The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Monster V-8 engines
- Gorgeous interior
- Tons of tech
- Spectacular Super Cruise
- Huge interior
Dislikes
- Not as space-efficient as a van, to be fair
- Huge footprint
- Turbodiesel is too expensive
- Where’s the hybrid?
Buying tip
features & specs
A flagship for GM—and maybe Detroit—the latest Cadillac Escalade is a technological showpiece with SUV utility.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Cadillac Escalade? What does it compare to?
A three-row, high-zoot SUV available in two lengths, the 2024 Escalade is a highly versatile, plush, and costly choice. Compare it to the Lincoln Navigator, Land Rover Range Rover, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Is the 2024 Cadillac Escalade a good SUV?
Old-school only in its sheer size, the latest Escalade is a modern SUV that impresses with its refinement and tech. It’s terribly thirsty, too, so those looking to save fuel will want to wait for the all-electric 2025 Escalade IQ. The ‘Slade is a 6.8 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Cadillac Escalade?
Escalade-V models gain a new 20th anniversary appearance package celebrating 20 years of the brand’s performance division.
Big but not overwhelming, the 2024 Escalade wears a brutally flat front end that gives way to subtle curves along its sides. Some versions are full of chrome; others dial things back a bit. None ride on wheels smaller than 22 inches, which inch up on the window sills of cars below.
Inside, look for 38 inches of OLED digital displays, a dazzling look that somehow works brilliantly with classic leather and wood trim scattered throughout.
The titanic SUV comes with a 6.2-liter V-8 rated at 420 hp, which goes to the rear or all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Thrifty it is not. That job belongs to the 277-hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel, which is expensive to buy but offers mid-20 mpg ratings. In standard form, the Escalade rides well enough. Opt for adaptive dampers for even better control, especially considering how those big tires wear low-profile tires.
The Escalade-V, meanwhile, swaps in a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 rated at a staggering 682 hp. It’s rapid, to say the least, though Cadillac could only do so much to make it ride and handle like a sports car. A Porsche Cayenne it is most certainly not.
A new electric version called Escalade IQ joins the lineup next year. Name, size, and general sense of presence aside, it’s wholly unrelated to the gas-fueled model.
A minivan-rivaling cabin offers plenty of space for passengers and their gear, once they climb up and aboard. ESV models add a bit of extra third-row room and a ton of cargo space. All versions have nice trim, though those with Platinum in the name rival Range Rovers for decadence.
Cadillac includes the basics when it comes to driver-assistance tech. But road warriors will want to skip the base model for the otherwise standard Super Cruise system that allows for limited stints of hands-off driving on over 100,000 miles of mapped terrain.
How much does the 2024 Cadillac Escalade cost?
Prices start from about $84,000. Figure another $10,000 or so for leather seats and Super Cruise, two features we heartily recommend. The Escalade-V tops $150,000.
Where is the 2024 Cadillac Escalade made?
In Arlington, Texas.
2024 Cadillac Escalade Styling
Imposing but not over-the-top, the 2024 Cadillac Escalade is a brawny choice.
Is the Cadillac Escalade a good-looking car?
It’s a beefy SUV with poise, that’s for sure. If you’re looking for road presence, the 2024 Escalade delivers like few other SUVs. It’s a big bruiser, stretching 212 inches long in standard form and it grows another 15 inches when outfitted as an Escalade ESV.
We like the Escalade’s exterior well enough, but its interior is the real charmer. It’s an 8 on the TCC scale.
For a big SUV, the Escalade manages to look fit—if not exactly trim. A big, shield-like grille up front is surrounded by small headlights. At the rear, look for vertical taillights. Big 22-inch wheels come standard. The Escalade Sport trim level dials back some of the chrome touches in favor of color-matched bits.
Inside, you’ll find 38 inches of curved OLED displays including three separate screens. They light up the interior with a dazzling, modern affair. They’re well-integrated with more traditional luxury touches, including soft leather and glossy wood trim you’ll find on most versions of the Escalade.
2024 Cadillac Escalade Performance
Refined, quick, and comfortable, the 2024 Cadillac Escalade is a proper luxury ride.
The 2024 Cadillac Escalade’s V-8 provides lusty, smooth acceleration, while available air suspension and adaptive dampers give it a supple ride. It’s a 7 on the TCC scale.
Is the Cadillac Escalade 4WD?
For the most part, though a rear-drive version of non-V versions is standard. Those with four-wheel drive have a 2-speed transfer case and a limited-slip rear differential. They’re certainly not meant for serious off-roading, though they’ll handle snow or a slippery boat ramp just fine.
How fast is the Cadillac Escalade?
The standard 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 is more than enough for just about any user. Look for a 6.0-second run to 60 mph, aided by the typically quick shifts of the 10-speed automatic transmission. At low speeds, this gearbox can struggle to find the right ratio, but it typically works quietly in the background.
Tow ratings vary by drive wheels and wheelbase, topping out at 8,300 pounds for an ESV.
The available 277-hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel 6-cylinder isn’t as peppy as the V-8 and it has a slightly lower towing rating. (It maxes out at 8,100 pounds.) Unless you really want maximum highway fuel economy, it’s a tough sell.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Escalade-V’s 6.2-liter V-8 boasts a supercharger to boost output to 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. It trades refinement for a lovely snarl as it barks off 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. Pop it into V mode and throttle response is even snappier. Strong Brembo brakes shrug off acceleration with ease—no small feat for a vehicle that weighs over 6,000 pounds.
Non-V versions have a comfortable ride. Optional air and adaptive dampers deliver the smoothest ride, easily shrugging off the rubber-band-like low-profile tires wrapped around enormous 22-inch wheels.
The Escalade-V, on the other hand, is no sports car. Its steering has a bit more heft, which becomes more pronounced at speed. A slightly firmer suspension serves mostly to offset the weight transfer caused during hard acceleration.
No version is remotely nimble, though, so consider other vehicles if you live in a congested area.
2024 Cadillac Escalade Comfort & Quality
The 2024 Cadillac Escalade is Detroit luxury at its very best.
Cadillac’s biggest SUV offers stretch-out space, luxurious materials, and plenty of cargo room. It’s an easy 10 on our scale, regardless of body length.
Even though real leather is optional, the 2024 Escalade has a high-zoot feel inside. Its front seats offer 12-way power adjustment and heating as standard; cooling and massage are optional. Row two can come as either a bench or, more commonly, with individual captain’s chairs. Both wheelbases offer 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom. Row three can be a bit tricky to access, even though the second row slides forward. Once there, you’ll find 34.7 inches of legroom in short-wheelbase models and about two more inches in the ESV.
Cargo space impresses across the range. Even short-wheelbase models have 25.5 cubic feet of room behind the third row. The cabin maxes out at an astounding 143 cubic feet of space with rows two and three folded.
Only a handful of plastic bits inside reveal that the Escalade is a close relative to the cheaper Chevy Suburban. Otherwise, lovely wood trim, bits of brightwork, and fine attention to detail are in line with prices.
2024 Cadillac Escalade Safety
The 2024 Cadillac Escalade offers tons of tech, but its crash-test record is so-so.
How safe is the Cadillac Escalade?
We’re confident it will do its best to avoid a crash thanks to decent standard and impressive optional driver-assistance tech. But a four-star rating from the NHTSA is a serious concern.
We rate the latest Escalade at 6 out of 10. It gets points for standard automatic emergency braking and the whiz-bang Super Cruise hands-off highway-driving assistant. But it loses one for that NHTSA score.
Outward vision is typical for a big SUV. The tall dash and beefy roof pillars make the standard surround-view camera system and parking sensors valuable friends. Blind-spot monitors and a night vision system are optional.
And let’s not forget about Super Cruise. This system allows for true, extended hands-off driving on over 100,000 miles of pre-mapped highways. If you’re a highway warrior, it’s a must-have.
2024 Cadillac Escalade Features
The 2024 Cadillac Escalade’s high feature set matches its high price tag.
From about $84,000, the Escalade comes quite well equipped with power-adjustable seats wrapped in synthetic leather, heating for the first and second rows, AKG-branded audio, and a total of 38 inches of curved LED displays. (Technically, there are three: a 14.2-inch instrument cluster and a pair of 16.9- and 7.2-inch screens in the dash.) Those breathtaking displays, that standard fare, and an impressive array of options land the Escalade at an 8 for features.
Cadillac’s 4-year/50,000-mile warranty includes the first service.
Long-wheelbase ESV models cost $3,000 more.
Which Cadillac Escalade should I buy?
Step up to the Escalade Premium Luxury for about $11,000 more and you’ll find real leather inside plus the automaker's trick Super Cruise system. Soft-close doors and an adaptive air ride suspension are on the options list.
How much is a fully loaded Cadillac Escalade?
Range-topping Platinum Luxury and Sport Luxury Escalades top $110,000, though with 30-speaker audio and even softer leather, they are properly luxurious. The Escalade-V runs north of $150,000 in standard-wheelbase form. It’s outfitted about like a Sport Platinum, albeit with a supercharger, a limited-slip differential, and Brembo brakes.
2024 Cadillac Escalade Fuel Economy
The 2024 Cadillac Escalade guzzles premium, though turbodiesels are somewhat frugal.
Is the Cadillac Escalade good on gas?
Not remotely, at least if you stick with a gas engine. EPA estimates peg the 2024 Escalade at 14 mpg city, 19 highway, 16 combined with the V-8, good for just 1 point on the TCC scale. We don’t rate any vehicle at a 0, but the Escalade-V would be a strong contender thanks to its horrendous 11/16/13-mpg estimate.
Turbodiesels are much more frugal. Look for 22 mpg combined. Unfortunately, their fuel is a bit more expensive.
Next year’s electric Escalade IQ can’t come soon enough.