Cadillac has long been known for making luxury vehicles. That means you can expect plenty of comfort and convenience features, even on the lower-tier trim levels. When you see a Cadillac Escalade for sale, you can feel pretty confident that it will have a luxury interior loaded with tech, no matter what trim it is. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of advantages to upgrading to higher tiers.
Today, we’re going to look at what each trim of the 2024 Escalade has to offer. Since this is a full-size SUV, features range from driver-centric details to extras for passengers and storage solutions for all kinds of cargo. Let’s dig in and see what you can find on the various versions of the Escalade.
Escalade vs Escalade ESV
First, let’s clear up the difference between the Escalade and the Escalade ESV. The Escalade ESV isn’t a particular trim level but instead a larger variant of the Escalade. ESV stands for “Escalade Stretch Vehicle,” and as the name implies, it’s longer than the regular Escalade, giving you more room for cargo in the back. Specifically, it ups the maximum amount of cargo space from 121 cu.ft. to 142.8 cu.ft., which is a significant difference if you have a lot of luggage. Most of that extra space is added behind the third row, but legroom back there does increase by about two inches.
While increased length is the main difference, it’s not the only one. Because it is larger (and therefore heavier) but has the same powertrain options, the ESV has a maximum towing capacity of 8,000 lbs instead of 8,200 lbs. It also has a higher fuel tank capacity, helping to balance out the fact that larger vehicles go through fuel more quickly. The Escalade ESV can be had in all of the same trims as the regular Escalade, from the Luxury up to the V-Series, so any trim that you opt for gives you the chance to choose between the standard body and the extended variant.
#1 – Luxury
The most basic trim level in the Escalade’s lineup is called the Luxury, and as the name implies, plenty of features that are optional upgrades for most automakers come standard on the Escalade. The interior has 12-way power-adjustable heated seats with power lumbar control for both the driver and the front passenger, so everyone in the front row can get their position just right. The driver’s seat also features a memory function, so you can set two presets for the seating position as well as the position of the outside mirrors and the tilt and telescoping steering column, making it more convenient for two people with different heights, body types, and preferences to take turns driving.
A driver-centric curved OLED display serves as both the central infotainment display and driver information center, combining to create 38 inches of total screen real estate. The way the screens blend together gives the dashboard a sleek look and makes all of the vehicle information, driver assistance warnings, and other integrated features easy to see at a glance. The system comes standard with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability as well as Amazon Alexa Built-In. Audio plays through a 19-speaker AKG Studio system, which should please audiophiles.
Under the hood, the Escalade comes standard with a 6.2L V8 engine that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It uses Dynamic Fuel Management to operate fewer cylinders when it makes sense to do so in order to save fuel. When it comes to safety, the 2024 Escalade comes standard with several driver assistance features:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Forward Collision Alert
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Front and Rear Park Assist
- Safety Alert Seat
- HD Surround Vision
- Teen Driver
- Rear Seat Reminder
#2 – Premium Luxury
Upgrading to the Premium Luxury trim adds a panoramic sunroof to the Escalade, bringing more natural light into the cabin. In addition to the OLED display, there’s also a head-up display that projects directly onto the lower portion of the windshield, letting you see various pieces of information without taking your eyes off the road at all. The interior can also be had in a wider range of colors. While the Luxury’s interior only comes in Jet Black Intelux, the Premium Luxury offers perforated leather in Jet Black, bright Parchment, or elegant Brandy.
The list of included driver assistance tech also expands significantly. In addition to the features included in the Luxury, the Premium Luxury also comes standard with all of these:
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
- Reverse Automatic Braking
- Rear Camera Mirror with Washer
- Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist
- Automatic Seat Belt Tightening
#3 – Sport
Enthusiasts looking for more performance features can find some of what they’re looking for in the Sport trim. It comes standard with numerous upgrades, including an electronic limited-slip differential that automatically reacts to road conditions for maximum traction during inclement weather or when tackling tight corners. Magnetic Ride Control takes readings a thousand times every second in order to optimize settings for current conditions. The Sport trim is also better suited for towing, with a standard Smart Trailer Integration Indicator and a Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert system designed to account for the expanded blind zone you have with a large trailer in tow.
On top of the more practical upgrades, the Sport trim also has unique styling. Gloss-black elements include the mesh grille, front fascia, roof rails, window trim, running boards, and more, giving the exterior a cohesive look that pairs well with any of the paint options. The details blend into black or provide a contrast with white, red, and other colors. The 22-inch polished alloy wheels match these accents with their Dark Android finish.
#4 – Premium Luxury Platinum
The Premium Luxury Platinum trim doesn’t have the blacked-out styling elements of the Sport, but it does come standard with the performance features plus everything on the Premium Luxury trim. The exterior has its own unique aesthetic touches, like a Galvano Chrome grille surround and bodyside moldings. Inside, all three rows have full semi-aniline leather seating, and leather-wrapped accents are present throughout the cabin. Interior colors include Jet Black or Dark Auburn with Mondrian quilting or Whisper Beige with mini-chevron perforations.
The front seats have ventilation as well as heating and are 16-way power-adjustable for a higher degree of customization, including four-way lumbar control. There’s also a massage function as a cherry on top. The sound system ups its game to 36 speakers throughout the cabin, and there’s also a rear seat entertainment system with two 12.6-inch displays that can be controlled independently. An Adaptive Air Ride suspension system makes the ride smoother for everyone.
#5 – Sport Platinum
The Sport Platinum trim takes the unique qualities of the Sport trim and adds in some of the luxuries of the Premium Luxury Platinum trim. It has everything on the Sport plus full semi-aniline leather seats and leather trim, the 36-speaker audio system, the rear seat entertainment system, and the air ride adaptive suspension. The front seats also get the Platinum upgrade, with ventilation, massage, and 16-way adjustability with four-way power lumbar.
#6 – V-Series
The Escalade-V is a performance-oriented trim that comes with an exclusive supercharged V8 engine under the hood. This finely-tuned powertrain brings the stats way up to 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to go from zero to 60 mph in as little as 4.3 seconds. Beyond the powertrain, the V-Series also has a special driving mode called V-Mode that physically lowers the vehicle by 20mm for better driving dynamics and allows you to customize settings like steering, suspension, brake feel, and engine sound for a personalized driving experience. The exhaust system features four tailpipes that can deliver a powerful roar, but there’s also a stealth mode to help you stay on good terms with your neighbors. Inside, the Escalade-V has a Platinum interior that delivers top-tier comfort.
