Automotive

Review: 2023 Cadillac Escalade V – Ridiculously American

View 7 Images
The 2023 Escalade V model adds over 200 horsepower to an already muscular SUV
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
The 2023 Escalade V model adds over 200 horsepower to an already muscular SUV
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
The sheer size of this three-row SUV is difficult to describe. And with all that powerful muscle and excellent pipework for the rumble?
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
The 2023 Cadillac Escalade V offers 7,000 pounds of towing and huge amounts of cargo space
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
A special all-wheel drive system was crafted for the Cadillac Escalade V model to accommodate the powerful 6.2L supercharged engine
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
There are 38 inches of OLED inside the 2023 Escalade and the interior, shown here in boring black-on-black, can be livened up with brown leather and other trim options
Cadillac
The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V’s supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine outputs 680 horsepower
Cadillac
The 2023 Escalade V seats seven passengers with the third row deployed
Cadillac
View gallery - 7 images

The Escalade V is a muscle car with an SUV body. It makes loud noises from its pipes, it drives fast, and it is stylistically and physically humongous. Even if none of that appeals to you, we'd argue you should try one anyway – if you can afford one, that is.

At a Glance

  • Supercharged V model pushes the 6.2L V8 to extremes.
  • Performance-tuned and oriented suspension and brakes.
  • Extremely luxurious interior with a good mix of materials and design.
  • Not a low-cost machine to buy or own.
  • Gigglingly fun to drive on the daily.

Cadillac introduced the current-generation Escalade in 2021 and we sang its praises for its interior roominess, comfort, and luxury. The Escalade is a truck at heart, however, which makes some of its aspects (climb-in height, handling characteristics, and such) less than ideal for some buyers. Add in the air ride that can lower it down for easier entry and the premium technology experience Cadillac added for this new generation, though, and there’s a compelling argument for this SUV.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V’s supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine outputs 680 horsepower
Cadillac

The Escalade V model entered the market for 2023, adding a performance-grade offering to this already not-very-slow Cadillac. The Escalade comes standard with a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft (623.7 Nm) of torque. The Escalade V pushes that engine up with a supercharger to boost output to a near-ridiculous 682 hp (508.5 kW) and 653 lb-ft (885.3 Nm). It uses a specialized all-wheel drive system to put all of that muscle to the tarmac, balancing power output in a rear bias. Towing is rated at 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) for the V model.

Furniture-wise, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade V is outfitted almost identically to the top-end Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum. What you lose in long, descriptive name suffixes you gain in power, performance-tuned suspension, Brembo high-performance braking, and added drive modes for more fun.

The sheer bulk of the Escalade is beyond description (but I’ll try anyway). It stands 77 inches (195.6 cm) high, is 212 inches (538.5 cm) long, and 81 inches (205.7 cm) wide. The cargo space in the back is 25.5 cubic feet (722 L) with the third row deployed and 109.1 cubic feet (3,089.4 L) with seats down. That’s comparable to some New York City apartments. Seating accommodates up to eight, though the V model comes with second-row captain’s chairs, reducing the passenger capacity to seven.

Interior surfaces and materials in the Cadillac Escalade are all top shelf to fit with a well-done, ergonomic design. The V model includes a leather-wrapped instrument panel, console, and upper door panels to go with the leather seating. Technology is also very well done, with a 36-speaker AKG premium audio system working behind the multiple touchscreens that run from left of the driver’s instruments all the way to the passenger’s side up front. Rear entertainment screens and wireless headphones are also standard.

A full suite of safety systems are included, as are advanced driver’s aids like Cadillac’s Super Cruise highway assist system. This hands-free driving system works well on most well-maintained highways and freeways, but gets more iffy on smaller roadways and country byways. So long as the stripes are clear and the cruise control can be set, the system will usually work well. It’s quick to re-engage the driver when needed and the system monitors the driver’s attention while it’s being used, giving warnings when that appears to be waning. Glancing away from the road for a few seconds, for example, will start alert vibrations and chimes. Having used Super Cruise on several Cadillac models now, it’s become clear that this system is much safer to use than some other “self-driving” systems we could name. Cadillac neither overpromised nor underdelivered.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade V offers 7,000 pounds of towing and huge amounts of cargo space
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas

The Escalade V is a powerful, fun machine to drive. It’s ridiculous on paper, but greatly enjoyable in person and definitely surprised with its capabilities. Most performance attempts should net 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprints in under five seconds on public roads and about 4.5 seconds in professional hands on the track. The big Caddy is also surprisingly nimble for its bulk, handling better than its mass would indicate. The adaptive air suspension and performance chassis have a lot to do with that.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade V has a starting price of about US$151,000.

Product Page: 2023 Cadillac Escalade

View gallery - 7 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
6 comments
guzmanchinky
This is so nasty for the world today it should be canceled. And why not make it electric? It would be much faster, quieter and better in every way.
ljaques
Bbbut, it's a Shebbalay! (I mean GM) And it costs more than I paid for my HOUSE. Forget that!
ScienceFan
I am truly curious, there must be hundreds of people involved in making this car and to be a commercial success there must be a significant number of customers. What are all these people thinking? have they no knowledge that the rest of the world is trying to get rid of things like this to address climate change? Really, are these all climate change deniers? Have they given up hope? or do they just don't care? Do they believe he very strange politicians that don's think there is a problem? Are they influenced by the massive bot armies that keep denying the problem? I am baffled. And why is New Atlas lending itself to advertise these counterproductive offerings? is there no reflection on what their role in all of this is? Or does this fit well inside the moral compass? And how about 20 or 100 years from now? History has many examples there opinions change. Is there really no one that cares or understands solid science and hard evidence from observations? How come the US is a developed country with Tesla, SpaceX, NASA, etc. that clearly understand the urgency and yet has so many other people that don't take this serious? Is this because of an inherent need to always claim the opposite of political opposition? Does that even make sense?
guzmanchinky
Sciencefan, do you live in America or are you American? I do and I am. This country is the ultimate study in extremes. On the one hand we have the best science and technology in the world, and on the other the absolute troglodytes and luddites who are only concerned about anyone taking their way of life from them, be it white male christian superiority or, in this case, the giant V8. Without realizing, of course, that by buying vehicles like this we only continue to shackle ourselves to enriching OPEC countries that hate us, instead of plowing full force into an electric economy that would keep dollars spent powering vehicles FIRMLY within our borders. It's simply a total lack of scientific knowledge or forethought which drives them, in addition to the points you made...
ReservoirPup
If every buyer of this gets a moral disability pension, why not?
SplineDoctor
A pathetic behemoth for overcompensating mental problems...