As the world waits for the arrival of the Escalade IQ, Cadillac has just released more news of the three-row SUV in gasoline-powered form: the impending arrival of the model year 2025 flagship.
“The Escalade has channeled Cadillac’s signature design, technology and performance since 1999, and clearly earned its place in American pop culture. Now in its fifth generation, the new Escalade elevates what owners love most about this iconic luxury SUV,” says vehicle chief engineer Martin Hayes in a virtual unveiling on Monday morning. “Escalade takes design cues from the best of what Cadillac has to offer and brings them to life in a refreshed version.”
Taking inspiration from both current and upcoming EV siblings like the LYRIQ, CELESTIQ and the aforementioned IQ, the previously conventional horizontal headlamp layout has been swapped for a trendier vertical setup lower down in the bumper. Snazzy ultra-thin daytime running lights flank a larger grille — featuring an illuminated frame on higher grades — containing a standard illuminated crest emblem. The crest at the rear has been lowered, the taillamp inner elements updated and the exhaust outlets and surrounding diffuser slightly reshaped.
For the first time, up to 24-inch wheels are available and in three styles and finishes: 10-spoke High Gloss Black, seven-spoke Pearl Nickel, and a 12-spoke Satin Graphite. The trio is complemented by three fresh exterior paint options: Aegean Stone (grey), Deep Sea Metallic (blue) and Latte Metallic (bronze), which join five returning colours (Black Raven, Crystal White Tricoat, Argent Silver Metallic, Radiant Red Tintcoat, and Galactic Gray Metallic).
Inward, this Escalade takes a page out of the IQ and adopts the stunning 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen bookended with AKG speakers, concealed under stainless steel coverings, integrated on either side. Under the continuous curved piece of glass is a 35-inch driver display joined to a 20-inch passenger display. A command centre tablet ahead of the centre console is responsible for dialing in climate settings and other on-board controls.
Bundle in the Executive Second Row package and guess what? More screens: two 12.6-inch personal monitors mounted behind the front seats join another command centre tablet for occupants in the middle row as well as stowable tray tables, dual wireless phone charging pads, massaging seats, and a total of 40 speakers (an extra 21 over the base). Elsewhere in the cabin the steering wheel gets a new look, the conventional shifter has been transformed into a column stalk selector and there’s a 126-colour, two-zone ambient lighting system.
Aaron Stitch, lead designer on the project, spoke during the presentation about the luxurious materials used on the latest version of the vehicle.
“This is the Renaissance Red leather interior, adorned with faceted quilt and perforated seats and a dark open-pore wood veneer with a high contrast pore filler to complete the lock. As well as this new Jet Black and Sheer Gray interior. It has a contrasting leather and heathered gray fabric, faceted quilted and perforated seats, and high gloss wood veneer that utilizes that linear marquetry technique to create a layering effect of tones and textures,” says Stitch.
“Additionally, for the 2025 Escalade V, it receives a new authentic carbon fiber performance-oriented interior. It’s surrounded by a deep Jet Black Leather interior and uniquely quilted and perforated seats that’s exclusive to the V-Series.”
Super Cruise driver assistance technology is equipped on all six trims (Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport Platinum and V-Series), while Night Vision, a full-colour head-up display and power open-and close doors are model-dependent or available as part of a package. OnStar 5G Wi-Fi hot spot functionality is optional.
The performance under the bodywork remains unchanged. A 6.2-litre V8 generates 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and the V-Series gets a hand-built 6.2-litre supercharged V8 — similar to the unit found in the tarmac-melting CT5-V Blackwing — pumping out a serious 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque. Premium Luxury grades and above enjoy Air Ride Adaptive Suspension with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, capable of automatically scanning the terrain to adjust damping so the drive remains smooth under almost all conditions.
Production of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade starts later in the year, taking place at the General Motors Arlington Assembly plant in Texas. Pricing information is TBA.