2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Release Date, Price, Trims – First introduced in 1998 as a rebadged version of the GMC Yukon, the Cadillac Escalade has evolved to become a staple of the American SUV market. Whether it’s being used to pick someone up from the airport or transport a large family while hauling a trailer, the vast majority of Americans have spent some time in an Escalade. In its fifth generation, the 2022 Escalade arrives as the most significant leap ever for the now-storied nameplate.
Still sharing a platform with the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon, which are also brand new for 2022, the Escalade offers more space than any other SUV currently sold in the United States, beating rivals like the Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX 570, and Infiniti QX80. This year, Cadillac has paid additional attention to make sure its new flagship is more than just a Chevy or GMC with extra leather. There is so much new technology on board. You might mistake the new Escalade for something with four rings or a three-pointed star on it. CarBuzz spent a few days driving a 2022 Escalade ESV 4WD Sport, and in that short time, we learned that this is no longer the ultimate American SUV; it’s one of the best SUVs, period.
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Redesign
The fifth-generation 2022 Cadillac Escalade is an all-new version of defining full-size luxury SUVs on the market. Along with wholly revised exterior styling, the latest Escalade boasts a thoroughly modernized cabin featuring highlights like a 38-inch curved OLED display, Super Cruise hands-free driver-assistance technology, an available 36-speaker sound system augmented reality navigation. Dimensionally, the latest Escalade is eight inches long and marginally more expansive than the model it replaces, while the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV has a considerable length of 226.9 inches. It’s a different vehicle underneath the skin, with a new independent rear suspension promising a far better ride and handling balance. In addition, a new Air Ride adaptive suspension system is available. Power is derived from a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and, for the first time, a 3.0-liter turbodiesel with 460 lb-ft of torque.
Interior
The changes to the latest Escalade’s cabin are substantially more dramatic than the exterior redesign. Nevertheless, it’s a genuinely great environment with top-notch materials, loads of high-tech features, and much more passenger space than ever. An industry-first curved OLED driver display dominates the dashboard and is beautiful to look at, but Cadillac smartly hasn’t dispensed with physical controls for the ventilation system. A longer wheelbase and the implementation of an independent rear suspension work together to free up more cargo space and a 40-percent increase in third-row legroom. Leatherette upholstery and 12-way power-adjustable front seats are standard on the entry-level trim, along with heated seats in the first two rows, tri-zone climate control, remote start, and a hands-free power liftgate.
Upper trims have soft-close doors, a panoramic sunroof, and an AKG Studio Reference sound system with an astounding 36 speakers. The Cadillac Escalade is amongst the most significant vehicles available right now, with seating for up to eight individuals, or seven if you opt for the second-row captain’s chairs. By switching to a new independent rear suspension, Cadillac managed to increase passenger space in all except the first row, which shrinks marginally compared to last year’s model. In the standard-wheelbase model, 2nd-row passengers get 41.7 inches of legroom (an increase of 2.7 inches) while third-row occupants have 34.9 inches (an increase of 10.1 inches) to stretch their legs. Should you need even more space, the ESV increases third-row legroom to 36.6 inches (an increase of 2.1 inches from last year’s ESV).
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Engine
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 exact torque figure of 460 lb-ft, but the V8 is more powerful with 420 horsepower than 277 in 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 great 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 big news for the 2022 Escalade is the addition of an available 3.0-liter six-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel engine, which unfortunately wasn’t available for our test.
This powertrain 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, remember that diesel engines love sitting idle, and a lot of these cars see the use for limo services. Each engine comes paired with GM’s outstanding ten-speed automatic transmission 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.
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Release Date and Price
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV has a starting price tag of $77,490, but nearly half of the automaker’s customers are willing to spend over $100,000 after they’ve added optional extras. But while the new Escalade is already proving popular, there are still many unsold 2022 models clogging up dealer inventories that Cadillac is desperate to sell.