America loves full-size SUVs, and with good reason - they're spacious, highly capable, and generally built on the underpinnings of full-size trucks, making them rugged, reliable, and as good at being a workhorse as they are at being a family car. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade is expected to change the game though, with a plethora of tech onboard and levels of luxury to take the fight straight to the German competition like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS - even if they are a little smaller. Pricing is also relatively affordable, meaning the Escalade presents as great value for money.

Now, thanks to information sourced from the GM Fleet Order Guide, we know just how much of a workhorse the luxurious Escalade will still be.

Two engines are available for the SUV, with the default being a 6.2-liter V8 developing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque and an optional 3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine producing 277 hp and a matching 460 lb-ft of twist. Both will be paired to a ten-speed automatic gearbox, and both 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains will be available. It should come as no surprise that the big V8 is the most capable of the two engines, with the fleet documentation revealing a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 lbs in 4x2 guise, while the 4x4 model will manage 8,000.

The Duramax diesel motor isn't far off it, though, and while it may be down on power, the matching torque figure ensures it's able to haul up to 8,000 lbs in 4x2 form with the 4x4 model dropping this to 7,800 lbs. Both engines enable a maximum payload in excess of 1,600 lbs, although the 4x4 diesel will manage only 1,532 lbs.

While the luxury and capability might seem appealing, the Escalade isn't capable of besting its closest rival, the Lincoln Navigator. Instead of relying on diesel torque or a big displacement V8, the Navigator makes use of a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 developing 450 hp and 510 lb-ft. These superior figures enable a maximum towing capacity of up to 8,700 lbs on the 4x2 and 8,300 on the 4x4. The Escalade has more cargo volume, however, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 72.9 cubic feet behind the second, and with all the rear seats folded, 121 cubic feet on offer. The Navigator only offers 20.9/57.5/103.3 respectively, and even the long-wheelbase Navigator L only provides 120.2 cubic feet with all the seats folded.