GM refreshed the fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade for the 2025 model year, debuting a variety of updates and changes. Among these are new exterior styling, an overhauled cabin, new tech features, and deletion of the diesel engine option. Interestingly, when it comes to Cadillac Escalade buyers, the demographic has changed quite a bit since the last generation. In fact, the demographic is richer this time around.
In an interview with Cadillac Escalade Marketing Manager Donnelly Baxter, GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft learned that the current generation of Cadillac Escalade buyers purchasing the T1-based SUV are wealthier than those buyers who purchased the previous K2-based generation.
“Age moved a little bit and household income moved a fair bit [higher],” Baxter told GM Authority. “Especially more so on the short wheelbase; the long wheelbase was already higher than the short wheelbase and the move from our K2 generation to the current T1 brought the short wheelbase household income up to pretty much be where the long wheelbase is.”
As GM Authority covered previously, the current crop of Cadillac Escalade buyers is also younger than the previous generation of Escalade buyers. Per Baxter, the average age for an Escalade customer is between the mid- to high-40s – a drop of about two to three years, on average. Interestingly, the extended-length Escalade ESV attracts the younger side of that spectrum, while the standard wheelbase model tends to draw the older side of the spectrum. This difference is attributed in part to younger buyers requiring more space for growing families.
However, overall, the average Escalade buyer is now younger and more wealthy than was the case for the preceding K2-based generation SUV.
“Overall, we brought in a slightly younger and a fair bit wealthier clients from the shift from the K2 to the T1 Escalade,” Baxter confirms.
As a reminder, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade is equipped as standard with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, while the Escalade-V features the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine. Vehicle production takes place at the GM Arlington plant in Texas.
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Well you kinda have to be these days.
I was watching an old clip from Borat. And man I almost fell off my chair when he was at the Hummer dealer and when he asked the price of the H2 the guy told him $52k. These days that price tag only gets you a mid-sized Chevrolet with a useless battery pack.
You can get a Silverado WT loaded...w/ 5.3.... at that or a little less.
Inflation is a killer.
And this is surprising? Getting to be you have to have ten million in the bank to even get near a dealership.
Anyone ever seen the inflation SNL from the 70's? Same thing. We're all becoming millionaires, not that it makes a difference.
Wealthier, how about some actual dollar amounts of wealth of the average purchaser.
And this SUV will cost 700k-800k riyals here in Qatar....
The previous Escalade hit maximum around 385k......
Stop buying. Plain and simple.
Prices will go down
Are the people "Richer" or just like going in debt for 7 to 8 years?
I'd like to see the finance break down of this and see how many people took out a loan for more than 5 years. I guarantee it would astonish many people.
No depreciating asset is worth that amount of money. Some people lack common sense.