2027 Cadillac Escalade: The Don of Full-Size Domestic Luxury
Highs and Lows
Strengths include a domineering presence, an exquisitely adorned interior, and a sure-footed feel despite its size. Drawbacks include the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban offering similar size and space for far less money, and plenty of other compelling SUVs at this price.
Verdict
The Escalade is the Don of full-size domestic luxury SUVs, asserting itself with an imposing presence and opulent trappings.
Overview
The Escalade has long embodied money, power, and domestic luxury, and the latest version maxes out its opulence. It still shares underpinnings with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, but a beautifully upholstered interior, a tech-laden front cabin, and many quality-of-life features mask its humble origins. The long-wheelbase ESV adds third-row legroom and cargo space. Two powertrains are offered: a standard 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 and a 682-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 in the sport-oriented V-Series. Whatever the trim, it rides as smoothly as polished marble, with uncommonly direct steering and agility that belies its size, traits missing from rivals like the Infiniti QX80 and Lincoln Navigator. The two GMC Yukon models split the difference between the Chevy and Cadillac in luxury.
What’s New for 2027
The base rear-wheel-drive model is dropped, and the Platinum Sport and Platinum Luxury trims now come only with four-wheel drive. An Onyx Lite appearance package with darkened exterior trim is available on Sport trims. A digital key and trailer tire pressure monitoring are new, and a Sandstone color joins the options, while Aegean Green and Magnus Metal Frost are dropped.
Pricing
The 2027 Escalade / Escalade ESV starts at $105,595 and goes up to $172,195 depending on trim and options.
Engine and Performance
The standard 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 pairs with a 10-speed automatic and rear- or all-wheel drive. The V-Series uses the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 making 682 hp, which impressed testers with its power, baritone burble, and ability to lunge ahead from a stop. Like the Tahoe, Suburban, and Yukon, the Escalade has an independent rear suspension that allows a low floor and good third-row legroom, with air springs and adaptive dampers on higher trims. Testers found it handled better than many other full-size SUVs.
Acceleration
Car and Driver recorded 6.0 seconds to 60 mph for the base 2025 Escalade, slower than rivals from Lincoln and Lexus, and 4.3 seconds for the Escalade-V, on par with the last V-8 Range Rover P530 tested.
Towing
Maximum towing is 8,100 pounds, 200 pounds less than the Suburban, and requires a rear-wheel-drive trim with the base V-8.
Fuel Economy
Escalades with the standard V-8 are rated at 14 mpg city, 18 highway, and 16 combined. The V model is far less efficient at 11 city, 17 highway, and 13 combined.
Interior and Comfort
The base Luxury trim uses faux leather, while all other trims get real leather, and Platinum models get extra-soft semi-aniline hides. Leather-covered dash and door panels, aluminum speaker grilles, and adjustable ambient lighting give an upscale look, though some switchgear is shared with lesser GM models. The second row continues the opulence with rich materials and road-trip-worthy seats, and an Executive Second-Row Seating package adds rear wireless phone chargers and ventilated massaging captain’s chairs. The article cuts off here, so third-row, cargo, and infotainment details are not covered.