When the next-generation 2020 Cadillac Escalade arrives on dealer lots within the next 18 months, it will bring with it a non-insignificant price increase.
Higher Starting Price
Sources familiar with Cadillac’s plans told Cadillac Society that the future Escalade will start around $85,000, while the next-gen Escalade ESV will start in the vicinity of $88,000.
The changes represent an increase of about $10,000, or 13 percent, compared to current models.
2020 Cadillac Escalade Expected Pricing Changes
| 2018 Starting MSRP | 2020 Starting MSRP (Expected) | + / - 2020 Model | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escalade | $74,695 | $85,000 | + $10,305 |
| Escalade ESV | $77,695 | $88,000 | + $10,305 |
Higher Maximum Price
Sources also told us that the 2020 Escalade will top out at around $120,000, which is roughly $20,000 higher than the current model, which has a maximum price of roughly $100,000 for the range-topping Escalade Platinum.
The Cadillac Society Take
Moving the next-gen Escalade upmarket is an interesting move that, on the surface, might not necessarily make much sense. But dig a little deeper, and the strategy begins to shine through.
First things first: the 2020 Escalade will offer three powertrain choices while also being the most intricately-styled and best-differentiated Escalade (ever when compared to its platform mates from parent GM). In that regard, the product should carry enough substance to warrant the price hike.
Second: most Escalades today are sold for prices roughly in the $85,000-$90,000 range, significantly higher than base price of the current base model, and right in line with the rumored starting price of the next-gen.
Third: moving the next Escalade upmarket creates room in the Cadillac lineup for a new kind of vehicle – a full-size three-row crossover SUV. No, we’re not referring to the XT6, which will be a sort of midsize-plus crossover with three rows – essentially a stretched XT5. Instead, we’re talking about an all-new full-size Cadillac crossover above the XT6 that we have reason to believe is currently in development (more coverage on that coming soon).
About 2020 Cadillac Escalade
The next-gen Escalade is expected to arrive some time in the 2019 calendar year as a 2020 model.
As with the current model, two body styles are expected – a regular-wheelbase Escalade, and an extended-wheelbase Escalade ESV. The model will be based on a new body-on-frame platform called T1 developed by Cadillac parent, General Motors.
Three powertrain choices are expected, along with a fully-independent rear suspension and even more differentiation from corporate siblings (the Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon) than ever before.
The new Escalade is part of Cadillac’s product offensive that has the luxury automaker launching one new model every six months (starting this fall with the 2019 XT4) thru the year 2021.
Steve Vitkovsky
“…arrives on dealer lots within the next 18 months…” is less ambitious than “…expected to arrive some time in the 2019 model year as a 2020 model.”
Greg
Word
Ralph L
Slipping another large CUV between XT6 and Escalade makes sense to me. A lower step-in height (or suspension that lowers) would be good for us aging boomers.
An option one of the large C/SUVs needs for VIPs and livery is a second row whose comfort and style aren’t compromised by a third row. IMO that’s more important than a sedan bigger than the CT6 and a lot cheaper and easier to do and thus more profitable.
Johnls_39
About time the next Escalade is a true flagship for all Cadillac SUVs/CUVs.
I see way too many Yukon Denalis and one have to think if the current Escalade is different enough for the reason people buy the Yukon Denali over the Escalade. Not a knock against the Denali since it is a very nice vehicle in its own right which wears less expensive clothes underneath.
Ralph L
Some years ago, old money would buy the Denali because it wasn’t as showy as the Escalade. They’ve put so much chrome on the GMC that that may not be true now, it might be just the price difference.
Lee Miller
Lotta’ Escalades around; do they come in any color besides black? 🙂
Eli
I’ve never aspired to owning an Escalade because of their resemblance to Suburbans and Yukons–after all, they do share the same platform. I can understand GMs manufacturing strategy to maximize ROI on their chassis platforms, but if GM/Cadillac truly intend to make Cadillac competitively comparable to luxury European brands, upmarket materials and design variations on a singular platform, in my opinion, aren’t enough. I see Escalades as ‘glorified’ Suburbans, as if higher quality materials and design variations justify the high pricing.
Cadillac’s next-gen design platform defined in the Escala concept is the opportunity to incorporate Escala’s elegantly sleek design cues into the next-gen Escalade, and separating it from Suburbans. Yes, the Escalade can be big–but why not Escala-sleek rather than the current chromed-up stodgy boxiness of the current Escalade/Suburban?
Of course, the next-gen Escalade’s design has probably been all but locked in for a few years, so my wishful comments are late and irrelevant now. Whatever the new Escalade looks like, I hope it doesn’t disappoint, but just as importantly, I hope Cadillac’s technology gains from their recent racing program is applied to the new Escalade in a V-series option.
Perhaps that’s hoping for too much too soon…
Ralph L
The Escala came out 2 years ago, and I believe the CT5 will have some of its styling features, so there’s no reason the next Escalade can’t. The tricky part is how to translate them to a tall, blocky vehicle.
SevilleT
Today, like I do every year on the Thursday before the Pebble Beach Concours, I went where the Manufacturers’ tents are to see and drive their latest cars. I walked up the hill to where the Cadillac tent has been every year and it was nowhere to be found. I was looking forward to seeing the CT6 V8 and new Escalade Platinum interior colors. It appears they skipped Pebble this year? Seems odd, especially because they have the XT4 out now too. If they’re going to charge $120k for an Escalade they need to stay present as these type of events. Strange.
Alex Luft
It’s now becoming more apparent that they had nothing to show at Pebble Beach due to changing aThey had nothing to show at Pebble Beach… and no presence is better than a half-assed presence.
Joe B.
There should be enough styling changes to differentiate it at a glance from the current model. And many more color choices.
Ralph L
There’s the extra cost of developing and building the 4.2 V8 and adding it to the assembly line.
It will be interesting to see if there will be actual structural differentiation or just sheetmetal & plastic.
Frank Ricciardi
Increasing the base price of an Escalade by $10,000 is an excellent way to bring sales to a screeching halt. Remember JDN’s “Premium Pricing Strategy”, it pretty much killed CTS sales in 2014 and had to be rolled back in 2015.
Greg
I must disagree. The CTS is a completely different circumstance. If the 2020 Escalade is far more differentiated and offers what we’re told it will, I think it will continue as King-Of-It’s-Hill and make lots of money.
Johnls_39
Each generation Escalade generally get a price increase between 5K-7K. This generation and next gen. model could be the biggest increase since the first and second gen. model.
It is a perfect opportunity for the Escalade to go upmarket since RR and GLS for the next generation will go further upmarket. Also expect for the cousin, Yukon Denali, to go upmarket a tad bit also. The Escalade needs to go to places where it never went before or get left behind.
ronny
me encantan los cadillac pero quiero hacer un reclamo a cadillacsociety.
se que presentan las fotos espias de los modelos futuros nuevos lanzamientos como el xt4
pero no veo nada tren motriz cadillac cuenta con 2 motores biturbo v6 uno v8 2 motores 4 cilindros turbo pero no veo un post sobre esos motores a futuro
porque no puede ser todos los sedanes con motores v6 turbos o normales xt5 solo v6 escalade 6.2 litros y no exista por parte de ustedes unas suposiciones al respecto de un xt6 xt7 ct4 ct5 y sus motores.
no es posible que un motor v6 turbo del ct6 o del cts vsport que son diferentes jamas llegaron a SUV por eso audi bmw les llevan ventajas
no es posible que se invierta en un motor y solo lo utilice un solo vehiculo o dos no es negocio
el 3.0 tt del ct6 facilmente puede adaptarse a un xt5 o a una escalade
los 3.6 turbo de origen gm deben pasar a la historia
el ltg 2.0 mejorado a 300hp deberia ser el motor mas pequeño de la gama
luego un 3.0 tt y desde luego el 4.2 tt
pero no podemos seguir asi un motor por cada modelo
OTRA CRITICA SEÑORES LAS SUV DE CADILLAC DEBEN DE TENER SERIES V NO VSPORT
POR LAS PATENTES ANTES MENCIONADA ENTONCES SAQUEN LA CUENTA DE CUANTOS MOTORES NECESITAN
XT4,XT5,XT6,XT7 CT2,CT3,CT4,CT5,CT6,CT7
10 MODELOS CALCULANDO SERIAN FACILMENTE 8 MOTORES SEÑORES DE CADILLAC ESO NO ES NEGOCIO
DEBERIAN EXISTIR 3 MOTORES PARA TODA LA GAMA
Ralph L
If they don’t make the 4.2tt the standard engine on the Escalade, I hope they make a non-turbo version to replace the 3.6 V6 in the sedans at least, improving both prestige and production volume of V8’s. However, the 3.0tt would probably be more powerful and lighter–and easier to sell in China because of displacement taxes.
I agree they have too many engines, plus the CUV ones have to be adapted for transaxles. Then there are at least 2 transmissions for every model.
I think they’re afraid to make the SUV and CUVs into V or V Sport because of their high centers of gravity. Bad publicity from rollover accidents nearly killed the Ford Explorer.
speedy
XT7 and XT8 crossover’s (Above these escalade SUV), New:: VSS-R chassis (RWD/AWD, BEV Powertrain.) XT5/XT6/XT4/XT3 (Next Gen) crossovers, on new VSS-R (RWD/AWD chassis, BEV powertrain). Next Gen Escalade SUV (PHEV/LTA TT 4.2-liter V8 engine/New Trim level’s/New Turbo diesel engine.)