This Is The All-New 2021 Cadillac Escalade
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The 2021 Cadillac Escalade has arrived, debuting in a special media event in Hollywood, California. The overhauled premium SUV brings the Escalade nameplate into an all-new generation, offering up a cornucopia of changes and fresh features, so let’s dive right into the highlights.
Outside, we find the latest Cadillac Escalade draped in brand-new styling, as well as standard 22-inch wheels in the corners. The cabin space was also redesigned, and now offers an extra 10.4 inches of third-row legroom, an extra 80 percent of cargo room behind the third row, and sliding seats for added second-row comfort. On the dash, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade equips a curved organic LED display measuring in at 38 inches.
There’s also two AKG audio systems on offer, with a standard 19-speaker system, and an optional 36-speaker system. Interestingly, the audio setup includes “conversation enhancement,” which uses onboard microphones and speakers to make it easier for passengers to hear one another.
Super Cruise driver assist tech is now offered, and comes with an automatic Lane Change feature activated by the turn signal. There’s also a variety of safety systems onboard, such as Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, and Rear Pedestrian Detection.
A head-up display and night vision are both optional.
Under the skin, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade now comes with an independent four-link rear suspension. Magnetic Ride Control is optional on Premium Luxury models and standard on the Sport, while Air Ride Adaptive Suspension with Magnetic Ride is available on Premium Luxury and Sport models, and standard on Platinum trims. Cadillac says that ride quality and handling are both significantly improved with this latest generation.
As for the powerplant options, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade comes standard with the naturally aspirated 6.2L L87 V8, which produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. What’s more, the Escalade is now offered with the 3.0L LM2 inline six-cylinder turbodiesel, which produces 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The GM 10-speed automatic transmission provides the cog swaps for both engines.
We’ll have plenty more coverage on the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade posted very soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Escalade news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Thanks to the other automakers ( specially Ford ) to force GM make better and more advanced cars for survive on the market.
Wiithout Navigator and Aviator, this spectacular Escalade was no possible
Outside design a giant fail.
These are my thoughts on the New Escalade
Wish it had the so called “Cadillac Specific” 4.2TT Engine as an option at least.
The Front is pretty Bold
Side Profile is pretty good as well
Rear looks a little Bland to me.
Interior might literally be best in class. This is what I have been talking about. This is a Zero Compromise interior.
I only have one really minor Gripe about the interior….I really dislike the Cadillac Snifter a lot. Wish they would take a page out of the BMW/Volvo vehicles.
Grand Slam GM, Grand Slam.
Maybe instead of a snifter they will let you order it with a chalice……or maybe a flute….
Best interior Cadillac has ever had.
Its a grand slam.
Is it only me or does it now look like a Tahoe from the front?
The interior looks like a winner (finally). The exterior fails miserably in hiding the Tahoe that lurks just below the surface.
IMO, I still think the 4th. gen. Escalade has a beautifully well crafted interior which is durable. But the 5th. generation model is absolutely gorgeous inside.
The exterior of the 4th. generation Escalade has been overstated and ostentatious but IMO, the 5th generation model has that same vibe.
The knocks I have with the 5th. gen Escalade are that the buttons, IMO should of been brushed metal or piano black, no second row motorized chairs but second row bench seats are powered as an available feature of all trim levels, no side window shades in rear seat and horsepower/torque output from the outgoing model still the same. But other than that, the Escalade is spectacular.
I was expecting certain things and it came true, most of them, like soft-closed doors, fixed door handles with electronic latch release, customize interior lighting, more advanced technology and more interior color choices. Also, the air ride suspension fixed with Magnetic ride suspension to give it a advantage. The taillights on the Slade is more modern with sequential lightning elements now found from Navigator and Audi.
The Escalade will find new homes and conquest buyers without a problem. Can’t wait for the V & EV models coming out.
Now there is an Escalade for everybody with eight different interior color options, five trim levels and soon will have another engine choice with the future V & one EV model.
The Lincoln Navigator got a lot of work cut out for it now.
Dashboard is awesome. Best of the best.
Overall I think they have done a great job making the Slade more modern . Sitting side by side with the current model really shows the difference in the art n science direction .
I hope GM did a lot of testing on that curved glass dash . Although it looks totally awesome , with our potholes and crumbling roads especially in the winter months it looks vulnerable to cracking .
Having seen many pics and short video of the Escalade now , before I give it a thumbs up or down I really need to see it in person . But I will say that I see the grill looking the same as the 2019 XT5 , a bit of Acadia in the front clips design and big brother to the XT6 .
And I hope GM is in development in putting the BlackWing under the hood soon and not waiting 2 to 3 years when it gets it’s refresh .
Look at those specs
Majestic road presence.
Air-ride suspension, maps every speed bump and adjust ground clearance accordingly.
Super cruise, first completely hands free autopilot system in any vehicle.
22 inches standard wheels, largest in any SUV.
Most spacious second row and third row ever.
Largest cargo space in any passenger vehicle.
Magnetic ride control, adjusts vehicle suspension automatically according to road conditions.
12″ passenger infotainment screen capable to navigation controls and sharing destination to driver screens.
First curved OLED screen in any vehicle, total of 38″.
augmented reality navigation and night vision
New to the automotive industry and exclusive to Cadillac professional studio sound grade AKG system 36 speakers, also capable to amplify passenger voices over ambient noise and support rear passenger front passenger conversations.
Some of them are not even available in most of the competition from Europe, but even if they’re ,those euro tricksters would have charged as much as 300K-400K for fully loaded ones.
This is on-par with Rolls-Royces it’s sad that you have to go that much further to convince sheep Americans that this beast is worthy to consider as an alternative to their way overpriced crampy German sheet fetish.
Dope cliche car writers can’t contain themselves to spew slanders like “share its platform with GM’s other large SUVs” while it’s taboo to critic any german car. They put on pedestal even though their fully loaded top-end versions can’t match with American rivals and cost sometimes three times as much.
The Escalade interior looks very nice–send that team over to the CT5 and CT4 and XT5 and redo those interiors.
My thoughts exactly. Start putting that interior in everything they make!
Now they need to take this interior and spread it across the lineup, so it gives the Germans something to worry about, as well as makes it more coherent. They did this with the CT6s interior then everything that followed fell short of expectations and they didn’t bother to offer similar upgrades as options.
On a side note, the XT4 needs to be positioned as a true compact and create a more aggressively styled subcompact with Escalade’s front to bookend the lineup. If Cadillac wants to take on MB, BMW, and AUDI on the entry level end just offering a tweener model with a low power 4 banger won’t do it.
the design is growing on me. I think they are going in the right direction but the exteriors are just not quite there yet. They need more to them. more dimensions, more oomf. Right now, this design seems really subdued and i feel the same with the other new gen models.
For example, the back still ends ubruptly (boxy), when it could be angled down like most other in the segment. The escala concept did it. The front could be a little wider, like the escala for more presence. Perhaps the grill could be pushed out with design changes more as well.
Anyway, good job on the changes but just not the prescense i would expect w/ 100k+
The new Escalade is a knockout.
Range Rover and Mercedes Benz better step up.
This thing is like a 80’s mullet. Cadillac upfront Chevy in the rear. They need new sheet metal. C-pillar is Chevy.
Cadillac’s marketing still sucks. This car has so many new features , but they have not released a good video to show them. New navigation system,night vision system. Where are they? If ithe was a German brand, there would 20 videos explaining how everything works. From the tail lights to the infotainment system. Was it so hard to make 5-6 videos?
And please,cadillac. Next time don’t put the cheap plastic buttons. If u make it good then make it all good. From head to toe.
Stop counting beans.
Agree about their marketing and cheap buttons.
But Overall it is great. The dash is the most beautiful on the luxury market now. I hope the upcoming cadillacs will be as good inside.
Oh, did u notice the ambient lighting? Finally.
Now they need to make more metallic buttons and make the upcoming products just as good inside. I mean long screens and everything. That horizontal wood is awesome. Just like the horizontal dash.
Not even close. Range Rover and Infiniti QX80 have superior interiors. The look, feel and materials on those two vehicles are another league above Cadillac. Look for yourself.
Flying the we’re number 1 foam finger isn’t cutting it for Cadillac. People know the difference. However, Cadillac buyers are willing to settle for less and pay for it. GM knows it and they put in cheaper materials and make more money.
Sorry but looking at the current 2020 QX80 here https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/kJXmY/s1/2020-infiniti-qx80-interior.jpg The interior looks old and clunky in comparison to the Cadillac.
QX80 way better.
Looks like something out of the early 2000s, ugly design that QX80.
Apples to oranges. You should compare the 4th. generation Escalade to the current Range Rover & QX80 instead the 5th. generation Escalade.
Regardless, the 4th. generation Escalade’s interior still superior to RR and QX80.
It’s a shame that General Motors CEO Mary Barra doesn’t believe in hybrids because a 200-300 hp electric motor to power the front wheels for better acceleration and instant torque would have been great.
She doesn’t believe in them because the market doesn’t want them, nor do Cadillac buyers or that of other luxury brands. The industry is committed to electric, half-stepping it is expensive and undesirable.
I don’t like the new front. The front looks like a regular Tahoe and not a Cadillac Escalade. The interior is much better but what would happen to the screen in temperature changes and in the heat. The Z71 Tahoe looks better and so does the GMC Denali for a lot less with the same equipment you actually use. Who is actually going to look at night vision? Really? Augmented reality? Who actually uses the speaker button to speak to the back passenger. I can spend the money but I prefer to spend money on useful things and especially that stand out. I will save about 30,000 and get a fully equipped 2021 z71 Tahoe and call it a day.