2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Price Range: $25,966 - $53,998

Cadillac Escalade ESV Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.2
32 reviews
5(41%)
4(9%)
3(13%)
2(3%)
1(34%)
See all 32 reviews of the Cadillac Escalade ESV
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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Stay Away, Transmission complete garbage
bbtx1987, 10/18/2019
2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
We bought our 2016 Escalade ESV new 3.5 years ago and have been PLAGUED with issues. Drove it off the lot and brought it back within 3 weeks complaining of rough transmission shifting at low speeds, steering wheel vibrations and a whining noise at high speeds. Car always 'within spec' so nothing the dealer could do. If we would of just returned the dang thing. Since then, we've had the … car in over 12 times complaining about the transmission alone. I've also had to have the rear HVAC controls replaced twice for controls not responding and rear seat warmers turning on by themselves, drivers seat replaced for failing controls, steering week column replaced, rear lift gate motor replaced as it died, the battery died and stranded me, rear shocks leaking and replaced at 33k miles, wood paneling replaced from bending out of place, lane assist recalibrated.... And the kicker... all those times I complained about the transmission, I had GUNK in the transmission fluid at 33k miles - that needed replaced. Now we are ditching this hunk of junk for something more reliable given we believe the transmission is faulty and irreversibly damage given we've been complaining since we drove the car off the lot. DO NOT WASTE YOU MONEY, we are pissed at the quality of this crap GM product with how much we spent. We filed a complaint with GM and they just wanted to 'assist us with getting it fixed with the dealer.' Thanks, but no thanks. I can schedule taking my car into the dealer for the 20+ time on my own, as I have for the entire 3.5 years we've owned the thing. Worst car I've ever owned - never had this many issues on my other cars combined!
My dream vehicle!
Cindy W., 01/28/2020
2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A)
If you're looking for a great ride, a ton of bells and whistles and a stylish vehicle, you're going to love owning an Escalade. This SUV has everything, hiding spots for your belongings, USB ports everywhere, 120v plugin, a ton of Bose speakers and so much more. The camera system is amazing! When I flip up my rear view mirror I see traffic behind me. When I pull into my garage I … still get the 360 view to make sure that I'm over enough and in far enough. My only issue, and this is a me issue is that this is sooo much bigger than the Tahoe I came from. This one is a beast ;o) so I'm having problems pulling into parking spots still, but with time, I'm sure that I'll nail it.
GM reliability destroying once great Escalade
Adam S, 05/13/2019
2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
Bought a certified 2016 Escalade ESV because we just had our 3rd kid and needed something with extra room for 3 car seats and 2 strollers. Traded in my 2013 Infiniti JX35 with 90k trouble free miles. Loved that SUV, but too small for my needs. Day 1 of owning Escalade heard tranny slipping and truck bangs and thumps with every shift. Dealer replaced tranny fluid and that made a huge … difference. Took back possession of vehicle and right away, heard an engine ticking. Took it back and needed a new belt. Now when I put truck into AUTO from 2WD in rain and snow it sounds like the front differential(?) is slipping. Truck sounds rough, feels like crap and I’m trying to get another appointment with the dealer. These trucks looks gorgeous, don’t get me wrong and I love the Kona leather interior with the Captains seats. It’s comfortable and fast, but the reliability is so bad that after 3 months I can comfortably say I won’t buy Cadillac again. Also the dealer experience has been less than stellar, but I realize that depends on individual dealerships. I wish Lexus or Infiniti would build an XL Luxury SUV. With as many Escalades and Suburbans on the road, I have to assume there’s a solid business case. In either case, check out the Navigator or Expedition, because GM has self destructed with their horrendous reliability. But if you must get GM, please get an extended warranty. Cadillac certified warranty is crap. My Fidelity warranty has covered more than $3,700 worth of fixes that Cadillac wouldn’t cover.
Last Cadillac I will own
22jrm, 06/16/2016
2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
Purchased a $90,000 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV only to find engine coolant on garage floor. Ended up finding out engine was sent out of the factory with bad left engine head. Ended up with motor of the Brand new engine stripped down to motor block in small town GM shop with parts laying all around to be fixed. Asked Cadillac to exchange vehicle since I will never trust this engine and … didn't not purchase used or refurbished and told warranty fixed it and that is all they will do. So I spent all this money to have a dependable family vehicle thinking I had the best customer support since it was Cadillac. I was wrong.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV, so we've included reviews for other years of the Escalade ESV since its last redesign.

Helpful shopping links

Safety

Our experts like the Escalade ESV models:

Rear Camera Mirror
Displays a camera view in the rearview mirror. You can still see out, even with a full load of cargo.
OnStar
Provides automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance and remote door unlocking.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Modifies your set speed to account for the varying speed of traffic, then resumes when the road is clear.
Research other Escalade ESV years

FAQ

Is the Cadillac Escalade ESV a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2020 Escalade ESV both on the road and at the track. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2020 Escalade ESV gets an average rating of 3 stars out of 5 (based on 32 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Escalade ESV has 39.3 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Cadillac Escalade ESV. Learn more

Is the Cadillac Escalade ESV reliable?

To determine whether the Cadillac Escalade ESV is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Escalade ESV. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Escalade ESV's 3-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a good car. Our consumer reviews show that the 2020 Escalade ESV gets an average rating of 3 stars out of 5 (based on 32 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2020 Escalade ESV is a good car for you. Learn more

How much should I pay for a 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

The least-expensive 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV is the 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $78,195.

Other versions include:

  • 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $78,195
  • 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $81,195
  • Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $83,795
  • Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $86,795
  • Premium Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $88,195
  • Premium Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $91,195
  • Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $95,295
  • Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $98,295
Learn more

What are the different models of Cadillac Escalade ESV?

If you're interested in the Cadillac Escalade ESV, the next question is, which Escalade ESV model is right for you? Escalade ESV variants include 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A), 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A), Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A), and Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A). For a full list of Escalade ESV models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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