2023 Cadillac Escalade Review

Name: 2023 Cadillac Escalade Review
Brand: Cadillac

Price Range: $63,590 - $140,990

2023 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

2023 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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The new 2023 Cadillac Escalade is a step up from its dated predecessor in just about every way without straying too far from its formula. The exterior design is still sharp and attention-grabbing, and the interior offers plenty of cargo space. Some of the tech features fall short of those found in some rival SUVs, but overall the new Escalade is a solid pick.

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by Edmunds Test Team

2023 Cadillac Escalade Review

byMark Takahashi^{Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

rating written Reese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Cool-looking digital cockpit interface
One of the roomiest cabins in the class
Huge rear cargo space and excellent in-cabin storage

Cons

Climate controls are difficult to use at night
Rear cabin lags class leaders in interior quality
Poor fuel economy from standard V8 engine

What's new

New high-performance Escalade-V debuts
Part of the fifth Escalade generation introduced for 2021

Overview

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade is one of the most recognizable vehicles today. Its massive dimensions and distinctive styling make it an imposing figure on the road. It's anything but subtle, which is likely the statement that owners are out to make. This year, the Escalade lineup adds a new version that will leave an even more outrageous impression: the Escalade-V.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) 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 $3.72 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$286/mo

$218/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

If you're familiar with Cadillac, you'll know it uses the V moniker for its high-performance versions. The new Escalade-V follows suit by way of its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that produces a thumping 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque. It's enough to get this big SUV from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, according to Cadillac.

Of course, the Escalade isn't the only large luxury SUV in the space since its competitors have a presence all their own. The Lincoln Navigator is as big as the Cadillac and its acres of chrome make it just as recognizable. The Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7 are smaller and less capable when it comes to towing but offer more luxurious interiors. The Escalade doesn't trail by much, so be sure to check out our Expert Rating below to see where it shines and what could use some improvement.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

8.0

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8/10

How does the Escalade drive? Cadillac has done a fine job hiding just how big and heavy the Escalade really is. The Escalade's 6.2-liter V8 might not send it to 60 mph (6.7 seconds) as quickly as some rival SUVs, but it's potent enough. On-ramps and highway passing are no issue, and the V8 sounds pretty good too. The transmission occasionally has some abrupt shifts, and we wish the shift paddles worked in Drive and not just Low, but it's mostly smooth and smart enough to be in the right gear most of the time.

We wouldn't call the Escalade sporty, but it's smooth and composed enough around turns. The steering is light and direct, so parking or driving down winding roads doesn't feel like a chore.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Escalade? We don't think the Escalade's ride is quite as refined as that of class leaders such as the Mercedes GLS, but it's certainly comfortable enough most of the time. The seats, too, aren't quite as relaxing as those of the class leaders, but you won't be complaining after hundreds of miles behind the wheel. It's generally pretty quiet too.

The climate control system keeps the temperature even, but overall it falls short of the best of the best. There isn't enough adjustment in the vents, and we had to adjust the automatic temperature frequently. The heated seats allow for finer control of the zones, which is great.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? As you might expect, the Escalade's interior is vast and spacious. All three rows are large enough for adults, and the wide doors and accessible grab handles make getting in and out simple if a bit of a climb. The seating position is high and truck-like, which is either good or bad depending on your preference. Outward visibility isn't great, but the exterior camera system makes parking relatively easy.

Most of the controls are easy to understand, but some are ill placed and hard to see. The climate control settings are difficult to see at night because the toggles that control things aren't illuminated, and we frequently hit the wrong button trying to adjust the temperature.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? The Escalade offers some of the latest and greatest tech General Motors has to offer. Unfortunately, a lot of it is optional. The adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist systems make driving such a large SUV easier, but some things, such as the night vision camera, seem more like a novelty.

The Escalade features a sleek-looking digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen. There's a decent level of customization, and the Escalade's standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean you can easily run music or podcasts straight from native apps on your phone. There's one wireless charging pad as well as USB-C ports for every row, so everyone has charging options.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? The Escalade's cargo area is massive. The space is wide and open, and while the liftover is on the high side, the adaptive air suspension can lower the Escalade when parked to help when you're loading items. Storage for small items is good, too, with plenty of pockets and bins for things such as sunglasses and hand sanitizer bottles. There's an optional chilled center console. The Escalade's tow rating is 8,200 pounds in the right configuration and when properly equipped — that's certainly sufficient for a small or medium-size trailer.

Installing a child seat in the rear should be relatively simple. The doors open wide, the anchors are reasonably accessible, and there's plenty of space for a rear-facing seat. The high seats may make getting in a bit of a climb.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? EPA-estimated fuel economy stands at 16 mpg combined with the 6.2-liter V8 and 4WD. That's not so great even for a large SUV. We saw 17.5 mpg during our time testing an Escalade with the V8 and 4WD, so at least you can expect to get the EPA's numbers or a little better. Choose the diesel if you want better fuel economy — it tops out at 23 mpg combined.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Escalade a good value? The Escalade looks and feels pretty nice up front, though we don't think the interior feels quite as premium as the cabins of the best luxury SUVs, especially in the back two rows. The design is clean, and the leather feels great. The dash-spanning digital display looks impressive too. Some of the trim and buttons look a little cheap, but overall it's a fairly nice place to spend your commute if you're the one driving.

Pricing lines up right with the competition. Cadillac's four-year/50,000-mile basic and six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranties are average for the class. You also get six years of roadside assistance, but Cadillac only includes a year of scheduled maintenance.

Wildcard

8.5/10

Nothing this big and heavy can be considered fun to drive in a sporty sort of way, but there's something enjoyable about cruising around in a big, comfy V8-powered SUV. The stylish interior design makes it feel a cut above most other SUVs. The sharp exterior angles and formidable size are sure to attract attention, but that's always been part of the appeal of driving an Escalade.

Which Escalade does Edmunds recommend?

For most Escalade buyers, we suggest the Premium Luxury trim. In addition to gaining a few extra driver assistance features, that trim is also eligible for the air suspension and the Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assist system. Both are worth getting.

Compare 2023 Cadillac Escalade trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2023 Cadillac Escalade models

The 2023 Escalade is a three-row luxury SUV that seats seven passengers standard and offers eight-passenger seating with an optional second-row bench seat. It's available in six trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport Platinum and V. All but the Escalade-V come standard with a 6.2-liter V8 (420 horsepower, 460 lb-ft) and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is optional. A turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft) is also available. The new Escalade-V gets a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (682 hp, 653 lb-ft) that puts its power to the ground through a specialized all-wheel-drive system. Every Escalade has a 10-speed automatic transmission. Standard feature highlights for the Escalade include:

Luxury
Starts off with:

22-inch wheels
Simulated leather upholstery
Dash-spanning 16.9-inch infotainment screen and a 14.2-inch instrument cluster
Keyless entry and ignition with remote start
Heated front and rear outboard seats
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Wireless phone charging
Tri-zone climate control
Hands-free liftgate
19-speaker AKG Studio audio system
Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning and lane keeping assist (steer the Escalade back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Front and rear parking sensors

Premium Luxury
Builds on the Luxury trim's features with:

Panoramic sunroof
Head-up display
Leather upholstery
Heated and ventilated front seats
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Escalade and the car in front)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

Selecting the Premium Luxury trim also opens up many options, including:

Touring package

Adaptive air suspension
Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)

Performance package

Upgraded suspension
Electronically controlled limited-slip differential
Trailer hitch assist that helps when lining up a trailer
Trailer brake controller that helps control a trailer's brakes when on the road

Heavy-Duty Trailering package

Upgraded cooling system
Auxiliary trailer camera
Trailer tire pressure monitoring system

Notable stand-alone options include:

Rear-seat entertainment system
Super Cruise (hands-free driving assist system that works on select highways and under certain conditions)

Premium Luxury Platinum
Comes with most options as standard equipment, including:

Adaptive air suspension
Soft-closing doors
Massaging front seats with wider range of adjustment
Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and upper door panels
36-speaker AKG premium audio system with Bluetooth headphones
Rear-seat entertainment system

The Sport and Sport Platinum trims generally mirror the Premium Luxury and Premium Luxury Platinum, respectively, in features and options, with visual touches such as wheels and gloss-black trim separating the models.

Escalade V
The new V has a feature set similar to that of the Premium Luxury Platinum. It further ups this big SUV's performance with its supercharged V8 along with:

Performance-tuned adaptive air suspension
Brembo high-performance brakes
V-specific driving modes

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Average

#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

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

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

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.}

Cadillac Escalade Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.7

18 reviews

5(56%)

4(11%)

3(5%)

2(0%)

1(28%)

Write a vehicle review See all 18 reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Beautiful Car then Major Engine Failure!

David Holihan, 12/28/2021

2021 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A)

First off the car: We ordered it from scratch, waited six months and have been rewarded with a wonderful car. We love it. Beautiful in every way, quiet, smooth, powerful, well thought out, I could go on and on. The super cruise control is just that. IT WORKS! It makes long distance driving so much more relaxing. The night vision option works very well and safely. We are delighted …

Traded a 2021 GLS 580 I custom ordered for the Cad

Hornedfrog1982, 03/12/2022

2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A)

The Cadillac is much larger and in my opinion a better SUV. The GLS had a clicking sound the dealer could not fix in the dash. $135,000 SUV and clicked like crazy. I rented a Tahoe during a ski trip so decided to switch because I could not take the clicking. Even test drove a 2021 AMG GLE 63 and it had a click as well. I have kids and always had a Van due to it carries people and bags …

Awful!

Tk, 08/06/2024

2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A)

We owned a previous Escalade and I drove for a couple of years. LOVED it and never ever once did my oil light come on. We also owned Denali and same experience. Now We paid $129,000 Sport 2022 not even platinum! My husband is now deceased but I have contract and almost puked when I saw what we paid! Such scammers! That’s just level 1! Next which is even SO SO much worse. I just hit …

Overated

JL, 01/30/2023

2023 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A)

My 2023 Escalade just quit running on me while I was driving and Cadillac has yet to figure it out (been 3 days). Not real happy with Caddy. I had a 2019 but typical GM 1 out of 10 runs is good the other nine trade in when you can. Looking to purchase a LX600 because if you look at the issues for these cars it has the highest ratings. This is just the recent. I am still missing the …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade, so we've included reviews for other years of the Escalade since its last redesign.

See all 18 reviews of the Cadillac Escalade

Write a vehicle review

2023 Cadillac Escalade video

Cadillac Escalade-V vs. Lucid Air Grand Touring: High-Horsepower Takes on American Luxury

This ain't your typical comparison test, folks: We've put the absolutely ridiculous Cadillac Escalade-V up against our long-term Lucid Air Grand Touring in a test of high-powered American luxury. While they are, of course, very different, the Escalade-V and Lucid Air Grand Touring are perhaps more similar than you might expect; they're about the same price, produce stupid…

2023 Escalade Highlights

Type:

SUV

Trim:

Luxury

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$79,295
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$286/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Escalade models:

Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking: Automatically applies the brakes when the vehicle determines a collision is imminent.
Automatic Seat-Belt Tightening: Secures passengers by automatically tightening their seat belts during emergency braking.
Side Blind Zone Alert: Illuminates a light in the sideview mirrors when sensors see a vehicle in the Escalade's blind spots.

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2023 Cadillac Escalade Review

Price & Payment

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2023 Cadillac EscaladePremium Luxury 4dr SUV

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2023 Cadillac EscaladeSport 4dr SUV

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2023 Cadillac EscaladeV 4dr SUV

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2023 Cadillac Escalade Video Shorts

2023 Cadillac Escalade Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) 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 $3.72 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Escalade does Edmunds recommend?

2023 Cadillac Escalade models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Cadillac Escalade Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Beautiful Car then Major Engine Failure!

Traded a 2021 GLS 580 I custom ordered for the Cad

Awful!

Overated

2023 Cadillac Escalade video

Cadillac Escalade-V vs. Lucid Air Grand Touring: High-Horsepower Takes on American Luxury

2023 Escalade Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) 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 $3.72 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}