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2021 Cadillac Escalade
Full-size SUV · 2015–2026
Which year to buy
From our video research. NHTSA counts checked 2026-09-30. Tap a year for the details.
- Best record: 2020, then 2018 (be careful with a 2019)
- OLED cabin: 2024 with engine recall 25V274000 paperwork, or a 2021-2024 diesel
- Avoid: 2021, 2023, and the 2026 until NHTSA's 6.2L investigation is resolved
Trims and features
Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel; 6.2L 8-cyl · Drive: 4WD, RWD
2021 Escalade trims
| Luxury | Premium Luxury | Premium Luxury Platinum | Sport | Sport Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Rows of seats | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Wheels | 22 in | 22 in | 22 in | 22 in | 22 in |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | Optional | Standard | Optional | Standard |
| Automatic emergency braking | — | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Pedestrian emergency braking | — | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rear automatic braking | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | — | Standard | Standard | Standard | — |
| Rear cross-traffic alert | — | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Lane departure warning | — | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Lane keeping assist | — | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Backup camera | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Parking assist | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Automatic high beams | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive driving beam headlights | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Headlights | LED | LED | LED | LED | LED |
| Push-button start | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
From NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Cadillac reports it: base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment by trim. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Cadillac aren't in our data yet. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Collision warning | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6.2L 8-cyl 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 4WD, RWD | 13–17 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 43 | Standard | — |
| 2025 | 6.2L 8-cyl 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 4WD, RWD | 13–17 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 33 | Standard | — |
| 2024 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel 6.2L 8-cyl 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 4WD, RWD | 13–23 mpg | 4 of 5 | 2 | 71 | Standard | — |
| 2023 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel 6.2L 8-cyl 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 4WD, RWD | 13–23 mpg | 4 of 5 | 4 | 225 | Some versions | — |
| 2022 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 16–23 mpg | 4 of 5 | 4 | 140 | Standard | — |
| 2021 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 16–23 mpg | 4 of 5 | 11 | 160 | Standard | — |
| 2020 | 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 17 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 36 | Optional | — |
| 2019 | 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 17 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 59 | Optional | — |
| 2018 | 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 17 mpg | 4 of 5 | 2 | 36 | Optional | — |
| 2017 | 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 17 mpg | 4 of 5 | 2 | 89 | Optional | — |
| 2016 | 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 17 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 104 | Optional | — |
| 2015 | 6.2L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 16–17 mpg | Not rated | 9 | 106 | Optional | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA and aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so compare years of the same model: a tall bar marks a year owners had more trouble with. Collision warning: forward collision warning as NHTSA lists it ("Some versions": standard on some). Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Generations and measurements
Escalade · 2015–2020
Fourth generation (GMTK2)
8-inch CUE touchscreen, column shifter
Escalade ESV · 2015–2020
Fourth generation (GMTK2)
8-inch CUE touchscreen, column shifter
Escalade · 2021–2026
Fifth generation (GMTT1)
38-inch curved OLED display; 2025 refresh with a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen
Escalade ESV · 2021–2026
Fifth generation (GMTT1)
38-inch curved OLED display; 2025 refresh with a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV SUV N/A 4WD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 3 | 10 |
| 2026 | CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV SUV N/A RWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 3 | 10 |
| 2026 | CADILLAC ESCALADE SUV N/A 4WD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 3 | 34 |
| 2026 | CADILLAC ESCALADE SUV N/A RWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 3 | 34 |
| 2025 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 20 |
| 2025 | Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 20 |
| 2025 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 4WD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 13 |
| 2025 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 13 |
| 2024 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 49 |
| 2024 | Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 49 |
| 2024 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 22 |
| 2024 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 22 |
| 2023 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard & Optional | Standard & Optional | 4 | 139 |
| 2023 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 2WD | 4 | Standard & Optional | Standard & Optional | 4 | 139 |
| 2023 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard & Optional | Standard & Optional | 4 | 89 |
| 2023 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 2WD | 4 | Standard & Optional | Standard & Optional | 4 | 89 |
| 2022 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 2WD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 4 | 84 |
| 2022 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 4 | 84 |
| 2022 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 2WD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 4 | 56 |
| 2022 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 4 | 56 |
| 2021 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard | Optional | 12 | 89 |
| 2021 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 2WD | 4 | Standard | Optional | 12 | 89 |
| 2021 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 4WD | 4 | Standard | Optional | 11 | 88 |
| 2021 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 2WD | 4 | Standard | Optional | 11 | 88 |
| 2020 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 14 |
| 2020 | Cadillac Escalade SUV 2WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 14 |
| 2020 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 4WD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 22 |
| 2020 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 22 |
| 2019 | Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 0 | 25 |
| 2019 | Cadillac Escalade SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 0 | 25 |
| 2019 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 1 | 34 |
| 2019 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 1 | 34 |
| 2018 | Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 1 | 21 |
| 2018 | Cadillac Escalade SUV AWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 1 | 21 |
| 2018 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 36 |
| 2018 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 36 |
| 2017 | Cadillac Escalade SUV AWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 89 |
| 2017 | Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 89 |
| 2017 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 89 |
| 2017 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 89 |
| 2016 | Cadillac Escalade SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 104 |
| 2016 | Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 104 |
| 2016 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 104 |
| 2016 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 104 |
| 2015 | Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 9 | 106 |
| 2015 | Cadillac Escalade SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 9 | 106 |
| 2015 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 9 | 106 |
| 2015 | Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 9 | 106 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2026 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 16 |
| 2026 | Escalade V AWD | Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 6.2 L, Sup Charg | 13 |
| 2025 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2025 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 16 |
| 2025 | Escalade V AWD | Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 6.2 L, Sup Charg | 13 |
| 2024 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
16–23 |
| 2024 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
16–22 |
| 2024 | Escalade V AWD | Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 6.2 L, Sup Charg | 13 |
| 2023 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
16–23 |
| 2023 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
16–22 |
| 2023 | Escalade V 4WD | Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 6.2 L, Sup Charg | 13 |
| 2022 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start |
16–23 |
| 2022 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start |
16–22 |
| 2021 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI |
16–23 |
| 2021 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI |
16–22 |
| 2020 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2020 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2019 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2019 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2018 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2018 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2017 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2017 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2016 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2016 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L | 17 |
| 2015 | Escalade 2WD | Auto 6-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
17 |
| 2015 | Escalade 4WD | Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L Auto 6-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
16–17 |
| 2015 | Escalade ESV 2WD | Auto 6-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
17 |
| 2015 | Escalade ESV 4WD | Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L Auto 6-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
16–17 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.