2021 Cadillac Escalade Review: Raising the Bar

When you think of luxury SUVs, the first that comes to mind is highly likely to be Cadillac’s Escalade, even if cross-town rival Lincoln stepped up its game with the latest Navigator. In response, Cadillac launched its next-generation Escalade with some serious upgrades. The 2021 Escalade puts a stronger focus on fit, finish, and high-quality materials, enough to put it back to the top of the luxe SUV list. The new Escalade also sports some significant shakeups with its powertrain and suspension. New for ’21, the Escalade is available with the 3.0-liter Duramax straight-six diesel under its hood. You can still get the 6.2-liter gas-burning V8, and both are mated to 10-speed automatics. At the rear, the new Escalade is now riding on an independent suspension. On this episode of Quick Spin, Wes Raynal puts the latest Escalade to the test. He walks you around the new Escalade and assesses its interior’s build quality. He also takes it out on a drive and brings you along for the ride. Between those segments, Raynal talks with host Wesley Wren about the Escalade and elaborates on his thoughts. The pair talk about the Escalade’s improvements and the luxury SUV marketplace. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the new Escalade special.