The 2025 Cadillac Escalade is poised to introduce a mid-cycle refresh complete with a long list of upgrades and changes, including refreshed exterior styling. As GM Authority has covered in the past, the new look will include an updated fascia design inspired by the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ. Having already shown you the 2025 Escalade-V in the flesh and the 2025 Escalade Sport with no camo, we’re now bringing you our first look at the 2025 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum, caught completely undisguised in the following GM Authority spy photos.
The Escalade Premium Luxury is differentiated from its Sport and V-Series relatives by the vast abundance of chrome accents interspersed throughout the luxury SUV’s exterior. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim builds on the regular Premium Luxury with higher levels of features and equipment, along with a unique grille, thereby representing one of the range-topping Escalade models within the Cadillac Y-trim level strategy.
In these images, we see a 2025 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum finished in Black Raven paint (paint code GBA), with the redesigned fascia and new grille design placed front and center. The grille features horizontally oriented bars finished in bright polished chrome for a similar look and feel to the grille of the pre-refreshed (2021-2024) model of the same trim.
The lighting setup draws inspiration from the all-electric Escalade IQ and includes vertical lighting signatures along the edges of the fascia. The primary headlights are also vertically-oriented, placed just inside the aforementioned DRLs. A set of horizontally-oriented turn signals (which also double as the hazard lights) can be found in the upper corners.
From the side, the Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum flaunts bright chrome window surrounds, while multi-spoke wheels with a bright finish enhance its flashy stance. The rear maintains its distinctive vertical taillights, now with subtly altered graphics, as GM Authority highlighted previously, while further chrome trim underlines the rear glass and stretches horizontally across the rear hatch. A new chrome bar can be seen just above the license plate. A set of revised bright trim elements lines the slightly thinner rear reflectors, while a set of slightly revised trapezoidal exhaust pipes are nestled in the lower bumper.
Inside, all 2025 Escalade models will boast a pillar-to-pillar digital display that dominates the cabin, offering a high-tech infotainment experience. The 55-inch digital screen replaces the previous 38-inch display, taking cues from the Cadillac Celestiq and the all-electric Escalade IQ. A secondary tablet-style screen for HVAC controls provides additional convenience. The new ICE-powered Escalade will also feature camera-to-phone streaming capabilities.
A new digital gear selector, mounted on the right side of the steering column, replaces the console-mounted shifter, freeing up space in the center console. Redesigned air vents and a new steering wheel add to the cabin’s modern aesthetic.
Under the hood, the familiar 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine powers the non-V-Series models, while the new 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax replaces the outgoing 3.0L I6 LM2. The high-performance Escalade-V will once again feature the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 engine, throwing down a heady 682 horsepower. All models will continue to ride on the GM T1 platform, with production taking place at the GM Arlington plant in Texas.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Escalade news, Cadillac news, GM business news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
There must be a competition in the auto industry to see who can make the ugliest front ends. For a long time it was Lexus and Toyota. GM seems to have taken the lead now.
This obnoxious and over-priced Tahoe is gunning for the top in terms of gaudy.
The Platinum model is gorgeous and will be more in-your-face than the prefresh model. I bet that GM has bunch of technical upgrades for the reason they are uncovering before the press release. I’m not going to hold my breath but I bet they have something going on for the second row like Executive seating package as a option as a surprise but we have to wait and see.
Front end looks great!
Looks nice. I prefer the grill with the scattered mini Cadillac logos found on the base trim.
Same engine equals garbage
Looks ok on black but I gotta think this face will look much more outlandish on lighter exteriors.
Chinese immitation of Cadillac? I wish. Very cheesy.
not a fan. i like the 21-24 better including inside. they literally put the floating middle console screen with nothing behind it. like come on. and the speakers being next to the cluster like that are just weird. but those who buy these do it for the status so all that is utterly irrelevant to them. they will buy it for the badge no matter what but gm really missed the design on this update with the escalade. they are trying to make it look like the electrics. all cadillacs now look the same, all chevrolets look the same. all gmc look the same. if i wanted that, id just buy an audi……….
lol: Although I’m just not a fan of any Escalade, I think you make some really valid points. The only reason anyone ponies up that kind of money for this ugly thing is for the attention. If they had common sense, they would buy the Tahoe/Suburban in High Country trim and save a ton. But to them, just like anyone buying those Tesla Cyber Trucks and the Hummers, it’s all about look at me.
However, I can’t agree with the point about all Chevy’s looking like Chevy’s and all Caddy’s looking like Caddy’s. Isn’t that kind of the point? Brand recognition?
Agree…buy a loaded High Country, take off the horrid badges, and you have the best solution in the line up.
Tacky
Whosever in charge of gm styling should be fired.
The front has too much GMC in it and less Cadillac. Would do well as a higher end over the top GMC. If you all think GM styling is bad, check out Ford and Lincoln. They have it worse than GM.
I have the last gen. What so many people miss is how beautiful the styling is at night because of both interior and exterior lighting with these vehicles. The handles, puddle logo lights and especially the tail lights. Coming or going, there is no mistaking the ‘Slade! I like the bookend framing of the classic chrome grill.
the king of large suvs. has a better and bigger presence and makes more of a statement than just about any car out there except maybe a rolls royce. and yeah its way better than a benz gls, bmw x7. the only competitor is the navigator and the lower end yukon denali and the escalade looks sexier than those by a mile.
a marvelous suv, iconic. wish the 2025 front lights would be larger, those slits are sorta small. 23-24 nailed it