As Cadillac Society previously reported, the 2026 Cadillac Escalade will go into production at the Arlington Assembly plant in Texas on September 8th, 2025. When it arrives, it’ll have a few small changes relative to the major refresh it received for the 2025 model year. One of these changes is a revised trim level naming convention.
Before reviewing the name changes, we should clarify that neither the content nor the positioning of each trim level in the overall 2026 Cadillac Escalade hierarchy were altered. Additionally, these changes apply specifically to the gasoline-powered Escalade and Escalade ESV – the battery-powered Escalade IQ and IQL receive their own name changes for the 2026 model year.
So then, the base “Luxury” trim is now simply referred to as “Escalade,” while the “Premium Luxury” trim has been renamed “Luxury.” The “Sport” trim sticks with the same moniker while the “Premium Luxury Platinum” and “Premium Sport Platinum” become “Platinum Luxury” and “Platinum Sport,” respectively. Finally, the high-performance “Escalade-V” remains unchanged, preserving its V-Series branding for the 2026 model year.
The simplification of the nomenclature should make it easier for shoppers to differentiate one trim from the other. The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq battery electric crossover also sees similar changes.
Other changes to the 2026 Cadillac Escalade include the addition of the Performance Upgrade Package as well as enhancements to Super Cruise. Two new colors – Vibrant White Tricoat and Magnus Metal Frost – also join the lineup, both exclusive to Escalade-V. Additionally, power-retractable assist steps with perimeter lighting are now standard on all models except for the base trim.
Ordering opened on July 10th, 2025.
