2012 Cadillac Escalade Review
2012 Cadillac Escalade Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+106
Used Escalade for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Unique visual presence
- long list of standard features
- gutsy V8
- civilized road manners.
Cons
- Third-row seat lacks legroom and must be removed to maximize cargo space
- lackluster braking performance
- low fuel economy
- high rate of theft.
What’s new
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade gets minor enhancements to its navigation system.
Edmunds says
It might not make as much practical sense as its rivals, but are you really interested in buying a 2012 Cadillac Escalade just for its third-row seat and cargo capacity?
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$341/mo for Escalade Base
Escalade Base
vs
$247/mo
Avg. Large SUV
Vehicle overview
There are big SUVs, and then there's the 2012 Cadillac Escalade. There are luxury SUVs, and then there's the Escalade. You could buy any number of more sensible and all-around better vehicles instead, but there's just no substitute for the Escalade's visual presence and grand celebration of wealth and power.
The Escalade is the king of General Motors' full-size truck and SUV platform. It shares its basic body structure and dimensions with the Chevy Tahoe, but from there thorough upgrades make it so much more than just a rebadging exercise (unlike early Escalades). The 403-horsepower V8 gets the Escalade up to speed quicker than you'd expect from something so big. The suspension is adaptive, allowing for a more compliant and controlled ride. The styling obviously sports Cadillac's unique brand of pomp, but it's the interior that demonstrates a more luxurious aesthetic.
That said, there are still significant practical drawbacks. First of all, the third-row seat is cramped and uncomfortable for the middle passenger and must be physically removed should you need extra cargo space. The third-row seat in most competing vehicles folds neatly into the floor. The Escalade is also unwieldy on tighter roads, suffers from lackluster brakes and is very thirsty. There's also its perennial placement atop the list of most-stolen vehicles. In light of these drawbacks, it would be wise to check out the Infiniti QX56, Land Rover LR4, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and Porsche Cayenne. Each would be more sensible in one way or another than the 2012 Cadillac Escalade. But then again, none of them would equal its particular celebration of ostentation.
Performance & mpg
The Escalade comes with a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 403 hp and 417 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission are standard, but all-wheel drive is optional.
In Edmunds performance testing, an all-wheel-drive Escalade took just 7.5 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph, a relatively impressive number for a vehicle this size. Properly equipped, two-wheel-drive versions can tow a healthy 8,300 pounds. Fuel economy, as you might guess, is pretty dismal. The EPA estimates 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 13/18/15 with all-wheel drive.
Safety
Standard safety features on the Escalade include stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, front side-impact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera and OnStar emergency telematics. A blind-spot warning system is standard on all but the base model.
In Edmunds brake testing, the 2012 Cadillac Escalade came to a stop from 60 mph in a disappointing 144 feet; this is poor even for a full-size luxury SUV. In government crash tests, the Escalade earned an overall rating of four stars (out of five), with five stars for both overall frontal and side crash protection. Its three-star rollover score resulted in its lower overall rating.
Driving
On the road, the 2012 Cadillac Escalade delivers swift acceleration at all speeds thanks to its big V8. Its handling inspires confidence, especially with the active Magnetic Ride Control suspension, though you'll still never mistake the Escalade for anything other than a truck-based SUV. You will appreciate the ride quality, though, as it remains comfortable even with the larger 22-inch wheels. A relatively tight 39-foot turning circle helps with overall drivability, but maneuvering in tight quarters can be a chore despite the aid of the standard rearview camera.
Interior
The Escalade's cabin, highlighted by supple leather upholstery and attractive faux-wood and alloy trim, looks and feels more luxurious than what you'd find in a Tahoe or Yukon. The gauges and controls are well placed and intuitive in their operation, and there are plenty of luxurious features to keep you and your passengers comfortable and entertained.
In its standard seven-passenger configuration, the big Caddy features second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. Adding the available second-row bench raises total seating capacity to eight. However, the 50/50-split third-row seats don't provide much legroom and the middle passenger must sit atop the gap between seats. The third-row seats also don't fold neatly into the floor as in most other SUVs. Instead, owners looking to carry bulky items are forced to either fold and tumble the entire assembly forward -- eating up precious cargo space -- or remove the heavy seats entirely.
If you choose to remove the third-row seats, you'll end up with a cavernous 60.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second-row seats. Fold those second-row seats down and the cargo capacity grows to an impressive 108.9 cubic feet.
2012 Cadillac Escalade models
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade is a full-size SUV available in Base, Luxury, Premium and Platinum Edition trim levels. It comes standard with seating for seven, but all except the Platinum can be fitted with a second-row bench seat that increases capacity to eight. Other Escalade variants -- the Hybrid, the extended-length ESV and the pickup-style EXT -- are reviewed separately.
The base Escalade comes standard with 18-inch wheels, an adaptive and auto-leveling suspension, a locking rear differential, a tow package, rear parking sensors, a power liftgate, automatic xenon headlights, foglamps and heated mirrors with power-folding and driver-side dimming. Interior features include remote ignition, tri-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-only steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, heated and ventilated 10-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, driver memory functions, heated second-row captain's chairs, leather upholstery and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Additional features include a rearview camera, Bluetooth, OnStar, a navigation system, a touchscreen interface, real-time traffic and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with a CD/DVD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack, an iPod/USB audio interface, rear audio controls and two rear headphone jacks.
The Escalade Luxury adds 22-inch chromed aluminum wheels, a magnetically controlled adaptive suspension, automatic high beams, a blind-spot warning system, a sunroof, power flip-and-fold second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Options include power-retractable side steps and a rear-seat entertainment system with a single display.
The Escalade Premium adds the above options plus body-colored styling components in place of chrome, dual exhaust outlets and painted wheels.
The Escalade Platinum Edition gets a unique grille and wheels, LED headlamps, upgraded leather upholstery, extended leather interior trim, upgraded interior trim, heated and cooled cupholders and a different rear-seat entertainment system with twin headrest-mounted screens.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
3 out of 5 stars3/5Average
#8 out of 20 among Luxury Fullsize SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Cadillac Escalade from 2008-2022.$689/yr
vs. $735/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.31x/yr
vs. 1.83x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).24.4%
vs. 16.5%
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2012 Cadillac Escalade.
5 star(48%)
4 star(26%)
3 star(12%)
2 star(12%)
1 star(2%)
58 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.38 out of 5 stars
After 4 yrs of ownership, I still love my Escalade
rydan93, 05/26/2011
2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
I bought my 2008 Escalade brand new. After 4 yrs I still love this vehicle. It is super comfy and I have had no issues with it other than a few nit picky cosmetic replacements. The engine and computer system have never given me any trouble. I would have expected a vehicle of this price range to come with blue tooth, but they did finally add it on the 2009. My favorite thing about this … truck is the engine! I love that loud roar of my 6.2 liter when I crank it up. The 22" wheels aren't to bad either! I have always felt safe driving it and long trips are easy.
5 out of 5 stars
SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
Aviad, 02/01/2009
2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
traded my ugly lexus lx 430 for this and cant be happier. FIRST OFF i cant stand when people like the guy below me complain about GAS this is a 403 hp beast of a car u know its not an econobox when u buy it so dont complain about GAS! i love this car their is nothing that compares to it its my 3rd escalade and truly the best the ride and handling are amazing and its so fastt!! i love it … do yourself a favor and test drive it you wont be dissapointed and best of all its AMERICAN!
2.38 out of 5 stars
BUYER BEWARE
Concourse, 11/01/2007
2008 Cadillac Escalade 4dr SUV AWD (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
Transmission went bad with 2000 miles on it.After 5 attempts to have it fixed they finally found the problem. It is an engineering flaw that GM said do not repair,there is no repair and it is on all 07 & 08 models. I'm crushed I paid $68k and no fix for Cadillac's engineering flaw, I asked them how much on trade they said $48k so a $20k loss on a problem that GM knows about and will not … repair and will not warn potential buyers, how low can you go? Learn thru my mistake on trusting Cadiilac, and ask about this engineering flaw, the service dept. knows about it they have documents in their file that they can show you but you can't make a copy of it.
4.88 out of 5 stars
Best Used SUV I Have Ever Owned
bigpoppa74, 12/05/2012
2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition 4dr SUV AWD (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
I purchased my 2008 Escalade Platinum with just under 60k miles. Searched high and low for the most loaded and low mileage one I could find. I have now driven it nearly 20k miles, mostly back and forth from California to Arizona, and I absolutely love this truck. Its a dream to drive. True Cadillac luxury. Have not had one, single issue with it. Dealer even threw in 3 year 36k mile … extended warranty as they were so confident in its reliability. In the past 6 years I have owned a Hummer H2, Yukon XL and a standard Yukon, and this Escalade is my pride and joy over those other vehicles. I would highly recommend the Escalade to anyone in the market for a used SUV.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade, so we've included reviews for other years of the Escalade since its last redesign.
2012 Escalade Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $63,170 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Flex-fuel (ffv) |
Combined MPG | 16 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $341/month |
Seating | 7 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 16.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Escalade include:
- Back-up camera
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover3 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover24.6%
People who viewed this also viewed
5.0 average Rating out of 2 reviews. |
Starting at $83,265 |
1.0 average Rating out of 1 reviews. |
Starting at $58,200 |
5.0 average Rating out of 6 reviews. |
Starting at $54,600 |
Consider these recommendations
Related Used 2012 Cadillac Escalade info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Kia Sportage 2019
- Used Kia Stinger 2019
- Used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2018
- Used Nissan Stanza 2019
- Used Chevrolet S-10 2018
Shop similar models
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2019
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2016
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2010
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2011
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2017
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2012
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2018
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2015
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2014
- Used Cadillac Escalade 2013
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2025 Tesla Model Y News
- BM WZ4
- BMW X1 BMW
- Tesla Model Y 2023
- 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
- F150 Lightning
- VW Jetta Car
- Luxus Ux250H
- 2023 GT-R
- 2023 Honda Odyssey
Research other models of Cadillac
- Cadillac XT6
- Cadillac Lyriq
- Cadillac Cadillac XT5
- Cadillac XT4
- Cadillac Escalade Esv
- 2023 Cadillac CT5
- Cadillac Escalade 2023
- 2024 CT5
- 2023 XT6
- 2024 Cadillac CT5
Research similar vehicles
- Range Rover
- Toyota 4Runner
- Toyota Rav4 Prime
- Jeep Wrangler
- Honda CR V
- Prime Rav4
- Model Y Tesla Price
- Toyota Grandhighlander
- Sequoia SUV
- Toyota Highlander
Other models
- Used Mclaren 765LT in Bridgewater, NJ
- New Volvo XC40 for Sale in Dubuque, IA
- Used Chevrolet Volt in Monroe, MI
- Used BMW X3-M in Stockbridge, GA
- Used Subaru Impreza in Pinellas Park, FL
- Used Audi S7 in Wausau, WI
- Used Ford F-450-Super-Duty in Livingston, NJ
- Used Ford Probe in Stanford, CA
- Used Ford Econoline-Cargo in Conyers, GA
- Used Lexus LX-470 in Lake Havasu City, AZ