2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV

By every dimension, the Cadillac Escalade is one of the largest passenger vehicles on the road. Not big enough for your larger-than lifestyle, you say? The Escalade ESV is even longer and roomier, capable of shuttling the same eight people but about 60% more cargo. Combined with a rich and high-tech interior, available Super Cruise hands-free driving, and a range of impressive engines, the Escalade ESV goes big in every direction. It competes primarily with the Lincoln Navigator L and Jeep Grand Wagoneer L, a relative newcomer to the class.

The big update for the 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV is standard Super Cruise hands-free driving on all but the base Luxury trim. Also, the Escalade-V models now come with the 20th Anniversary V-Series Package with a new grille header graphic, a new interior splash screen logo update, and unique puddle lamp logo projection. Also of note, the electric Escalade IQ was unveiled in August 2023. It will go on sale in late 2024 as a 2025 model alongside the gas-powered Escalade, although it’s unlikely we’ll see an ESV version.

Before buying an Escalade, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Cadillac Escalade ESV 5-year resale value is about typical for the segment, similar to Navigator L and Grand Wagoneer L.

Despite its substantial size and weight, we’ve found the Escalade ESV remarkably easy to drive and one of the most comfortable means of getting down the road. Keep in mind, however, that parking lots are even smaller and trickier to negotiate in the ESV. If you don’t absolutely need the extra space, your life might be a little easier in a standard-length Escalade.

The Cadillac Escalade ESV is powered by a 420-horsepower V8 engine matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear- or 4-wheel drive. It’s hard to find fault in the standard V8 regarding sheer performance and smooth power delivery. It always offers quick and seamless acceleration whenever we need it. The Escalade lineup also offers a more efficient turbodiesel 6-cylinder engine, the only one available in the class.

Because it sits so high off the ground, outward visibility is excellent, and the driver has a commanding view of the road ahead. It eats up highway miles in effortless serenity, especially with the Super Cruise hands-free driving system that’s standard on all but the base trim.

The Escalade-V is a different animal. Its 682-horsepower supercharged V8 and performance upgrades like 6-piston Brembo front brakes, a V drive mode with launch control, and a uniquely tuned suspension system make it a luxury SUV with the performance — and exhaust note — of a high-powered muscle car.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size luxury SUVs, including the Cadillac Escalade ESV.

Fuel Economy

The standard V8 in the Escalade ESV gets 16 combined mpg with both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 4-wheel drive (4WD). The more efficient diesel is rated at 23 combined mpg with RWD and 22 mpg with 4WD. Using EPA estimates, that translates to more than $100 per month in fuel savings by going with the diesel rather than the standard V8, which requires premium gas. The might of the Escalade-V comes at a cost at the fuel pump; it only gets 13 combined mpg.

The Escalade ESV offers a whopping 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row alone. That’s 16 cubic feet more than in the “smaller” Escalade, extra space equivalent to the trunk of a midsize sedan. It’s a little more than the Navigator L, a little less than the Grand Wagoneer L.

In addition to more cargo room, the Escalade ESV treats third-row passengers to a bit more legroom (36.6 inches vs. 34.9 inches). That’s on par with the Grand Wagoneer L, but several inches short of the Navigator L, which offers a generous 40.9 inches.

The days of the Escalade being little more than a Chevy Tahoe with leather seats are long gone; this is a serious luxury SUV with an interior that matches its price tag. We love the top-notch material quality, 38-inch OLED display, and AKG audio systems, especially the 36-speaker setup in the Platinum models.

The Escalade is a practical family SUV because of its vast interior space. Second-row captain’s chairs make the second row more comfortable and the third row easier to access. If you want eight seats rather than seven, a bench second row is a no-cost option.

Every Cadillac Escalade is a big SUV, but the ESV models add even more length and presence. We think this full-size SUV does an excellent job of looking distinctive and sophisticated without going gaudy. The look can change a bit depending on the trim. The lower trims and the Premium Luxury Platinum trim have more chrome, while the Sport and V-Series models have a black mesh grille and more black accents.

Super Cruise
The Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system that’s standard on all but the base trim allows for hands-free driving on over 400,000 miles of highway in North America. It’s even capable of automatic, hands-free lane changes.

38-inch OLED display
This beautiful curved OLED display houses a digital gauge cluster and the Escalade ESV’s infotainment screen. This responsive and user-friendly system has high-quality graphics and is available with augmented reality navigation.

AKG audio systems
Every Cadillac Escalade has an immersive AKG premium audio system. The standard 19-speaker system provides a rich sound, but the available Studio Reference 36-speaker system takes the audio quality to the next level.

UltraView sunroof
The available UltraView panoramic sunroof opens up the vast interior of the Escalade for a more luxurious experience for the passengers.

Platinum trims
The Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims make the Escalade ESV an even more luxurious SUV. They feature a more thoroughly leather-wrapped interior with full semi-aniline leather seats in all three rows, plus the AKG 36-speaker audio system, a rear entertainment system, massaging front seats, air ride adaptive suspension, and much more.

V-Series
The Cadillac Escalade-V ESV lives up to the venerable “V” badge with pulse-pounding performance in a full-size luxury SUV. The supercharged V8 under the hood produces 682 horsepower and achieves a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds.

The standard and most popular engine in the Cadillac Escalade ESV is a strong 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Although it’s a rare beast, we also like the turbodiesel 6-cylinder engine. With both engines, rear-wheel drive is standard and 4-wheel drive is optional.

The Escalade-V ESV is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 making a whopping 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque. It sends power to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission and a full-time active all-wheel-drive system. Naturally, this is our favorite Escalade to drive, but it’s also the most expensive and least efficient.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. That coverage is the same as the Lincoln Navigator L and better than the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L. Cadillac also throws in scheduled maintenance for your first visit.

Safety Ratings

The Cadillac Escalade ESV earns a 4-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), while the Lincoln Navigator L boasts a 5-Star rating. A generous list of standard safety tech features in the Escalade includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, a Safety Alert Seat, a surround vision camera, rear parking sensors, and a Teen Driver mode.