2013 Cadillac Escalade Review
Price Estimate: $6,634 - $9,035





+129
Selling or Trading-In?
Know what your car is worth while you shop for your next vehicle.
By entering your License Plate or VIN, you'll get a more accurate appraisal that may raise your car's value.
Oops, we can’t seem to locate you.
Please enter U.S. ZIP code to see vehicles for sale
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
- low fuel economy
- high rate of theft.
What’s new
The Cadillac Escalade returns unchanged for 2013.
Edmunds says
With waning fashion appeal and mounting pressure from newer luxury SUVs, the 2013 Cadillac Escalade isn't as desirable as before.
For sale nearby
103 listings
- $8,995great price$4,636 below market
- 168,059 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use only
- 7 Seats, 13 City / 18 Hwy MPG
- Redwood Auto Sales (157 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Redwood Falls, MN
2013 CADILLAC ESCALADE 6.2-V8-AUTO/ AWD/ MOONROOF/ DVD ENTERTAINMENT FOR SALE: CLEAN, CHEAP, USED, PRE-OWNED, LIKE NEW, FAIR, GOOD, GREAT, AFFORDABLE,...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
15 Combined MPG (13 City/18 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1GYS4CEF2DR357543
Stock: 082966
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-31-2025 - 105,547 miles
- Issue reported, 4 owners, personal use only
- 7 Seats, 13 City / 18 Hwy MPG
- Billion Auto Chevrolet (177 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Sioux Falls, SD
Unknown
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: Yes
Features and Specs:
15 Combined MPG (13 City/18 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1GYS4BEFXDR240366
Stock: V27007B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-26-2025
Vehicle overview
Fashion is a fickle mistress. There was a time when the Cadillac Escalade was the vehicle du jour for the wealthy, famous or those keeping up appearances. Unlike the classic black cocktail dress or gentlemen's two-button suit, however, the Escalade doesn't enjoy a timeless status. Six years into the current generation's run, the Escalade now looks more like yesterday's fashion.
That's not to say the 2013 Cadillac Escalade lacks merit, as it still satisfies the core expectations of any large luxury SUV. A long list of features, plenty of power at the driver's disposal and an unmistakable road-going presence help this big Cadillac hold much of its original appeal.
But other rivals have upped their game and tarnished the Escalade's shine with more capable alternatives. The Escalade's third-row seats, for example, which penalize the center passenger with a distinct lack of space, mark one of the SUV's more glaring faults. Cargo space also suffers, as the third row does not fold neatly out of the way and requires complete removal to accommodate a respectable amount of luggage. Add to that a thirsty V8, long braking distances and the Escalade's attractiveness to car thieves, and it's no mystery why shoppers are looking elsewhere.
For these reasons, we'd steer potential owners toward the all-new and similarly priced 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which essentially outperforms the Cadillac on all fronts. If expanded passenger and cargo capacity aren't absolute necessities, the 2013 Infiniti QX and 2013 Porsche Cayenne are also worth consideration. Any of these choices will likely make a bigger fashion splash than the aging 2013 Cadillac Escalade.
Performance & mpg
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade comes with a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 403 horsepower 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, an impressive number for this size vehicle. 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 mpg with all-wheel drive.
Safety
Standard safety features on the 2013 Cadillac 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 Escalade came to a stop from 60 mph in 144 feet, disappointing even for a full-size luxury SUV. In government crash tests, the Escalade earned an overall rating of four out of five stars. It earned five stars for total frontal and side crash protection, but just three stars for rollover risk.
Driving
On the road, the 2013 Cadillac Escalade's big V8 delivers swift acceleration at all speeds. Its handling inspires confidence, especially with the active Magnetic Ride Control suspension, though you'll 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 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 a Tahoe or Yukon's interior. The gauges and controls are well-placed and intuitive in operation, and there are plenty of luxurious features to keep driver and 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. The 50/50-split third-row seats don't provide much legroom, however, 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 needing to carry bulky items are forced to either fold and tumble the entire assembly forward -- consuming precious cargo space -- or remove the heavy seats entirely.
Removing the third-row seats yields a cavernous 60.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second-row seats. Fold those second-row seats down and cargo capacity grows to an impressive 108.9 cubic feet.
2013 Cadillac Escalade models
Classified as a full-size SUV, the 2013 Cadillac Escalade is offered in Base, Luxury, Premium and Platinum Edition trim levels. Seven-passenger seating is standard, with an option to add a second-row bench for up to eight passengers (except on the Platinum trims). The Escalade 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 and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack, an iPod/USB audio interface and rear audio controls.
The Escalade Luxury adds 22-inch 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.

Road Tripping Cadillac's Escalade IQL Made Me Feel Like a Kid Again

Cadillac Optiq and Vistiq Both Aced the Edmunds EV Range Test

Cadillac Escalade IQ Cargo Test: How Big Are the Frunk and Cargo Area?

Cadillac Optiq EV Cargo Test: How Big Is the Trunk?
Compare 2013 Cadillac Escalade trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$315/mo for Escalade Base
Escalade Base
vs
$232/mo
Avg. Large SUV
Reliability
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 4 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3 out of 5, ranks it #8 out of 20 among Luxury Fullsize SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating 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
$689/yr
vs. $735/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
Frequency
1.31x/yr
vs. 1.83x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
Severity
24.4%
vs. 16.5%
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
4 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 21V054000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- N212328800
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 1778128
- Defect Description:
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Defect Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Corrective Action:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed beginning March 1, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
- Recall Number:
- 21V053000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- N212328790
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 692526
- Defect Description:
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
- Defect Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Corrective Action:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed beginning March 1, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.
- Recall Number:
- 14V614000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 14515
- Manufactured from:
- 2013-06-25 to 2013-06-29
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 97540
- Defect Description:
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
- Defect Consequence:
- If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM+s number for this recall is 14515.
- Recall Number:
- 13V001000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 12331
- Manufactured from:
- 2012-11-28 to 2012-12-18
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 54686
- Defect Description:
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
- Defect Consequence:
- As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.
- Corrective Action:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.
Warranty
4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 6 years / 70,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 6 years / 70,000 miles
- Free maintenance Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
Cadillac Escalade Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
5 out of 5 starsAviad, 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!
2009 Cadillac Escalade AWD Platinum
3.88 out of 5 starsMatthew, 09/20/2008
2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition 4dr SUV AWD (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
I stepped inside GM's full-size super luxury SUV, and I was immediately enveloped in luxury. With so many standard features like a voice- activated Navigation system, DVD entertainment system, a heated leather wrapped steering wheel with radio and climate controls, heated and cooled front and 2nd row seats, bucket seats, a universal garage door opener, and SO much more, this car will … easily destroy competitors like the Lexus LX570 and Land Rover Range Rover, in luxury. The Honda Civic Sedan gets to 60mph in 11.3, this Escalade Platinum gets to 60 mph in 6.1; that's pretty impressive for any car and very impressive for a large SUV. Cadillac has done a SUPERB job on this model, and I love it.
Love my ride
5 out of 5 starsKimgo, 11/20/2017
2013 Cadillac Escalade 4dr SUV AWD (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
Great car. Highly recommend. Only negatives are Bluetooth only works with cell phone and third row seats do not lower. You have to remove them to use cargo space.
King of the road
4.75 out of 5 starsmotorcity11, 09/01/2013
2009 Cadillac Escalade 4dr SUV AWD (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
I bought the truck new in 2009, 4 years
and 60k later I have not had a single issue, this is in part cause I take extremely good care of her. I read all these negative reviews on here. it has been my experience that most people are cheap when it comes to vehicle maintenance and to rough when operating them ,when
something goes bad they blame the make or
model when its really the driver … that caused the issue.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 Cadillac Escalade, so we've included reviews for other years of the Escalade since its last redesign.
2013 Escalade Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $63,745 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Flex-fuel (ffv) |
Combined MPG | 16 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $315/month |
Seating | 7 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 16.9 cu.ft. |
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
Starting at $99,995 |
2.3 average Rating out of 3 reviews. |
Starting at $66,900 |
Starting at $90,595 |
Related Used 2013 Cadillac Escalade info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Mazda CX 3 2021 Review
- Jeep Renegade 2020 Review
- Audi S7 2020 Review
- Kia Forte 2020 Review
- Audi A7 2020 Review
- Kia Telluride 2021 Review
- Land Rover Discovery 2021 Review
Shop similar models
- Used Cadillac Escalade-esv 2025
- Used GMC Yukon 2025
- Used Chevrolet Suburban 2025
- Used GMC Yukon-xl 2025
- Used Lincoln Navigator 2025
- Used Chevrolet Tahoe 2025
- Used Mercedes-benz Gls-class 2025
- Used BMW X7 2026
- Used Lexus GX-460 2023
Shop used vehicles in your area
Popular new car reviews and ratings
Research other models of Cadillac
- 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV
- 2026 CT5
- New Cadillac Escalade ESV
- 2026 Cadillac LYRIQ
- Cadillac CT5 2026
- 2024 Cadillac ATS
- Cadillac ATS 2025
- Cadillac LYRIQ 2025
- New Cadillac LYRIQ
- Cadillac VISTIQ 2026
Research similar vehicles
Other models
- Used Mazda CX-5 in North Hollywood, CA 2025
- Used Volkswagen Tiguan in Conover, NC 2025
- Used Ferrari 488-GTB in Hershey, PA 2019
- Used Aston-Martin V8-Vantage in San Lorenzo, CA 2016
- New BMW 3-Series for Sale in League City, TX
- Used Nissan NV in Mount Vernon, IL 2013
- Used Hyundai XG350 in San Angelo, TX 2005
- Used Ram 2500 in Wausau, WI 2025
- Used Ford Expedition in Lorton, VA 2026
- Used BMW 1-Series in Lafayette, IN 2013