Update: Cadillac provided official Escalade statistics for the month of January. The SUV’s segment share actually grew 1.4 percent, and U.S. sales increased 2 percent total. The brand reiterated that, according to its own data, most of Lincoln’s segment gains came from Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Land Rover—not Cadillac. Escalade average transaction prices also grew by $2,300 year-over-year last month.
The Cadillac Escalade finally has a proper rival. The 2018 Lincoln Navigator debuted to much fanfare, and now, demand is following the debut hoopla.
Ford Authority reported last Friday that Navigator sales were up 97.5 percent in January year-over-year, while Lincoln’s entire portfolio dropped 20 percent. In comparison, sales of the Cadillac Escalade in regular-wheelbase form climbed 15 percent, but long-wheelbase ESV models shrunk 14 percent.
It’s unclear if the Navigator actually outsold the Escalade last month, but it seems unlikely, especially noting Ford Vice President of U.S. Marketing, Sales, and Service Mark LaNeve’s, comment: “We could have sold a lot more in January if we had had them.”
Meanwhile, we know there are no supply issues surrounding the Cadillac Escalade. The Arlington, Texas, plant continues to crank out truckloads of GM-branded SUVs daily.
Better news for Lincoln, however, is the 2018 Navigator’s average transaction price. 84 percent of retail buyers are opting for the expensive Reserve or Black Label trims, which start at $81,205 for the former and $93,705 for the latter.
Cadillac will reportedly overhaul the Escalade for the 2020 model year, and it will likely start to differentiate itself from its Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon siblings. We may even see an independent rear suspension.
Comments
Great news! Just what I was hoping would happen: Lincoln’s success with the new Navigator prompting Cadillac to take action on revitalizing the (now inferior) Escalade! I had a strong feeling sales would skyrocket with the new Navigator, plus the ATP on these models is virtually neck-and-neck with Cadillac; maybe even higher depending on calculations.
I’m so looking forward to what Cadillac has in store for the 2020 Escalade! Now it’s a fight to hang onto those sales!
Cadillac needs to hurry the F up and redo the Escalade
I am interested to see what Escalade’s full potential could be if it were properly differentiated from the Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon. I think it would stick to the traditional body-on-frame setup, but with more modifications over the lesser siblings. Like most Cadillacs, refinement will be key. Consumer reviews and surveys have been placing the current model low on reliability.
The next Escalade should be high on luxury features. Specifically, I would like to see the short wheel base model offer an executive rear seat option, similar to what Range Rover offers. Ditch the third row, move the second row captain chairs back further with a proper center console. Offer full recline, power shades, massaging chairs. A true flagship, Platinum level SUV that can go toe-to-toe with with Range Rover.
I’m hoping the next Tahoe & Escalade both get the nice round wheel openings like the next Silverado has. It looks so sharp! And I agree with others, the Escalade needs a serious high end interior trim treatment and IRS. Honestly, I’d like to see it in the Tahoe too. Ford has it and it adds cargo volume. Ford/Lincoln have been cutting into Chevrolet/Cadillac’s territory here lately and it’s disheartening.
Doing nothing is the quickest way to lose and that’s what Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen has done as there has been absolutely no new ideas.. no Cummins turbo diesel V8 or an Escalade Vsport which would include the 650 hp LT4.
Why a Cummins Diesel when GM has it’s own Diesel? To offer a Diesel and a VSPORT would be nice.
GM should reveal the Escalade first followed by the new Tahoe/Yukon if they come out around the same time. If I recall, last time the Escalade came last and people felt it understated the redesign after already seeing the lower twins
I knew this vehicle would be a hit just based on its interior alone. GM’s interior designs and materials is getting left behind. Even FCA’s new Ram truck interior looks better then any GM truck IMO. The new Navigator looks like a luxury vehicle while the Cadillac looks like a top of the line Buick in terms of interior design and layout. GM has got to ante up thier playbooks when it comes to this and while it has gotten better over the last few years, there is still plenty of work needed.
All of what you said is a matter of opinion. I still think the Escalade’s interior is right up there with the competition in its own right and looks great also. The only thing the Escalade shares with the Yukon is the armrest, column shifter and rotary switches on the left side of the console by the steering wheel But other than those similarities, the interior is universally praised still.
The Navigator’s interior is great also and way better than the ’17 Navigator it replaces it with, but I don’t see the interior that substantially far better than the Escalade.
The similarities don’t stop there… The Escalade and Yukon also share the same turn signal switch, overhead light console, center arm rest console bin and lid, cargo area seat switches, running boards, exterior door handles, power door lock and window switches, sun visors, air vent rotary dials, heads up display, seat memory buttons, starter button and rim choices.
Cadillac needs to do more to differentiate their vehicles from sibling vehicles built on the same platform and sold at much lower costs.
That said, I agree with you that the Escalade interior is on par or better than the new Navigator’s
I totally agree I drive a 2018 Cadillac Escalade and I wouldn’t trade it for any other it is the best I feel soooo proud driving this suv luxury and so do my five sons and daughter keep going Escalade I
I have 2 Escalade 2005/2009 base and EXT wish GM would up grade interior better quality material plus they need to put amps on their stereos puts more speakers in the rear and front doors they also need to have a third row seat that reclines get rid of that hump also they need to come out with a twin-turbo V6 engine for better fuel economy when the fuel prices go up and just compete you know where Range Rover get rid of the automatic running boards I don’t really like those that they take away the beauty of the truck and come up with a better idea for that yeah improve the power horsepower and the transmission in the suspension to make it right just as compete with on the world scene with Range Rover and BMW and Jaguar SUVs!
Looks like what you really want is a Navigator.
The Navigator puts the Escalade to shame. If so far superior in every aspect and it doesn’t have the agricultural solid rear axle. the Navi has been independent for over 15 years. In fact, nobody in the luxury segment has that type of axle.
Ford has a clear winner.
I’ve seen the Navigator. I don’t know that it puts the Escalade to shame. It still lacks some basic convenience items that the Escalade has and is a vehicle that is longer overdue than a new Escalade – which we will see soon enough and the pendulum will swing back to GM, assuming it ever left in the first place. Also, the Escalade still looks better with respect to styling. It’s much more striking in appearance.
If you see the Navigator in person, you will see how refined it looks both inside and out. There’s more than a hint of Land Rover in the styling. The Escalade is obviously dated by now and in many respects is gaudy with it’s oversized grill which I will admit is still popular with blacks and latinos.
I’ve seen a few, as stated in my comment. It is a rather anonymous looking truck with little personality on the exterior. The interior is nice, but not light years ahead of anything else on the market – certainly well behind in many respects. As for the rest of your statement, you are on your own.
Bob, the Escalade is universally praised no matter what the person’s race, creed, nationality, sex, age and etc. just like most luxury vehicles out there.
If you look at the stats, a good number of people that own these vehicles are white people.
Higher transaction prices for the new Navigator and Expedition are a good thing for both Ford and GM.
Deep discounts on the old Navigator and Expedition, were around for a long time.
GM will have the new Large SUV models out in about a year. I believe some form of an independent rear will be included.
That’s GM being stingy with the purse string to upgrade and get ahead in both quality and substance.
They love to brag about the price point when asked about the decreased volume. How about this, spend the money to upgrade your vehicles to be the best in class in every aspect. That way you could brag about both the volume and price point. I could be wrong but that looks like a win win situation to me.
Jeez this place is just as bad b**chfest as the other crappy GM site…….OMG a new car has things that are better than a car that has been on the market for 4 years??? Say it aint so, and GM needs to replace the Escalade NOW (I love fake bossyness from people that have no control over anything at all) as GM had a giant that just sh*t out new cars at whim.
Good for Ford, they have a large SUV that some people actually want to buy now. Wow. Guess what, even with this, GM will continue to own this segment(74% of the market) and the period of time that the sun will shine on these will be brief, between now and the time the new GM full size SUV’s debut.
who pissed in your soup?
Finally Lincoln came out with a new Navigator which it took them 11 years to come to market from the ’07 third generation model.
Although substantially better in every which way, Lincoln did not go far enough like air suspension, soft-closed doors, second row executive seat package, second and third row motorized sunshades, lack of leather padded air bag cover on the steering wheel and a V8 option.
Although this vehicle is better than the current Escalade in several ways, which the Escalade is excellent in its own right, Lincoln did not go far enough. I thought it was ridiculous that Lincoln could put a powered third row seat recliner but not in the second row seat. Lincoln could went farther but didn’t.
Also, it is too early to tell if the Escalade will have a dent in sales. The volume of it is still holding strongly and the next generation model will debut in two to two and half years and will substantially be far superior than the current Navigator.
Don’t be shocked if the next generation Escalade comes with an IRS with air ride that is height adjustable according to MT confidential. Also, among enhanced technology and luxury.
Lincoln, although did not originate the full size BOF SUV class, offer a segment at a reasonable price and Ford thru it all away when they made the 3rd. generation Navigator stagnant for 11 years. Hopefully Ford learn their lesson and bring Lincoln back where it suppose to be.