2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Review: Larger-Than-Life Luxury
The Cadillac Escalade ESV is ingrained in American popular culture and is a favorite for Tik Tok meme rappers and Soprano housewives alike. This luxurious full-size SUV, now in its fifth generation, personifies the American dream, and the Escalade ESV is the cherry on top, competing against other large SUVs like the Lincoln Navigator L. This is the long-wheelbase version of the already sizable Escalade and not only inflates the ego of anyone who owns one of these, but also adds a ton of practicality in terms of cargo space and passenger room. The 2021 model debuted a turbodiesel option, but most will still go for the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 gas engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, although it's not as powerful as its twin-turbo Lincoln rival. So, is ESV short for excessive or is there a legitimate need for a towering SUV of this size and weight? Depending on your point of view, you could make a strong case for both.
What's the Price of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
Cadillac advertises the Escalade ESV as a luxury SUV, and its considerable price tag leaves no doubt about its positioning. There is a small price difference between the V8 and the turbodiesel; Cadillac lists the turbodiesel as an option and selecting this engine increases the price by $100.
The range begins at an MSRP of $79,195 for the base Luxury model with the V8 gas engine. Following the Luxury is the Premium Luxury at $87,795 and the Sport at $90,495. After that is the Premium Luxury Platinum and the Sport Platinum which each have the same price of $104,545. The $100 charge to upgrade to the turbodiesel engine applies to every trim.
The price of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV will increase by $3,000 when upgrading from 2WD to 4WD on all trims. All these prices exclude tax, licensing, registration, and a destination charge of $1,695.
2022 Escalade ESV Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width |
---|---|---|---|
227.0 in | 134.1 in | 76.4 in | 81.1 in |
2022 Escalade ESV Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
To the regular customer, the Escalade's looks and curvy OLED displays will steal the show, but what few will register is that the 2021 Escalade debuted on an all-new platform with an independent rear suspension setup that dramatically improves its ride and handling characteristics. In base form, the body-on-frame ESV delivers an impressively comfortable ride at any speed, but don't expect nimble responses when making quick steering inputs; this is still a near-6,000 lbs SUV and unibody German SUVs still corner with more composure than the Caddy.
Higher in the model range, Magnetic Ride Control becomes standard, making a big difference in the way this vehicle drives daily. Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trim levels get standard four-corner air-ride adaptive suspension with selectable modes for the most refined ride. For its intended purpose of isolating occupants in comfort, the new Escalade does a fine job.
2022 Escalade ESV Interior
2022 Escalade ESV Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
Warranty Note | Basic | Drivetrain | Rust-Through | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance | Maintenance Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preliminary 2022 Warranty | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 6 Years / 70,000 Miles | 6 Years / Unlimited Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 6 Years / 70,000 Miles | 1 Year/1 Visit |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
---|---|---|---|
4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV A Good SUV?
The Cadillac Escalade is an icon for a reason; it looks cool, drives well, and demands respect. Despite some changes for 2022, the basic recipe has gone unchanged. This is still a seriously bold statement to make. Look past all the hype, and the Escalade ESV is a hugely practical car and offers tons of space for people and their stuff. For the new generation, Cadillac has set the bar even higher with the new Escalade's upgraded suspension and an interior that is beautiful to look at and also packed with technology. Sure, that 6.2-liter V8 engine isn't going to solve global warming, and your wallet is going to take a beating at the gas station, but the Escalade ESV is all about comfort and not economics after all. The updated SUV also benefits from new tech. Sure, Chevrolet and GMC offer a similar product for much less money, but there can only be one Escalade.
What Cadillac Escalade ESV Model Should I Buy?
The Escalade ESV is already an expensive vehicle to start with but comes with lots of luxury features in base form, so we don't think you have to stray too far from the entry-level model to find what you're looking for. If we were buying, we'd go with the Premium Luxury model with the 6.2-liter V8 engine. It includes all the features found on the Luxury model but adds important bits such as a panoramic sunroof, the Driver Awareness Plus Package (rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert, blind-zone alert, and lane change assist), enhanced auto parking assist, a full-color head-up display and, from this year, soft-close doors, adaptive air suspension, and illuminated sill plates thanks to the newly standard Touring Package.
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Comparisons
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV vs Lincoln Navigator L
The Lincoln Navigator is arguably the better-looking car and has a Euro look that feels more Range Rover than Ranchero. The Lincoln is a slightly smaller car on the outside, but it's still an imposing piece of machinery. It's our choice on the road, purely thanks to that 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine which beats the Caddy's outputs. This motor offers 450 horsepower, 510 lb-ft of torque, a decent gas mileage figure of 16/21/18 mpg in 2WD guise, and a better towing capacity of up to 8,400 lbs. Inside, both SUVs offer tons of passenger space and cargo room, but the Cadillac takes it thanks to its fantastic OLED dashboard displays. With little in it price-wise, we'd go for the Navigator purely because of that engine and its euro-centric styling.
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV vs Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a much smaller SUV than the Escalade ESV but still offers three-row seating and powerful engine options, not to mention a drastically reduced asking price. Starting at under $50,000, the Tahoe is $30k cheaper than the Escalade but does most things just as well. Under the hood, the 2022 Tahoe is offered with your choice of 355-hp 5.3-liter V8, or the same 277-hp, 460 lb-ft 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel and 420-hp 6.2L V8 as found in the ESV. The Tahoe feels quicker in a straight line and is the more responsive car to drive. In terms of gas mileage, the Tahoe will return an impressive 21/28/24 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle in a 2WD diesel configuration. Inside, both cars offer equal front legroom, but the Tahoe offers slightly more in the second row, but less in the third row. The bigger ESV dominates in terms of cargo space, however. The more luxurious Cadillac offers superior tech and the image that everyone wants, but at a massive cost. We'd go with the more balanced Tahoe every day of the week.