2025 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD Review

Cadillac’s Escalade is affectionately known as the cowboy limousine, and for good reason. The full-size SUV blends all-American truck capabilities with pure opulence. Unlike a lot of other large luxury SUVs, the Escalade can trace its roots back to a pickup truck platform. But this isn’t a crude, unrefined SUV with leather seats. The brand has done a good job making it feel more SUV than truck.

For the 2025 model year the vehicle undergoes a mid-cycle refresh, looking to enhance luxury and comfort, while retaining the SUV’s capabilities.

At 211.9-inches (5,383 mm) long and nearly 77-inches (1950 mm) high, the Escalade continues to throw an imposing silhouette. The front lights include the same signature pattern as those found on the electric Escalade IQ, while the overall fascia includes details inspired by other Cadillac EVs, notably the Celestiq and Lyriq. A bit ironic for a massive fuel guzzler.

Standard is a light-up front badge and higher trims, like our tester, gets a light-up grille surround as well. Painted in Raven Black with the 24-inch two-tone seven-spoke wheels, our tester is about as restrained and subtle as a 2025 Escalade could be yet still has oodles of street presence.

A singular engine remains for the 2025 model year and its virtually unchanged from last year. The 6.2-liter V8 continues to make 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels, or all four wheels, through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Although the Escalade is down on power compared to competitors like the Infiniti QX80 and Lincoln Navigator, the big V8 in the Caddy delivers smooth linear power and has a soundtrack that can't be beat.

Although the transmission needs to be able to tow upwards of 8,100 pounds, gear changes are still smooth enough, considering the drivetrain’s workhorse roots. Fuel economy is unsurprisingly poor as the drivetrain is tasked with propelling the big SUV carrying thousands of pounds of luxury. Officially, ratings are 14 mpg (16.6 L/100 km) city and 18 mpg (13.0 L/100 km) highway. At least there is a 28.3-gallon (107.1-liter) fuel tank to cut down on the frequency of refuelling.

It would be disingenuous to expect the Escalade to ride like a BMW X7 or Range Rover, but the Cadillac does not ride like body-on-frame SUVs of old. Part of the improvement is the switch to an independent suspension all around – the solid rear axle has been laid to rest. With the adaptive air-ride suspension and magnetic-ride control 4.0, the Escalade is quite serene on most road surfaces. Even with the lower sidewall 285/40R24 tire upgrade, the vehicle remains poised and controlled over most road surfaces. It’s only the choppiest of broken pavement that highlights the origins of the Escalade’s chassis architecture.

At 6,014 pounds (2,728 kg), the SUV weighs in around the same as most of its competition. Nothing in this class is a spritely handler, but we find the Cadillac responds to inputs marginally better than other options within the market.

Another huge benefit of losing the solid rear axle is a much more accommodating third row of seats. In previous generations, despite the Escalade’s size, the last row of seats were the domain of adolescents at best. Now, the specs for the third row are close to the back seats of smaller SUVs. Passengers get 38.2-inches (970 mm) of headroom and 34.9-inches (886 mm) of legroom.

Those in the second-row captain’s chairs get more space to stretch out and our tester included the upgraded executive second row option, which adds individual video screens, seat ventilation, and more. Continuing to the front seats, the commanding view is accompanied by multi-way adjustable seats that we were a fan of, especially on long trips.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum can come in a few different interior color configurations. Our tester came in the conservative Jet Black option, which includes full semi-aniline leather seats with Mondrian quilting. Catching the eye immediately inside the SUV is the curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch display, that’s not in actuality not quite pillar to pillar, as it’s bookended by speakers.

There’s a wood plateau set below the wall of screens that’s not a shelf but a nice design element. The use of materials to highlight different components of the interior is done well and the cabin definitely feels premium. Like most cars today, drivers can customize the ambient lighting inside, here there are 126 choices.

I could write 2,000 words alone on all the technology available in the 2025 Escalade. It’s what these jumbo luxury SUVs excel at. Instead of writing a massive laundry list, I’ll stick to some highlights. My tester has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the power folding third row, a full-color head-Up display, night vision, Super Cruise, as well as OnStar safety and connected services.

Other technology include in my tester is the upgraded AKG Studio Reference audio system that should have 36 speakers, but because of the executive second row seats, it increases to 40 speakers. Those executive seats each have their own video screens for external streaming/gaming, while the front seat passenger can configure the portion of the 55-inch screen in front of them to do the same.

The best, over the top feature though are the power open-and-close doors. Simply touch the door and they will open under their own power. From the inside, the driver can control all four doors opening and closing from a touch screen on the lower center console. It may seem like such a lazy feature, but it’s easy to get accustomed to and appreciate it. For those wondering, yes, each door has a sensor so it will stop opening if any car/wall/pole is close to the SUV.

Although the class does not appeal to everyone, the Cadillac has been a standard in the jumbo luxury SUV market for decades. The name Escalade is instantly known and recognized. It may cost a bit more than some competitors, but the changes for the 2025 model year should keep the cowboy limousine as a major player in the segment for years to come.

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FAQs

• Q: How much horsepower does the 2025 Escalade Sport Platinum have?
• A: 420 hp from a 6.2-liter V8
• Q: How much is the 2025 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum?
• A: The all-wheel drive version of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum starts at $125,595 in the United States including destination charges, or $158,499 in Canada including destination charges.
• Q: What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Escalade?
• A: It is rated at 14 mpg (16.6 L/100 km) city and 18 mpg (13.0 L/100 km) highway