2025 Cadillac Escalade: The Ultimate Luxury SUV
Cadillac’s future is electric, but its flagship model remains the Escalade. This massive SUV thrives on the classic V-8 engine. While the spotlight is on the upcoming 2025 Escalade IQ electric three-row luxury SUV, Cadillac is ensuring that the conventional Escalade continues to impress with a significant mid-cycle refresh for 2025. This strategy not only enhances the traditional Escalade but also aligns it with its forthcoming electric counterpart.
The Escalade: A Legacy of Luxury
The Escalade has been a staple in the luxury SUV market since 1999 and has remained the leader in its segment since 2014. With a commitment to innovation and performance, Cadillac is ensuring the Escalade maintains its esteemed position in the automotive industry. Significant investments are being made into electric vehicles at General Motors; however, maintaining the quality of legacy vehicles like the Escalade is crucial, especially when its fundamental design remains robust.
Design Tweaks
The refreshed front-end design of the Escalade takes inspiration from the Cadillac Celestiq and the Cadillac Lyriq. The introduction of new vertical lighting technology adds a muscular aesthetic while enhancing visibility. Furthermore, specialized fascia for the V-Series adds a unique flair, distinct from the other trim levels. Grille variations across the trims now showcase either an elegant chrome finish or a potent black appearance on the V-Series.
For 2025, the Cadillac crest emblem has also been enlarged and illuminated for top-tier trims, catching the eye with its sophisticated charm. The rear features familiar vertical taillights, complemented by a redesigned lower section that enhances the SUV’s visual width. Notably, 22-inch wheels are standard, with the option for 24-inch wheels marking a first for the Escalade.
Powertrain Stalwarts
The Escalade continues with its tried and true powertrains. The standard 6.2-liter pushrod V-8 engine generates an impressive 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. For those craving more power, the Escalade-V offers a supercharged version of this engine, delivering a thrilling 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque. All engines are paired with a sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission, offering both manual gear selection and automatic downshifts for added convenience.
While fuel economy figures are yet to be released, expectations are set for no significant changes due to the unchanged powertrains. All variants come with rear- and all-wheel drive options, further enhancing driving versatility. Super Cruise technology, which allows for hands-free driving, comes standard across all models.
Ride and Handling
Since the introduction of the independent rear suspension in the fifth generation, the Escalade has set new standards in ride quality and handling. The base model utilizes coil springs with passive dampers, while higher trims can opt for advanced magnetorheological dampers or an adaptive air-sprung suspension that allows for adjustable ride height.
Infotainment Pioneer
The interior of the 2025 Escalade showcases a state-of-the-art 55-inch curved display, extending seamlessly from one end of the dashboard to the other. This impressive screen features a 35-inch driver display and an innovative 20-inch passenger touchscreen with polarization technology, preventing distractions during travel. The inclusion of customizable functions maintains user-friendliness with physical knobs for vital controls, ensuring an intuitive experience.
Cadillac remains committed to delivering an exceptional audio experience with the AKG Studio sound system. Standard options feature 19 speakers, while an upgraded 36-speaker system is available for those desiring an even richer audio experience.
Inside the 2025 Cadillac Escalade
The 2025 Escalade offers convenient features such as an automatic door that opens as the driver approaches, along with available power-open capabilities for all doors. Inside, a refreshed steering wheel design and a thoughtful rearrangement of the gear shift to the steering column provide a more spacious center console.
With seating for up to eight passengers, versatile layouts for the second row are available, including bench options and captain’s chairs that fold flat. An exciting addition for 2025 is the Executive Second Row package, facilitating a mobile office experience equipped with heated, cooled, and massaging seats along with cutting-edge technology, though the second-row seats do not fold flat with this configuration.
Orders Start This Fall
The Escalade continues to reign as Cadillac’s best-selling SUV globally, with over 1 million units sold. With the anticipated introduction of the Escalade IQ, the brand aims to attract a younger demographic, yet both Escalade models are expected to appeal similarly to affluent consumers, easily adjusting production to meet demand.
Production for the gas-powered Escalade, along with its V-Series and Escalade ESV variants, will commence in Arlington, Texas, this year, with deliveries expected shortly after and volumes to increase in early 2025. Pricing information will be revealed soon, with orders beginning in the third quarter across several global markets, including the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The standard Escalade may be overshadowed by its electric counterpart, yet it remains an iconic representation of luxury and performance, essential for Cadillac’s continued success.
