General Review
Back in the late 1990s, General Motors once put on a GMC Yukon a grille of Cadillac – and the rest is history. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade is the fifth generation of the brand, and this new one looks beyond the original in comfort, design and technology. The new Escalade, buying elements from the 2016 Escala concept car, offers a visual plume worthy of its prices. Two engines – a familiar 6.2-liter V-8 and a new turbo-diesel-inline-6 – will be provided with an optional 10-speed transmission. Within the Escalade Dashboard a series of smart curved OLED displays lead to the digital world, as a gage cluster of infotainment displays in a sleek build.
Motor, move and output
Cadillac’s biggest SUV is powered either by a 6.2-liter V-8 engine with a capacity of 420 horsepower and a 3.0-liter turbo diesel inline-six which can deactivate half of the cylinders while cruising. With both engines, the automatic 10-speed transmission is standard, and buyers can choose between rear or all-wheel drive systems based on their individual requirements. The 2021 Escalade now travels, like its siblings, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon, on an all-new platform with an independent rear suspension, in order to help ensure a smoother ride. More advanced models will also provide an air suspension with adaptive dampers that uses computer-controlled shock absorbers.
Real-world fuel economy and MPG
For 2021 Escalade, the EPA fuel economy projections are lower than the 2020 model — at least for those powered by the 6.2-liter V-8. Values for rear-wheel drive are 15 mpg traffic, 20 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined; each amount of the rear-wheel drive is decreased to 1 mpg. The 2020 model has 23 mpg highway ratings and the main competitor of Escalade – Lincoln Navigator – provides more powerful ratings as well. The choice of the turbo-diesel engine should make a difference, but estimates for this model have still not been reported. We look forward to testing both powertrains on our 200-mile fuel-efficiency route.
Interior, comfort and freight
As the flagship of the Cadillac range, the Escalade in 2021 is projected to increase the scale of cabin luxury. Faux leather is used in the basic luxury trim, but any other trims are realised, and soft semi-aniline hides are given to Platinum models. The top appearance should be provided by leather-covered dash and door panels, aluminum speaker grille and adjustable interior lighting. As with the outgoing model, there will both be a standard and a long-wheelbase model, which will provide more legroom for third-row drivers and additional freight space.
Connectivity and details
In addition to the additional luxury in the cabin, Cadillac has tricked the Escalade in the electronics department completely. The key feature is the digital dashboard, consisting of three curved OLED screens on one side, to produce a cool 38-inch combined digital real estate, some of which are used as the drivers size cluster, while the rest are projecting a driver and passenger CUE infotainment system. The interface range is reminiscent of the giant monolithic infotainment device of the Mercedes-Benz GLS series, but the Escalade configuration provides complexity and seems less tackled than the Benz. Other tech features include a navigation system with expanded realities and a rear-seat entertainment kit that includes two 12.6-inch displays with streaming capabilities.
Apple CarPlay / Android Auto integration and a Wi-Fi hotspot are also expected to be standard. Audiophiles are available for a treat regardless of the Escalade model they choose. In partnership with AKG, which has won the Grammy award, Cadillac has developed the standard and optional sound systems for Escalade. A 19-speaker Studio Sound system is standard for luxury, sports and premium luxury models, but AKG Studio Reference system with a sizeable 36 speakers is provided for platinum trims.