2021 Cadillac Escalade Review

For the past two decades, the Cadillac Escalade was the go-to choice if you wanted a full-size luxury SUV. Just recently, however, it's been surpassed by the equally imposing Lincoln Navigator. The balance of power might shift back with the debut of the fully redesigned 2021 Cadillac Escalade.

The fifth-generation Escalade follows the related GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe to market when it goes on sale this summer and benefits from a lot of the same changes. Most notably, all three of these SUVs get a new independent rear suspension that promises a smoother ride and increased interior space. That's just the tip of a very large iceberg, though.

The 2021 Escalade is larger than its predecessor. We don't have exact measurements yet, but it's a safe bet that it will mimic the new Yukon/Tahoe footprint, which is about 6 inches longer nose to tail, with almost five of those inches going between the front and rear axles. An even larger Escalade ESV — which we expect to be the same size as the GMC Yukon XL and Chevrolet Suburban — will also be available.

Compared to the fourth-generation, this new Escalade adopts a more deliberate and cohesive exterior design. The headlights are now horizontal and better integrated with a more delicate grille. In person, we think it's more attractive than before, but it still has all of the same presence. The sides are more sculpted, making the profile appear visually lighter, while power-deployable running boards tuck neatly into the rocker panels. New this year are optional soft-close doors. The rear of the Escalade is more familiar, with similar vertical taillights that harken back to 1960s-era Caddies.

Under the hood is a 6.2-liter V8 with the same output as before: 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. However, it has been updated with a new automatic stop-start system, cylinder deactivation and variable valve timing to improve fuel efficiency. The bigger news is the availability of a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine, which produces 277 hp but the same torque as the V8. Either will be mounted to a 10-speed automatic transmission, and shoppers can choose between rear- or all-wheel-drive.

Smoothing out the ride are standard magnetic dampers and, for the first time in an Escalade, an optional air suspension. The latter brings 4 inches of suspension travel, allowing the vehicle to lower itself for easier passenger and cargo loading or to increase ride height for off-roading.

The new Escalade's interior represents the most significant improvement in this redesign. It's thoroughly modern and more refined than before. The dash is now dominated by a beautifully curved sheet of glass that houses three OLED displays, which is the first use of this technology in a vehicle. In some ways it's similar to Mercedes-Benz's wide rectangular screen, but Cadillac's interpretation is much more attractive. It functions as a touchscreen, but there's also a convenient dial controller on the center console.

Like the Mercedes MBUX infotainment system, Cadillac is including an augmented reality overlay for driving directions. As you approach a turn, a live view of the road ahead appears on the main screen with animated arrows to show where to go. Another Benz-like addition is the availability of night vision cameras and a center console refrigerator with a freezer function.

The Escalade continues to break new ground with its audio system by pairing with AKG, a company more commonly associated with professional studio recording equipment. The base system features 19 speakers, while the premium upgrade ups the count to 36 speakers. Also included are strategically placed microphones to allow for easy communication between the first and third rows. Navigation also gets the tech treatment, with voice prompts simulated to sound as though they're coming from the direction and distance of the next task.

One of the primary upgrades for 2021 is the inclusion of Cadillac's Super Cruise automated driving system. While it only works on highways with center dividers that have been previously mapped by Cadillac, it's also the only truly hands-free driving system available today. At the Escalade's debut, over 200,000 highway miles across the U.S. will support Super Cruise functionality. For 2021, Super Cruise adds a new automatic lane-changing function, much like Tesla's Autopilot system has.

Naturally with an SUV of this size, passengers factor heavily into the Escalade equation. Second-row occupants enjoy seats just as plush as those in front, and the seatbacks can be equipped with entertainment screens. Besides supporting typical media inputs, these screens can also share content between screens, broadcast audio to the rest of the cabin, and beam directions to the driver's navigation system.

Third-row passengers also see huge gains. With 10 inches of added legroom, those rearmost seats can now adequately hold adults. The new independent rear suspension affords a lower floor, which represents an even greater improvement for third-row passengers. It also increases cargo space behind those seats. There's now 25.5 cubic feet of capacity, constituting an improvement of 68%.

The most direct competitor to the new Escalade is the Lincoln Navigator, which has claimed class-leading status since its 2018 redesign. Judging from our sneak peek of the new Escalade, it may be a very close battle.

There are slightly smaller luxury SUVs that could be considered alongside the Escalade. These include the BMW X7, Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class.