For 2025 Cadillac refreshed their flagship SUV, the Escalade. From the exterior design perspective, the changes are pretty subtle - we received refreshed front facia with new headlights and new color and wheel options.
The most significant difference can be found inside. If you like screens, you will feel right at home. We got a new 55-inch display from the Escalade IQ, new dashboard design, and some other styling changes.
The Escalade is obviously a body on frame construction available in two wheelbase variants - standard, and long, it features a multilink suspension front and back, combined either with coil-over shocks or optional air springs and magnetic ride control adaptive dampers.
As of engines, unfortunately the inline-6 cylinder Duramax diesel is gone, and we only have a 6.2L V8, which in most models makes 420 hp. The Escalade V gets a 682 hp supercharged variant of that engine.
Sll models get a 10-speed Hydra-Matic automatic that was co-developed with Ford, RWD is standard, and 4WD is a $3,000 option. As of towing capacity, RWD models can pull up to 8,100 lbs, for 4WD models it’s 200 lbs less, so 7,900 lbs.
Other full size SUVs to consider are a Lincoln Navigator, GMC Yukon Denali, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, Infiniti QX80, BMW X7, Lexus LX 600, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Mercedes GLS.
IMFO
PREMIUM SPORT
From: $148,205*
As shown: $149,430*
Includes all Sport standard key features, plus:
19.2 kW charging
Power open and close doors
38-speaker AKG* Studio Reference Audio System with Dolby Atmos®
Night Vision* thermal imaging
Massage front seats with power bolsters
16-way power front-row seating, including 8-way power adjustment, 4-way lumbar adjustment, 2-way shoulder adjustment and 2-way back bolster adjustment
Smart Trailering Package
24" wheels
Two-tone paint with black painted roof
Rear Seat Entertainment with two mounted 12.6" diagonal touchscreen displays
Executive Second Row Seating Package, including 42-speaker AKG* Studio Reference Audio System with Dolby Atmos®
MORE INFO
This is a Motormouth couple car review of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade full-size, body-on-frame, luxury SUV.
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade is powered by a 6.2L V8 with a 10-speed automatic transmission, 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, standard 4WD in Canada. In the US, RWD and 4WD options are available. There is the more powerful V-Series available with a supercharged 6.2L V8, 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque, standard AWD.
This 2025 Cadillac Escalade, body-on-frame SUV comes loaded with standard features and if you want more features, you can add them, the list is endless. Let’s start with the standard tech, a 14.2” driver display with augmented reality, a 55” diagonal HD curved display with navigation, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, wireless charger, a 19-speaker AKG audio system, leatherette upholstery, heated 12-way power front bucket seats, driver seat memory, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, heated second row seats, an AutoSense power liftgate and Super Cruise.
We have the top trim with semi-aniline leather seats in all three rows, a leather wrapped centre console, instrument panel and upper door, massaging seats which feel great, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, a 36-speaker AKG sound system, AKG Bluetooth headphones, a rear seat entertainment system and power folding third row seats.
This 2025 Cadillac Escalade SUV glides over speed bumps, it’s comfortable, refined and quiet. I can understand why people like these. Unfortunately, fuel economy is dismal at 17L/100 km,14 MPG city and 13L/100 km, 18 MPG highway.
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Comments
- Enjoyed your review. I know people make a big deal about the fuel economy, but its really not that bad. And it hasn't changed (ie. gotten any worse) for decades in previous models of the Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade platform. For example, the 2005, 2009 and 2016 Yukon Denali with the 6.0L or 6.2L engine all got basically 17L/100km, and our 2024 Escalade delivers exactly the same combined hwy and city results. On the hwy, you will see a significant improvement with the 10 speed and cylinder deactivation. Ours is a Sport Platinum model with the air suspension, and the ride is wonderfully smooth with the 22" wheels. Supercruise works well (on the relatively few highways around here that support it) and the interior is well thought out and supremely comfortable. The 36 speaker AKG sound system is incredible. My criticisms? Only a few, and they are quite minor. I wish there was more interior storage areas (a larger storage bin in the side at the back, for larger items, would be particularly nice, as the storage area under the floor is fairly shallow), that GM offered an accessory rear cargo mat that protected the sides of the cargo area from marks/damage, and that four wheel steering was an option on the ICE model. I actually prefer our Escalade's pre-refresh interior, which has dedicated buttons for the climate control system, to the 2025 screen (which inevitably results in lots of fingerprints). And with regard to the 6.2L recall, our Escalade is not subject to the recall (yet), but I am religious about oil changes. Our previous 6.2L engines had no problems, so I'm hoping this continues.
- You guys do such a good job with these reviews and I appreciate some of the frank talk you're willing to share. I find myself back in the market for a new car (my 2023 Genny GV70 is just not big enough) so I'll be looking a lot more often at your reviews of mid/large SUVs.
- Beware of that 10 Speed transmission.... would never recommend anyone buy this or any other vehicle with a 10 Speed transmission. It's problems are well documented... buyer beware!
- The remedy for issues with the 6.2 liter V8 essentially was to change the oil to Mobil 1 0W40 Supercar oil about $10+ USD per quart. The original spec oil was too thin for the big V8 GM was trying to get better gas mileage to meet C.A.F.E. numbers. I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If you can afford this SUV, go for it!
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