up seating position. That’s no longer an issue in the current Escalade.

Choosing the extended wheelbase ESV model increases cargo room considerably. There’s 41.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, versus 25.5 cubic feet in a standard Escalade. Few SUVs come close to matching this degree of cargo capacity.

The best seat in the house is behind the steering wheel, however. Gone are the days when an Escalade interior looked like a gussied-up version of what you’d find in a Chevrolet Tahoe, the less expensive SUV that shares the same platform as the upscale Escalade. The dashboard is sleek and modern, the materials are of high quality, and the range of trim and color choices create a no-excuses atmosphere that stands up to the competition.

To create an even higher degree of SUV indulgence, the Escalade can be optioned with extras like a dual-screen rear entertainment system, a 36-speaker AKG surround-sound audio system, massaging front seats, and a console-mounted refrigerator.

The 2023 Escalade is no shrinking violet when it comes to cutting a path through traffic, though it’s not as bedazzled as past efforts once were. If anything, it’s the Escalade’s large LED headlights and taillights that make it stand out, particularly at night when there’s no mistaking this Cadillac SUV for anything else on the road.

While the scale of the Escalade means it stands high above most anything this side of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer, the current Escalade’s exterior details are less extroverted and customizable according to which trim is chosen. For the most part, lower trims have more brightwork on the front grille and along the side windows. Higher trims favor black mesh grilles, dark chrome accents, and black side trim along the windows and beneath the doors.

As for the new Escalade-V, it rides on 22-inch alloy wheels and features sporty flourishes like a quad-exit exhaust, blacked-out front and rear fasciae, and red 6-piston Brembo brake calipers peeking out from behind the wheels.

DIGITAL GAUGES AND INFOTAINMENT SCREEN
A 14.2-inch digital gauge display and a 16.9-inch infotainment screen sit side by side. Elegant and intuitive, standard features include wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and wireless smartphone charging.

SUPER CRUISE
This semi-autonomous drive mode allows for hands-free driving on approximately 200,000 miles of approved highways throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The Cadillac Escalade in entry-level Luxury trim boasts a wide range of comfort, safety, and tech features. The standard powertrain consists of a 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels. Adding 4WD adds $3,000 to the price unless included as standard equipment (as it is on the Escalade-V).

So what do you get in a Cadillac Escalade with a starting price of $81,090? Quite a lot, actually. For starters, there is the expansive digital gauge display and infotainment screen, wireless device charging, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, power-operated front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, tri-zone climate control, and a 19-speaker AKG stereo.

Faux leather covers the seats in the Luxury model, with real leather fitted on all other trims. You’ll also get an augmented-reality navigation system that overlays driving directions with a view of the road ahead. It not only sounds futuristic, but the system also works wonders at making sense of directions that might otherwise have you spinning in circles — such as when a navigation command like “take a slight left” means rapidly choosing between different roads.

Safety takes a front seat. The Escalade comes standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, a rear-seat reminder, rain-sensing wipers, lane-keep assist, a surround-view parking camera, lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, and Teen Driver. This last feature allows an Escalade owner to set pre-programmed limits on the vehicle’s speed and maximum stereo volume.

The most immediate options facing an Escalade buyer include which engine they want under the hood, whether rear- or 4-wheel-drive is preferred, and if the long-wheelbase ESV model better suits their passenger and cargo-hauling needs.

The torque-rich turbodiesel inline-6 is an intriguing choice in the large SUV market. At the same time, the new 682-horsepower supercharged V8 in the Escalade-V is perfect for anyone who wants Corvette performance with school bus seating capacity.

We’ve already highlighted the many standard features on the entry-level Escalade Luxury trim level. Yet that’s only the tip of the Cadillac SUV iceberg because the option sheet is substantial, and each trim delivers its own unique mix of design and feature content.

The Escalade Premium Luxury trim doesn’t dramatically spike the price upward, yet it comes with popular features like leather seating surfaces, a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, and a head-up instrument display. It also includes more safety equipment, such as rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

Notable options include the Touring Package, which adds an air suspension. The Performance Package adds magnetic ride control, an electronic limited-slip differential, and several features geared toward rear trailer control and cameras for towing.

The upscale Platinum trim gets magnetic ride control, air suspension, massaging front seats, a 36-speaker AKG audio system, semi-aniline leather, and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system. Except for its performance upgrades and unique badging, this is close to the level of content provided in the Escalade-V. Available options include night vision, a refrigerator in the center console, and the Super Cruise semi-autonomous drive mode.

The standard powertrain in the 2023 Escalade remains a potent 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel-drive is standard, and 4-wheel-drive is optional.

This is a strong engine, and it works in perfect harmony with the quick-witted gearbox. There is ample acceleration whenever needed, though you’ll pay a hefty price at the fuel pump if you get too heavy with the gas pedal.

A 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-6 is optional, and while we doubt many SUV shoppers will give it much notice, it’s worth noting this engine has the same torque output as the V8. It also delivers far more respectable fuel economy figures. While it’s not as ultimately powerful as the V8, the diesel works equally well with the 10-speed gearbox.

Of course, the new monster in the room is the outrageous supercharged 6.2-liter V8 found in the Escalade-V. With 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque, Cadillac estimates this mighty SUV needs 4.4 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph. It uses what Cadillac refers to as a full-time active all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

6.2-liter V8
420 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg (2WD), 14/18 mpg (4WD)

3.0-liter turbodiesel 6-cylinder
277 horsepower @ 3,750 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg (2WD), 20/26 mpg (4WD)

6.2-liter supercharged V8 (Escalade-V)
682 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
653 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/16 mpg (AWD)