With GM recently debuting the entirely redesigned Chevy Suburban and Tahoe, it was just a matter of time before a new Cadillac Escalade followed. And while the Escalade might not be the status symbol it was back in the early 2000s, the new model is still a very important for Cadillac in today's SUV-crazed market.
Naturally, the 2021 Escalade shares its basic shape with the new Suburban, but with unique Cadillac fascias and styling details. And, in an era of huge and aggressive front fascias on trucks and SUVs, the Escalade's nose is actually subtle in comparison.
Beneath the bodywork, it gets the same chassis upgrades as the Suburban including an independent rear suspension, magnetic ride control and an available adaptive air suspension that can alter ride height for a variety of situations, including loading passengers and off-roading.
Under the hood, the 2021 Escalade will offer two different engine options—a 6.2L naturally aspirated V8 that makes 420 hp and 460 pound feet of torque, or the new 3.0 liter Duramax turbodiesel that makes 277 hp and the same 460 pound feet of torque. Both will come with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Where the Escalade really stands apart from its less expensive siblings is inside. Cadillac has loaded it up with all of its latest tech, including a gigantic curved OLED display with three separate display screens, and available augmented reality navigation. The layout of the dashboard itself is also completely different from the Suburban's more traditional setup.
With so much focus on EVs and particularly luxury-oriented EV SUVs recently, the 2021 Escalade shows that GM is still taking the "old" gasoline-powered SUV very seriously. lt will be available in Cadillac dealerships during the later part of this year.
And speaking of status symbol trucks and SUVs from the early 2000s, don't forget that GM is also bringing Hummer back as an ell-electric truck, with a full reveal planned for later this spring.