2022 Cadillac Escalade

From tip to tail, Cadillac’s full-size luxury SUV focuses on all the things that endeared it to buyers in the first place: utility, comfort and style. Cadillac launched the fifth-generation Escalade last year, so changes for 2022 are minimal. 

The full-size SUV segment is small, especially when considering luxury entries, but most rivals, even if traditionally mainstream, trend on the more premium side when it comes to features and amenities. Unsurprisingly, the Escalade’s aims to attract shoppers also considering the Lincoln Navigator, GMC Yukon (when dressed up in the Denali trimmings) and the Mercedes-Benz GLS. This high-end sub-set all cost around $75,000 to start, but the Escalade is the priciest vehicles with a starting MSRP north of $76,000.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade comes in two sizes, the 17.5-feet standard version and the near 19-feet extended ESV. It comes in five trims split into either sport or luxury treatments: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum. The sport trims are focused more on a darker aesthetic and the luxury trims have a brighter, chrome-centric look.

All configurations can be equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 or 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine, which are both paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel-drive is standard, and four-wheel-drive is optional across the line.

But the Cadillac Escalade is more than just a plush people-mover. It’s spacious enough to haul a ton of cargo without compromising passenger space. The three-row SUV seats seven or eight and has 25.5 cubic-feet of cargo capacity behind the third row; the extended ESV offers 41.5 cubic-feet of stowage. It’s also fit enough to tow up to 8,200 pounds when properly equipped.

Performance: 13/15

The standard 6.2-liter V8 generates 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque and the 3.0-liter inline-six turbo-diesel that puts out 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque is a no-charge option on the base model. One of the most significant changes for the new-gen Escalade was the switch to an independent rear suspension, which makes the ride quality smoother for rear passengers. In addition to improved driving dynamics, the change also allowed more room for cargo and passengers.

Piloting a behemoth like the Escalade isn’t exactly effortless, but a handful of on-board systems make the SUV livable, including parking sensors and a 360-degree camera that makes easy work of navigating tight parking lots. The Escalade’s body roll is surprisingly minimal when leaning into curves, and =steering is responsive and smooth. The big SUV’s turning circle also is surprisingly manageable. An adaptive air suspension system provides a smooth, pillowy ride for the driver and passengers—as is expected from the brand.

When saddled with the V8, the Escalade gets up to speed and out of the way quickly but stopping is a laborious task. All trims but the base are equipped with “enhanced” automatic emergency braking and a brake pad monitor as a backup precaution for the massive Escalade. It’s 8,200-pound tow rating is bested in its class only to the Lincoln Navigator.

Fuel Economy: 11/15

The Escalade scores 14 mpg in city driving, 19 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg combined, in the thirstiest all-wheel drive V8 configuration. At best it nets 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined with the real-wheel-drive diesel setup. To put it in terms your wallet may understand, the EPA estimates you’ll spend $3,800 annually on premium gasoline when equipped with 2WD and the gas guzzling V8 engine or $2,450 annually with the 3.0-liter diesel powertrain. 

That’s slightly more fuel efficient than the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer equipped with a 6.4-liter V8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic, which gets a combined 15 mpg with either its two- or four-wheel-drive configuration. However, it’s less efficient than the 3.5-liter turbocharged 2021 Lincoln Navigator, which burns 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway and 18 and is the only full-size SUV to use regular gasoline.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 10/15

NHTSA gives the Escalade a four-star safety rating, suffering, predictably, when it comes to rolling over. It has not been crash-tested by IIHS, which hurts its overall safety score. However, all trims get a robust menu of advanced safety tech from the Cadillac Smart System, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, automatic high beams rear pedestrian alert, lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance. Higher trims add adaptive cruise control, head up display, lane changing alert with blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic braking.

Cadillac’s highly regarded available Super Cruise semi-self-driving system enables hands-free driving on more than 200,000 miles of compatible highways in the U.S. and Canada using LiDAR map data, high-precision GPS, a state-of-the-art driver attention system and a network of cameras and radar sensors. Optional night vision uses a thermal imaging sensor to identify animals or pedestrians in its path up to 200 meters away.

Comfort & Room: 14/15

The regular wheelbase Escalade has 168.4 cubic-feet of passenger volume, which grows to 170.4 cubic-feet in the ESV. Broadly speaking, such generous space translates to plenty of leg-and-shoulder room to satisfy every occupant for any length of time. 

Standard heated front seats with available massage function are plush with enough structure for support. Base trims get leatherette with higher material in base models or leather in higher trims. Second row seating—also heated—is either a split-fold bench seat or two bucket seats, which can be swapped at no extra cost, but feels slightly narrow, leading us to wonder why Cadillac didn’t spec a bit more girth given the available real estate. Thanks to the recent adoption of independent rear suspension, third-row legroom is a roomy 34.9 inches, which in on par with the GMC Yukon and Mercedes-Benz GLS, but still not as much as the Lincoln Navigator, with 42.3 inches available to stretch out in the rear.

Infotainment: 15/15

Behind the wheel is an industry-exclusive 38-inch curved OLED display that houses the gauge cluster, a small HUD control panel and the main infotainment screen. Said to provide twice the pixel density of a 4K television, OLED technology enhances the glare-free operation of available features including the trailering package that offers up to nine camera views, a night vision system that uses infra-red technology and an augmented reality navigation system. Operation is as intuitive as one can expect of such a comprehensive system—we traded the tutorial for a

Behind the wheel of the Cadillac Escalade is a 38-inch curved OLED display that houses the gauge cluster, a small HUD control panel and the main infotainment screen. Said to provide twice the pixel density of a 4K television, OLED technology enhances the glare-free operation of available features, including the trailering package that offers up to nine camera views, a night vision system that uses infra-red technology and an augmented reality navigation system.

Operation is as intuitive as one can expect of such a comprehensive system. Lag time for response to inputs is minimal, and a semi-redundant multi-function knob on the console and steering wheel-mounted controls perform many of the same purposes. USB-A and USB-C ports are accessible throughout the cabin, but standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and Qi wireless device charging helps minimize cord clutter.

Optional 12.6-inch touchscreens in the second row can display navigation to rear passengers; they also send suggested destinations from to the driver, who can accept or deny them. The rear entertainment also supports device mirroring.

Cargo Space & Storage: 15/15

Road trips, carpools to the field or Costco runs are a cinch with the hands-free power lift gate that also can be opened with a push of the giant Cadillac badge. Behind the third row is 25.5 cubic-feet of storage space that expands to 63 cubic-feet with the rear-most seats folded. That’s is 10 cubic-feet less than the GMC Yukon, but more than the Lincoln Navigator and much, much more than the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

The 60/40-splitting rear seats fold down swiftly with the press of a button, opening more space for bulkier items or gear (a bike is easily stowed). Second-row captain’s chairs also fold and flip up for flexible storage options or just easier access to the third row. 

Style & Design: 9/10

Conservative or not, the Escalade still looks luxury without over-the-top braggadocio. Equipped with standard 22-inch wheels, the Escalade has a sharp, streamlined design that expresses refinement despite its hulking stance. Up front, the Escalade integrates its narrow LED headlamps into the grille, presenting the facia as an enlarged version of the Cadillac badge. Beyond that and the SUV’s signature D-pillar-climbing tail lamps, there isn’t much in the way of ornamentation, letting the Escalade’s size and stature do all the talking, particularly when it comes to the larger version. The sport trims have an exclusive grille and more blacked out design elements compared with the chrome detailing on the luxury models.

Inside, the glare-free OLED-technology within the curved dashboard infotainment system eliminates the need for a shade hood above the instrument cluster, which streamlines the styling of the SUV and creates a more open feel. Soft-touch materials and wood-grain trim are found throughout the cabin and features 18-color ambient lighting to set the mood. An optional refrigerator with freezer mode in the console and available AKG Studio 36-speaker sound system makes the 2022 Cadillac Escalade the ultimate road-tripper.

Is the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Worth it? Which Escalade is the Best Value?

The base MSRP for the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Luxury trim is $78,795, including destination, and it’s amply equipped with many of the now-expected creature comforts and technology, such as heated front and second row seats, augmented reality navigation and wireless device mirroring capability, to satisfy most buyers. 

However, given the Escalade’s size, blind-spot warning is a huge advantage for maneuvering through traffic, but it’s a feature that—along with several interior upgrades and advanced driver assistance systems—is only included on the Premium Luxury trim or higher, which bumps the price to $86,590. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Cadillac Escalade?

The Cadillac Escalade is an expensive vehicle to insure as are all of its luxury counterparts. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,435, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $2,506 for the Lincoln Navigator, $2,046 for the GMC Yukon Denali and $1,600 for the Honda CR-V. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.