The Cadillac Escalade had a very healthy sales year in 2021. So much so, in fact, that 2021 represented the best sales year for the Escalade since 2007.
According to a media presentation attended by Cadillac Society, Cadillac Escalade sales grew 70 percent globally compared to the 2020 calendar year. It’s important to note that this statistic takes into account the total number of worldwide Escalade sales combined, and is particularly impressive considering that new vehicle supply was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other complications stemming from industry-wide supplier issues.
To put things into perspective, Cadillac Escalade sales rose 65 percent year-over-year in the U.S. market alone in 2021. A total of 40,505 units were sold in 2021, up from 25,547 units sold in 2020. In this regard, the Escalade outperformed its competition by leaps and bounds. The next best-selling luxury SUV, the Lincoln Navigator, increased just two percent in U.S. sales to 15,631 units last year. With the exception of the all-new Jeep Grand Wagoneer, other vehicles in the full-size luxury SUV segment experienced significant declines in U.S. sales volumes due to the low-supply, high-demand situation.
Sales Numbers - Full-Size Luxury SUVs - 2021 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 | YTD 21 SHARE | YTD 20 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CADILLAC ESCALADE | +65.01% | 40,505 | 24,547 | 54% | 41% |
| LINCOLN NAVIGATOR | +2.48% | 15,631 | 15,252 | 21% | 25% |
| INFINITI QX80 | -22.03% | 12,572 | 16,125 | 17% | 27% |
| JEEP GRAND WAGONEER | * | 2,675 | 0 | 4% | 0% |
| LEXUS LX | -21.03% | 3,563 | 4,512 | 5% | 7% |
| TOTAL | +24.01% | 74,946 | 60,436 |
In total, Cadillac registered 374,000 global vehicle sales in 2021. That’s just 16,000 units shy of the luxury marque’s record year, which was back in 1979, when 390,000 new Cadillacs were sold globally. The 2022 calendar year marks Cadillac’s 120th anniversary, and these sales figures prove that the luxury marque is still a force to be reckoned with over a century after its inception.
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade represented a complete overhaul for the luxury marque’s iconic full-size luxury SUV, kicking off an all-new fifth generation of the nameplate that consisted for a redesign and re-engineering. The overhauled model made the Escalade one of the most sought-after vehicles on the market, and it has consistently outsold its competition as a result. The introduction of the high-performance 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V will surely boost sales even further once the luxury SUV hits the market at the end of this year.
As a reminder, the fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade is offered with a choice of two different engines. The naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 gasoline engine (production code L87) is good for 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The second option is the 3.0L I6 turbodiesel engine (production code LM2) rated at 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines bolt to Cadillac’s 10-speed automatic transmission. Escalade assembly takes place at the Arlington plant in Arlington, Texas.
2023 Cadillac Escalade-V
The Escalade range will expand into uncharted territory with the introduction of the high-performance Escalade-V, which makes use of the supercharged 6.2L V8 engine (production code LT4) from the CT5-V Blackwing. Under the hood of the Escalade, however, the blown eight makes a whopping 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful Cadillac vehicle to ever be produced. The supercharged engine bolts to Cadillac’s 10-speed automatic transmission, sending power to all four wheels. Based on Cadillac estimates, the Escalade-V is capable of galloping from zero to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.
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