2023 Cadillac Escalade Performance

Two engines are available for the new Cadillac Escalade; these are a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel and a 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8. Both have the same torque figure of 460 lb-ft, but the V8 is more powerful with 420 horsepower compared to 277 in the diesel. The V8 provides the most potent acceleration off the mark, and we estimate that it'll zoom from 0 to 60 mph in just over six seconds. As before, the Escalade boasts superb towing capacity numbers, with even the least capable version managing well over 7,000 pounds. Your choice of rear- or four-wheel-drive will affect how much you can tow, with the 2WD standard-wheelbase Escalade managing a maximum of 8,300 lbs. However, the 2WD Lincoln Navigator can tow up to 8,700 lbs, so the Escalade isn't quite best-in-class in this aspect.

The available 3.0-liter six-cylinder Duramax turbo-diesel engine won't add anything to the cost of the Escalade, so customers are free to choose whether they prefer the driving characteristics of the turbodiesel over the more conventional 6.2-liter V8, which produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The diesel's outputs are 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, so we expect the more potent V8 to deliver better acceleration in exchange for fuel economy. If you can't see the appeal of a diesel Escalade, just remember that diesel engines love sitting idle, and a lot of these cars see use for limo services.

Each engine comes paired with GM's outstanding ten-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled and features a tow/haul mode. It paired well with the V8 engine in our test vehicle, delivering smooth shifts and appropriate responsiveness. With so many gears, the 10-speed keeps the V8 happy in its powerband, and with so much torque on tap, it rarely needs to drop gears and rev out for passing maneuvers.

The Escalade's big, powerful engines and considerable heft aren't a recipe for efficiency, but most customers will be willing to accept this compromise. For what it's worth, the 6.2-liter V8 will manage EPA-rated estimates of 14/19/16 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles in 2WD configuration, dropping one mile per gallon on highway cycles with 4WD. With the 3.0-liter diesel equipped, the difference is significant - gas mileage figures of 21/27/23 mpg can be achieved with 2WD and 20/26/22 mpg with 4WD.

The Escalade has a 24-gallon gas tank, so with the V8, it should manage gas mileage of 384 miles in mixed driving conditions. The diesel fares better at around 550 miles.