Cadillac first took the veil off the 2021 Escalade a few months ago when the luxury brand unveiled the model at an event in Los Angeles California. We were on the ground during that time, but despite our best efforts, Cadillac executives remained silent on the kind of pricing that we could see when the Escalade eventually makes its way to the marketplace. However, a new report has possibly leaked the final pricing ladder ahead of the big Cadillac’s formal launch.
The report which was unveiled by the forum Cadillac Society sheds some new light on pricing for the Escalade, with the base Luxury model allegedly starting at $76,195 which would be a $1,000 jump over the outgoing Escalade. Stepping up to the Sport trim would require you to sacrifice $85,595 before options and accessories are factored into the equation. However, for the buyer that is willing to add $100 extra to their purchase, they would be able to step up to the Premium Luxury variant with Performance package. This combination brings a whole host of goodies to buyers including Magnetic Ride Control, an electronic limited slip differential, and a comprehensive trailer integration package. That latter item includes towing centric items such as a integrated brake controller, hitch assist guidance, a special trailering app, and a rear facing camera.
Along with the mainstream Escalade models, the report even appears to leak pricing for the range topping Platinum variant. The Platinum package can be added to both the Premium Luxury and the Sport trims. Regardless of what flavor of Escalade it is equipped to, it will start at $101,745. Keep in mind that the pricing in this report covers rear wheel drive versions only with the destination fee not being factored in either. Look for all-wheel drive to add a small amount to each of these figures, with Platinum models for instance potentially going up past $103,000 when the missing amounts are added in. The already revealed ESV model also costs more out the gate, with each trim having a varying impact on the price.
For those that need a brief recap on performance, the Escalade will not come with the base 5.3 liter V8 that will see duty in its cousins the GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Suburban. Instead, Cadillac is paring the options down to two with the 6.2 liter 420 horsepower V8 being the base engine, and the optional 3.0 liter turbodiesel that makes 277 horsepower and the gas V8’s torque figure. This is the first time that a diesel will ever be offered on the Escalade, and Cadillac is hoping that the gains in fuel economy (as well as the fat torque figure) will be enough to help the diesel win over luxury SUV buyers. Contrary to prior reports, it appears that GM has not green lighted a formal performance version of the Escalade, but that could possibly change in the near future especially if Cadillac wants to expand the V-Series treatment to the Escalade to create an entry to go up against rivals from AMG, SVR, and even BMW‘s M brand.
Sales for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade are expected to begin later this year, with production slated to take place at GM’s Arlington, Texas factory. In the meantime, if you are looking for some good deals on the 2020 Escalade, Cadillac dealers still have a big inventory to choose from. With the imminent arrival of the 2021 model and the lockdown in sales caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, some dealers might be willing to make compelling deals to help them get excess 2020 inventory off their lots.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.