When Cadillac revealed the all-new 2021 Escalade in February, it said that it will reveal the longer Escalade ESV at the New York Auto Show in April. Alas, the COVID-19 pandemic upended those plans, prompting the luxury automaker to reveal the all-new Escalade ESV online. And though Cadillac Society already got photos of the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV as a final validation model drove around on public roads, Cadillac has now shared an official picture of the extended-length luxury SUV.
Specifically, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV seen here is the Premium Luxury model coated in Dark Moon Blue Metallic color. Being a Luxury / Premium Luxury model, it features a bright Galvano chrome grille, shiny chrome exterior trim and 22-inch wheels with a multi-spoke pattern and a shiny polished finish. Meanwhile, the Escalade ESV we caught roaming the streets a few months ago was the Sport version, meaning that it blacks out those shiny bits while also wearing a set of 22-inch polished wheels with a darker finish.
Note that the gray (Satin Steel Metallic) Escalade pictured above is the regular-length model, and not the ESV. This model is equipped with the Spot trim level, as evidenced by its black exterior trim, black mesh grille, and sporty-looking 22-inch alloy wheels.
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV is nearly 16 inches longer than the regular-length version of the 2021 Escalade thanks to a wheelbase that’s 13.2 inches longer. That larger exterior footprint translates to identical space in the first and second rows, but more legroom in the third row (by nearly 1.7 inches) as well as considerably more cargo capacity – up to 16 cubic feet more behind the third row.
Pricing for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV starts $80,490, which is $3,000 more than the $77,490 starting price of the regular-length Escalade. The starting price gets one the Escalade ESV in the base Luxury trim with no optional features. From there, the new Escalade follows Cadillac’s Y trim level strategy, offering Premium Luxury and Sport trims. Both of those models, in turn, offer the optional Platinum Package, which loads the large SUV with all sorts of features and amenities.
Like the regular-length 2021 Escalade, the all-new Escalade ESV offers two engine choices: the naturally-aspirated 6.2L V8 (production code L87) gasoline engine is standard while the 3.0L I6 turbo-diesel (production code LM2) is a no-cost option, as first reported by Cadillac Society. Both route power through Caddy’s new 10-speed automatic transmission, either in rear-wheel-drive or 4WD form.
Engine | Aspiration | Fuel Type | Valvetrain | Horsepower @ RPM | Lb-Ft Torque @ RPM | Transmission |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.2L V8 L87 | Atmospheric | Gasoline | OHV | 420 @ 5600 | 460 @ 4100 | 10-speed auto |
3.0L I6 LM2 | Turbo-charged | Diesel | DOHC | 277 @ 3750 | 460 @ 1500 | 10-speed auto |
Cadillac says that the all-new 2021 Escalade is scheduled to begin arriving in U.S. dealerships this fall. Ordering for the United States opened on Thursday, April 23rd. Ordering in markets outside the U.S. is expected to begin in the next few months.
We’ll have a lot more about the all-new Escalade and Escalade ESV very soon, and invite you to subscribe to Cadillac Society for more Cadillac Escalade news and around-the-clock Cadillac news coverage.
One of four new colors for the 2025 model year.
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A curious sighting from a video of the Cadillac design studio.