Escalade EXT

Make
Cadillac
Segment
Sports Car

The keystone in Cadillac's premium vehicle portfolio, the Cadillac Escalade, has been completely redesigned for the 2021 model year. And although it will be some months yet before the new full-size SUV starts production at GM's Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas, Cadillac has already launched an online Build & Price tool, allowing customers to get acquainted with the breadth of trims and optional extras they'll be faced with upon placing an order.

We've spent a bit of time getting acquainted with the new configurator, and learned that the Escalade's Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price will top out at around the $120,000 mark.

We can't put a more precise figure on that because, at the time of this writing, no price is specified for the Heavy-Duty Trailering Package, which comes with a two-speed transfer case, an auxiliary trailer cam, trailering assist guidelines, and a trailer tire pressure monitoring system. The Chevrolet Silverado's Advanced Trailering Package is priced at $490, but it's nowhere near as comprehensive in terms of content.

The configurator does highlight some notable facts about pricing, however, confirming that the available turbocharged 3.0L Duramax diesel engine is a no-cost option over the gasoline-fueled 6.2L V8, and offering GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous system as a $2,500 stand-alone option.

Worth noting is that Super Cruise is not available on the base Luxury trim, and on the Sport and Premium Luxury models, it requires additional packages.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade starts at $76,195 before tax, destination, and other fees, while the top-of-the-line Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims start just south of a hundred grand, at $99,995. At each trim level, all-wheel drive is a $3,000 option.

Starting prices for the long-wheelbase Cadillac Escalade ESV ranges from $79,195 at the low end, to $102,995 for the range-topping Platinum, with AWD again costing $3,000.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV will start rolling off the line late in 2020, after GM's all-new Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, built at the same factory, have already gotten a running start. But that's no reason not to go and configure one to your heart's content.