Our Opinion - 2026 Cadillac Escalade Review Big, bold, and vocal are all words that describe the Cadillac Escalade. The Chevrolet Suburban and the less expensive GMC Yukon are built on similar platforms. However, Cadillac’s huge flagship SUV plays in the full-size luxury SUV market and really puts on a show. The Escalade’s tech-filled front cabin is a nice place to be in charge, and all three rows are made with high-end materials. If you need more cargo space and legroom in the third row, you should get a long-wheelbase ESV. Without a question, the Escalade is a very big car. You can choose between two powerful V-8 engines, which make it feel more capable than rivals like the Lincoln Navigator and the Lexus LX 600. This is because it handles and rides as smoothly as glass. Expert Tip: The Escalade started as a fancy GMC Yukon. But even with the extras, that model, along with the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, is more useful and much cheaper. What's New? For the 2026 model year, the Escalade has few changes. It just got a facelift in 2025. The Premium Luxury trim is removed from the Escalade, and the trim range is adjusted slightly to make room for a new base model. Platinum Sport is now the name of the Sport Platinum model, and Platinum Luxury is now the name of the Premium Luxury Platinum model from last year. Magnus Metal Frost and Vibrant White Tricoat are now available as extra colors. However, Vibrant White Tricoat is only offered on the top-of-the-line V-Series model. Pros and Cons Pros Different looks. Large and open inside. Technologies for self-driving cars. Cons A rough ride. Quite pricey. Fuel not used efficiently. Engine, Transmission, and Performance It comes with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that makes 420 horsepower and a boosted version that makes 682 horsepower. Automatic transmission with 10 speeds. It has both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. The biggest SUV from Cadillac comes with a standard 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 420 horsepower. It comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission and can be set up to drive either the rear wheels or all four wheels. Fans of the Escalade seeking high performance can only opt for the V model. It has a powerful 6.2-liter V-8 blower that makes 682 horsepower. We were also pleased by the supercharged V-8’s power and baritone sound. Because it has an independent back suspension, the Escalade has more legroom in the third row than its siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, as well as the GMC Yukon. The older version had less space because the back axle was solid. In better trims, you can also get air springs with adaptive dampers. The Escalade-V moves better than a regular SUV thanks to its improved suspension, but it’s still not as quick as cars like the Mercedes-AMG GLS63 and the BMW Alpina XB7. Safety Cadillac wants its top-of-the-line SUV to be a showcase for driver-assistance technology. It will also come standard with a number of famous active safety features. It also offers the option to drive hands-free with Super Cruise. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpages to learn more about the Escalade’s crash test scores. The following are important safety features: Automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning with lane-keeping aid are standard safety features. You can choose to have adaptive cruise control and hands-free drive. Internal and External Cargo Capacity First Row: The Cadillac Escalade, which is the top model in the line, is the most luxurious car inside. The Platinum models feature extra-soft semi-aniline hides, while the base Luxury trim uses faux leather. All the other trims are made with real leather. Some of the switches are shared with less expensive GM cars. Still, the aluminum speaker grilles, leather-covered dash and door panels, and adjustable internal ambient lighting make the car look more expensive. Second Row: The second row of the Escalade is just as luxurious as the first. There are plush materials throughout and seats designed for long trips. You can also choose Executive Second-Row Seating, which has massage-ventilated captain’s seats and wireless phone chargers in the back. Third Row: The long-wheelbase Escalade ESV is the best choice if you need more third-row space to stretch out. It gives you 1.7 inches more legroom in the back and a lot more storage space. Luggage Space: We were able to fit 24 carry-on bags into the normal Escalade’s luggage space during our tests. The space can hold up to 73 cubic feet of stuff when the 60/40 split third row seats are folded down. While the third row was upright, we could only bring six carry-on bags. The Escalade ESV is much bigger than the standard-wheelbase model. Behind the second row, it can hold up to 94.1 cubic feet of things. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA rates cities at 11-15 mpg. The EPA rates highway gas mileage at 17-19 mpg. With the base V-8 engine and rear-wheel drive, the 2025 Escalade got 15 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg total. With all-wheel drive, all three numbers went down by 1 mpg. The EPA hasn’t yet released fuel-economy estimates for the 2026 Escalade. With 11 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway, the V version was much less fuel-efficient, according to the EPA. In 2026, those ratings should remain the same because the most recent model is unlikely to change. Infotainment and Connectivity 5. 55-inch touch screen with a widescreen for entertainment Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Google Auto, and Apple CarPlay. 21-speaker AKG system comes standard; 38-speaker AKG system is available as an option When it comes to technology, the Cadillac outperforms the Escalade. The most interesting part is the digital panel, which has three curved OLED screens that stack on top of each other to make a huge 55.0-inch screen—that’s up from 38 inches on the last model. As was already said, the CUE entertainment system takes up most of the screen, while the gauge panel on the driver’s side takes center stage. There is also an augmented-reality guidance system and an entertainment package for the back seats, featuring two 12.6-inch screens that stream content. There are WiFi hotspots for everyone, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto let people use their phones wirelessly in their cars. Range, Charging, and Battery Life The Escalade took 6 seconds to reach 60 mph, while the Escalade-V took only 4.3 seconds. During our tests, the 2025 Escalade took 6.0 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. This is faster than cars from Lincoln and Lexus. The big SUV went from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds thanks to the Escalade-V’s supercharged 682-hp V-8 engine, which we had tried before. It is now on the same level as the brand-new Range Rover P530 with a V-8 engine, which we looked at. Price and How to Choose Many models and options can affect the price of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade/ESV. Even though the Escalade is a high-end car, buying it to save money isn’t always worth it. There is a premium 38-speaker AKG sound system, semi-aniline leather, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with massage, adaptive suspension with air springs, and a new power door feature that opens and closes all four doors with the touch of a button or handle on the console. This is the trim level we recommend. Towing And Payload Capacity The Escalade’s towing rating is 8100 pounds, which is 200 pounds less than the Chevy Suburban’s. Pick a rear-wheel-drive Escalade with the base 420-hp V-8 engine to get the most out of its towing abilities.
