All-new, Including a Diesel Engine
Is there a better place for the reveal of the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade than in Hollywood, California? Maybe it could be notched-up a bit by being on one of the oldest studio lots and having a major celebrity on hand for the festivities. All that, and more, happened on February 4 before a couple hundred journalists at the Red Studios, once home to Desilu Studios, where the iconic I Love Lucy television show from the 1950s was taped. To make the Hollywood connection even deeper, Academy Award winner Spike Lee was on-hand to debut his film, Anthem, which, as Cadillac told us, was designed to capture “the presence, innovation and movement” of the new Escalade.
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade exterior sees an evolution in design. The new, bold front grille is framed by vertical LED daytime running lights and narrow horizontal headlights, with the rear getting vertical taillights and twin, chromed horizontal-shaped exhaust pipes. The front end design is not so in-your-face that it loses any sophistication, which is what the Escalade has come to represent. Go to any major event and an Escalade is the chariot of choice to make a grand arrival. The slab sides, with tasteful sculpting, are broken-up by standard 22-inch wheels.
Cadillac Goes Big
One expects a full-size SUV to be large, but the 2021 Escalade is massive. Compared to the 2020 model, it grew seven inches bumper-to-bumper and four inches in wheelbase, now checking in with an overall length of 211 inches or 17.5 feet. And this isn’t the long wheelbase version which comes in at 227 inches or 19 feet. Expect either model to challenge any track house garage.
The benefit of all this length comes into focus with the spacious interior. The knock on three-row SUVs is the third row is only good for children. Not so with the 2021 Escalade, as third row legroom has grown by 10 inches. How welcome would an additional 10 inches be to stretch-out on your next airplane flight! The second-row passengers get twin 12.6-inch touchscreens, independent of each other, for watching movies, playing games or streaming programming.
Upfront in the cabin is where the action is, beginning with three touch panels that pretty much encompass the complete dash length. There is a 7.2-inch-diagonal touch control panel driver information center to the driver’s left and a 14.2-inch-diagonal cluster display behind the steering wheel. But the pièce de résistance is the 16.9-inch-diagonal infotainment screen to the driver’s right. Using Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, the paper-thin screen and its curvature position favors the driver and is angled for optimal visibility.
The OLED screen houses navigation and the excellent, 36-speaker AKG sound system that was designed specifically for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Powered by three amplifiers driving 28-channels, the system delivers 3D surround sound. AKG microphones, used by musicians in the recording studio and when performing, have been placed throughout the cabin so conversations, from all passengers, can be heard through the 36 speakers.
One of the big complaints Clean Fleet Report has with many of the sound systems we see is the omission of volume and channel knobs. Sameer Gupta, a Cadillac infotainment engineer, explained how the AKG system operates intuitively with the volume and channel knobs, the steering wheel controls, voice command and by touching and swiping the OLED screen. Our tutorial demonstrated how owners will enjoy the ease-of-use, which along with the head-up display, will contribute to keeping the driver’s attention on the road.
Under the Hood
There are two propulsion systems for the Escalade. The standard 6.2-liter V8 delivers 420 horsepower (hp) with 460 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque. The optional Duramax 3.0-liter I6 turbodiesel puts out 277 hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. Clean Fleet Report recently drove the 2020 GMC Sierra Denali with this Duramax turbodiesel and was impressed with its performance, quiet and smooth operation, and 30+ miles per gallon fuel economy. Mileage estimates for both engines will be released by Cadillac closer to when the Escalade goes on sale later this year.
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade comes equipped with Super Cruise, the driver assistance technology that enables hands-free driving via lidar map data, GPS and a combination of cameras and radar sensors. The enhanced automated lane change feature is engaged by the driver using the turn signal to perform a single lane change maneuver. Cadillac has mapped more than 200,000 miles of compatible highways in the United States and Canada to work with Super Cruise.
In addition to Super Cruise, the 2021 Escalade is equipped with the full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The interior is power-everything with the quality leather and other interior elements available in eight color and trim choices.
Built in General Motor’s Arlington, Texas, assembly plant, expect the 2021 Cadillac Escalade to go on sale and pricing to be announced in late-2020 in North America.
Clean Fleet Report will do a thorough road test of the all-new Escalade when they are made available to the press. We are excited to drive and learn as much as possible about the Escalade, and pass along our thoughts on Cadillac’s flagship vehicle.
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