2024 Cadillac Escalade

Although its heritage only goes back to the 1990s, the Cadillac Escalade is one of the most iconic nameplates in American cars. This full-size luxury SUV lives up to its already-storied name thanks to a high-tech interior with roomy 3-row seating, the available Super Cruise hands-free driving system, and a range of impressive engines, especially the supercharged V8 in the Escalade-V.

The Cadillac Escalade competes primarily with its crosstown rival, the Lincoln Navigator, and the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, a relative newcomer to the class.

The big update for the 2024 Cadillac Escalade 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.

Before buying an Escalade, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Cadillac Escalade resale value is about average for the segment.

The Cadillac Escalade is powered by a 420-horsepower V8 engine matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear- or 4-wheel drive. A 277-horsepower turbodiesel 6-cylinder is available with the same torque rating as the V8 and better fuel economy.

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. 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.

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-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 the current collection of full-size luxury SUVs, including this Cadillac Escalade.

Fuel Economy

The standard V8 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. According to EPA estimates, that translates to about $129 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.

We’re impressed with the space and quality of the Escalade’s interior. 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.

The standard wheelbase model boasts 34.9 inches of third-row legroom, which extends to 36.6 inches in the ESV model. That’s less than the Lincoln Navigator and Jeep Grand Wagoneer, but we still found the way-back seats pretty roomy.

The cargo space behind the third row of seats is 25.5 cubic feet in the standard wheelbase and a whopping 41.5 cubic feet in the ESV. That’s a little more than the Navigator and a little less than the Grand Wagoneer.

The Cadillac Escalade has a presence that leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind what it is. 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. Every Cadillac Escalade is a big SUV, but the ESV models add even more length, yielding more interior space.

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’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 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 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 is a 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Although it’s a rare beast, we like the turbodiesel 6-cylinder, which significantly lowers the fuel costs of the Escalade. With both engines, rear-wheel drive is standard and 4-wheel drive is optional.

The Escalade-V 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 Cadillac Escalade 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 and better than the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Cadillac also throws in scheduled maintenance for your first visit.

Safety Ratings

The Cadillac Escalade earns a 4-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), while the Lincoln Navigator 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.