The Cadillac Escalade is one of the largest, most luxurious, and most stunning vehicles on the road, but choosing the right one can still take some work. There are six trims available for the Escalade, with some pretty significant differences between them, so before you head to a dealership to find the right Cadillac Escalade for sale, it’s a good idea to take some time and figure out which one is perfect for you. We all know that comparing models and flipping back and forth between tabs and specs can be exhausting, so I’m here to make your life much easier. Let’s take a look at each of the trims on offer for the 2024 Escalade (and Escalade ESV) and figure out which one has everything you need.
The Escalade Luxury
Kicking things off, we have the Luxury, which is the starting trim for the Escalade. If having a starting trim called “Luxury” doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about Cadillac, then I don’t know what does. Standard on the Luxury model is a 6.2L V8 engine that delivers 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. If you prefer, there’s also an available 3.0L Duramax Turbo Diesel with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. I‘d stick with the standard V8, but seeing a diesel engine on a gorgeous SUV like this is a delight. The Luxury trim has LED headlamps and tail lamps, with body-color heated, auto-dimming, powered outside mirrors, and a hands-free power liftgate.
Inside, the Luxury kicks things off with a stunning 38-inch curved OLED display with a 16.9-inch Infotainment area, a 7.2-inch control panel, and a 14.2-inch cluster display area. You’ll also find an AKG Studio 19-speaker sound system with an amplifier and subwoofer, Inteluxe seating, and eight-way power front seats with power-release second-row bucket seats. The front and second-row seating is heated, along with a heated steering wheel featuring mounted controls for phone, audio, and more. Augmented reality technology shows you a live view of what’s in front of the Escalade on the 14.2-inch display, with navigational directions overlaid on the image. A wireless phone charger is standard, along with tri-zone automatic climate control and ambient interior lighting.
The Escalade Premium Luxury
From the standard trim, you can move up to the Premium Luxury, which includes several upgrades and has the same two engines on offer. For starters, you get a panoramic power sunroof on the Premium Luxury model to give you a stunning view of the sky overhead. Inside, this model features leather seating for added sophistication, with heated and ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, and a heads-up display that projects information onto the windshield so you can keep an eye on things like your speed and navigation information while staying focused on the road. While the standard Luxury model has excellent safety technology, the Premium Luxury adds to that with Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist, and more.
The Escalade Sport
The differences going from the Premium Luxury to the Sport aren’t as dramatic as the ones we just looked at, but there are still things worth noting. You get some aesthetic details and touches on the Sport that aren’t available on the previous models, like an Onyx Package with Gloss Black wheels and similar features on the exterior. Inside, the Sport is much like the Premium Luxury, with many great features, including leather seating and a heads-up display. One of the few features you’ll find on the Sport, but not the previous model, is Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert safety technology. This extends the Side Blind Zone alert monitoring area further back when you’re towing, making it easier to stay safe when you have a trailer behind you that can limit your visibility.
The Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum
This trim builds on what you’ll find on the Premium Luxury, taking impressive technology and sophisticated details to another level. For example, you’ll find puddle lamps on the Premium Luxury Platinum illuminating the ground under the driver and front-passenger side mirrors with the Cadillac Crest as you approach or exit the vehicle. Inside this model, you’ll find many upgrades, such as a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference sound system with three amplifiers, front and rear subwoofers, and 3D Surround sound that fills the interior with stunning audio for a revolutionary driving experience.
The Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum comes with a rear-seat entertainment system featuring dual 12.6-inch color-touch LCD HD screens with HDMI and USB ports to connect devices, along with a pair of Bluetooth headphones. You’ll find leather seating inside this model, with illuminated sill plates on the front and rear doors, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Soft-close doors ensure a quiet, relaxed environment as you enter or exit your vehicle, plus you get a rear camera mirror rather than a traditional rearview mirror.
The Escalade Sport Platinum
The Sport Platinum essentially builds on the Sport trim in the same way the Premium Luxury Platinum enhances the Premium Luxury model. It comes with the Cadillac Crest puddle lamps, for example, but has the same exterior details and options offered on the Sport model. Inside, this one comes with the 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference sound system and a leather-wrapped steering wheel from the Premium Luxury Platinum. You can also get a front center console in the Sport Platinum model that includes a refrigerator-freezer combination and covered storage, which can keep up to six bottles cold inside it, making this the perfect SUV for any long road trip. This is also available on the Premium Luxury Platinum, but not the other previous trims.
The Escalade-V
Finally, we come to the Escalade-V, the ultimate expression of what this incredible vehicle can be as it surpasses everything we’ve looked at. For starters, the Escalade-V is powered by an unbelievable 6.2L Supercharged V8 engine that delivers 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers you’d expect from a sports car, not a full-size SUV, but it speaks to how Cadillac has approached this remarkable machine so differently from other car companies. This one comes with the adaptive air ride suspension available on most other models, along with powerful Brembo brakes to provide the stopping power it needs.
You’ll find power-retractable assist steps on the Escalade-V with LED perimeter lighting to make it easy to safely get in and out of this gorgeous behemoth. The interior is the ultimate expression of what an Escalade can be with the AKG Studio Reference 36-speaker sound system, rear-seat entertainment system, and exquisite leather seating, including power lumbar massage for the front seats. This is the only Escalade model with a Night Vision system to provide you with thermal heat imaging in dark conditions that highlights animals and pedestrians—it’s available on other models but not included.
Now Go Out There and Get Your Escalade
You might’ve noticed I haven’t mentioned GM’s innovative Super Cruise technology with any of these models. While it was available on all models last year, it seems it will be standard on every Escalade other than the starting Luxury trim for 2024. That’s something Cadillac has wanted to do for a couple years now, but the chip shortage and other supply issues made it impossible. Now, they’re delivering the experience they’ve wanted to give drivers for a while. It’s worth noting that Cadillac is putting a ton of energy into the all-electric Escalade IQ, which is getting all of the current attention, so changes from last year are minimal. That said, there’s a fair amount of evidence to suggest the Escalade will get a mid-generation refresh and update for the 2025 model, so keep that in mind as you weigh your options. Choose the Escalade with everything you want.
