It’s hard to deny that the Cadillac Escalade is one of General Motors’ most profitable – and thus important – offerings across its four U.S.-market brands. However, did you know that the luxury marque’s full-size SUV holds a notable distinction in regard to other flagship models from competing luxury automakers?
On Cadillac Society Podcast Episode Two, Alex Luft and G of Motrolix recently discussed the fact that the Escalade is Cadillac‘s best-selling model in the United States. As no other luxury brand has its flagship model as its best-selling product, this puts the luxury marque in quite the advantageous position. In fact, there are some fiscal quarters where the Escalade sells better than the Lincoln Navigator, Infiniti QX80 and Lexus LX combined, making for quite a dominating sales performance.
To further this point, the average transaction price (ATP) of the Escalade has sat above the $100,000 mark for some time now, which leads to another interesting argument where the Escalade doesn’t really need a “base” trim level anymore as it appears as though consumers are opting for well-equipped – and thus more expensive – Escalade variants. Prospective buyers can instead turn to the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban High Country, or the GMC Yukon Denali and Denali Ultimate.
As a reminder, Caddy’s flagship SUV is set to receive a mid-cycle refresh for the upcoming 2025 model year. Although official details have yet to be released, the 2025 Escalade is expected to be underscored by revised exterior styling and a cabin that features a full-width, pillar-to-pillar infotainment display.
Under the hood, the 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax will replace the 3.0L I6 LM2 engine, rated 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque in the 2025 Tahoe and 2025 Suburban, will join ranks with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, rated at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, as available powerplant options. The GM 10-speed automatic transmission will continue to handle the cog swaps. Meanwhile, the Cadillac Escalade-V will continue to cradle the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 engine that develops 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque.
In regard to structure, the Escalade rides on the GM T1 platform, with production taking place at the GM Arlington plant in Texas.
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Comments
Comes as no surprise. It is the only Cadillac that continues to adhere to traditional Cadillac values. This should be the clearest message to gm executives who continue to try to skew this once-proud brand away from what people want, need and expect from Cadillac. Long live the Escalade!
Maybe they would be better off letting the other models die off. It looks like they only have the bandwidth to make 3-4 models competitive.
Escalade, 1 sedan, and a small to mid size SUV
Cadillac needs to make better products to compliment the Escalade. The CUV variants are not true Cadillacs that needs to be moved RWD if going to continue or else get rid of them if GM can’t do better than the current line-up.
Exactly.
The obvious strategy (except to GM management) was to develop three RWD based crossovers (small, midsize and large) off the excellent Alpha and Omega platforms under development at the time. That would have made them true Cadillac products and very competitive with the best in the their segments.
Every market indicator imaginable showed buyers even in the luxury market we’re switching from sedans to SUV/crossovers with the trend accelerating by 2010.
So what did GM do? They ignored the trend and spent a ton of money on two new premium platforms for sedans only and no crossover variants. Instead they opted to minimize investment by enhancing some existing FWD platforms shared with other GM models for their Cadillac crossover strategy. As a result only the XT5 performed reasonably well sales wise while the XT6 and XT4 were late to market and decidedly underwhelming.
From a product portfolio planning perspective, they probably couldn’t have done a worse job if they’d tried.
When people say “ the Escalade is the last real Cadillac”… it doesn’t make sense because they used this recipe on multiple applications and people still turned their head… ex – ct6,cts, v,sts,dts,Seville,deville and the old srx
I got a CT5 that gets over 30 mpg because I didn’t want a land barge. Yes, there’s sedan drivers out there that like comfortable cars.
Wait what? Cadillac buyers don’t want EVs and crossovers? They want large, powerful ICE vehicles. WHO KNEW?!
I would love an Escalade but condensed down to the size of the XT4.
An XT4 with the LF4 motor would be awesome.
They sold over 3000 Lyriqs last month. It’s not inconceivable it outsells the Escalade for the second quarter.
Lyriq is already the second best selling Cadillac around, and they are still somewhat production constrained. Lyriq sells better than any of the equivalent ICE Cadillac by a very large margin.
Wow imagine that. A traditional full size RWD based V-8 powered full frame vehicle still selling the best in their lineup.
It shows Cadillac buyers like their vehicles BIG. Imagine taking the Escalade and making a slightly lower but just as long sedan and convertible. Bring back the famous big American road car again. Oh and make it a V-8 in regular and V-Series please.
They’ll need more carbon credits to do that.
Definitely possible. The standard Rolls Royce Phantom is 0.2″ longer than the Escalade ESV, while the EWB Phantom is 8.8″ longer.
Great looking vehicle.
Now get a Express with the same good looks for the folks that new bigger vans.
GM Authority really needs to get with the program. GM is discontinuing the Duramax Diesel in the Escalade. 2024 is the last year. You would think the “Authority on GM” would know this.
Cadillac needs those Escalade sales to pay for losses on every EV sold and underperforming sedan models. They need a baby Escalade in the future.
How would an SUV based on the Colorado/Canyon be, with the twin-turbo V6 of the CT5 under the hood? Seems like that would be the closest thing to a distillation of the Escalade formula.