Among luxury SUVs, the Cadillac Escalade has long made no apologies about being big and brash. Now Cadillac has redesigned the Escalade for 2021 with a new look and an infusion of new technology features. Do these updates make it the best large luxury SUV you can buy?
Not if the competition has anything to say about it. The 2021 Escalade faces off against the 2021 Lincoln Navigator, Edmunds’ preferred pick over the previous-generation Escalade, and one of Europe’s most luxurious SUVs, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS. Edmunds’ experts compare all three to find out which one takes the crown.
This photo provided by Mercedes-Benz shows the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580, a three-row luxury SUV that offers an extremely comfortable ride. (Courtesy of Daimler AG via AP)Driving experience
Standard with every Escalade is a 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8, the crown jewel of General Motors’ truck and SUV engines. A diesel-powered six-cylinder engine is also new for 2021, and when paired with rear-wheel drive, it has the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy in this group of 23 mpg. The Escalade is relatively smooth and composed around turns, but its prodigious torque is the highlight of the driving experience.
Every Navigator comes with a turbocharged V6 engine making 450 horsepower; there’s no other engine available. Like the Escalade, the Navigator is comfortable, but you never forget you’re in a massive vehicle. The GLS’ lineup ranges from a 362-horsepower six-cylinder engine to a ferocious 603-horsepower turbocharged V8 in high-performance AMG trim. In Edmunds testing the GLS posted the best acceleration, braking and handling figures of this group. On-road comfort is unparalleled too.