We drive the 2021 Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade has made a big splash since its 1999 debut. The Escalade has been a very popular SUV and it has always been a vehicle that you want to be seen in. For 2021, the fourth generation Escalade is now available with more technology and more luxury than ever before. The new Escalade was introduced on February 4, 2020 in Beverly Hills, where many of the buyers have property.

The Escalade is a huge vehicle, and you know it from the moment you catch a glimpse of it. Our Escalade measured 211 inches in length. It is a big vehicle, and you will not mistake it for a Miata. Our 4WD model weighed around 5800 pounds, but there is an upside to the size.

First, it is roomy. The Escalade has room for 7 people easily and there will still be room for luggage. Load up people in all three rows, and you will still have over 25 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Fold down the third row, and you get 63 cubic feet or fold down everything and get a huge 109 cubic feet of space.

Because the Escalade is based on a full-size truck chassis, it is also heavy-duty so your load can be as much as 1647 pounds. If you loaded up your Escalade and you need more room, you can always hook up a trailer. The Escalade can tow up to 8200 pounds with the right configuration. Those are serious numbers.

While the Cadillac’s size may be noticeable, the focus has to be about technology and luxury. The Escalade is full of it and will not disappoint you. Get behind the wheel and you will see the first OLED curved display pack 38 inches of display area with super high definition. The display is bright and has vibrant colors that tell you everything you need to know.

You also get augmented reality navigation that displays street views with overlays to help you figure out where you should go.

There is a Surround Vision feature that employs four exterior cameras to provide a 2-megapixel bird’s-eye view of the scene around the vehicle. There is a trailer integration package, which offers up to nine camera views (including rear camera guidelines) to support easier hitching. Our vehicle had the optional night vision which is an amazing feature. It is displayed on the center display and uses infrared technology and even highlights people that may be hard to see because they are wearing dark clothing at night.

A rear entertainment system was also on our test vehicle which uses two 12.6 inch touch screens that can stream games, music, and videos through HDMI and USB inputs. The screens can also mirror your phone and your kids can make destination suggestions to you in the front seats.

The rest of the interior is packed with leather and wood and it feels like a very expensive place to be. Some people have complained about some of the Chevrolet switches in the Cadillac, but everything works great and looks good so who cares.

Our favorite feature was the AKG audio system. AKG is known more for microphones and headphones and for the first time have partnered with an auto manufacturer. The system includes 36 speakers powered by three amplifiers and sounds incredible.

Under the hood of the Escalade the standard engine is a 6.2 liter V8 that puts out 420 hp and is mated to a standard 10 speed automatic transmission. The big V8 moves the big Escalade with ease and actually feels quick. It is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the freeway.

You can’t expect any better than that for a vehicle of that size, but Cadillac has an ace up its sleeve. There is an optional 3 liter turbo diesel option that has the same torque as the gas motor and is rated at 20 mpg in the city and up to 27 mpg on the highway. Those are impressive numbers and we hope to get our hands on the diesel soon.

The new Escalade is a remarkable vehicle, and it packs many standard features. To get one on your driveway, you will need a minimum of $77,490 in your bank account. We had the Platinum model that cost $102,995, and it had over $5000 worth of options which brought out the total price to $109,500. That is a lot of money and there are a lot of large SUVs for less money but the Cadillac engineers have worked very hard to build a luxury machine that can impress people and this does not disappoint.

2021 Cadillac Escalade Specs