Overview
The 2022 Escalade SUV includes every high-tech feature and the pinnacle of luxury amenities as it is the flagship of the Cadillac brand and consequently the entire General Motors lineup. Fortunately, because of the Escalade's enormous size, Cadillac was able to include many of those amenities. The cabin is lined with luxurious leather, real wood, and polished metal accents. The dashboard is dominated by a huge, curved digital panel that serves up the driver gauge and entertainment displays in a novel fashion. The stunning Escala concept car was scaled up to size XXL and fitted to the boxy contour of the Escalade for the external design. The 6.2-liter V-8 engine is the norm for most Escalades, although Cadillac also provides a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-six engine as an alternative. The Escalade's ride and handling are suitable for a premium car regardless of the engine, but naturally, don't expect the same liveliness you'll find in the brand's sedans.
What Has Changed For 2022?
The base Luxury grade now includes both lane-keeping assistance and lane-departure warning while the Premium Luxury, Sport, and Platinum models now include Cadillac's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving function as well as front and rear automated emergency braking as standard equipment. To Premium Luxury and Sport models, the new Touring package adds air suspension, soft-close doors, and LED door sill protector plates.
2022 Cadillac Escalade: Pricing
Depending on the grade you select, the price of a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ranges from $76,295 (MSRP) to $101,595 (MSRP).
Which One To Purchase?
Choose the Premium Luxury Platinum trim if you want the Escalade to be fully equipped with all of its top features. It has semi-aniline leather, front seats with 16-way power adjustments and massage, soft-close doors, and a 36-speaker AKG audio system. Self-parking, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control are further standard features.
2022 Cadillac Escalade: Interior And Comfort
The 2022 Escalade, the Cadillac brand's flagship model, raises the bar for in-cabin luxury. The base Luxury trim uses faux leather, but all additional trims use genuine leather, with Platinum versions receiving supple semi-aniline hides.
An upscale appearance is provided by the dash and door panels being upholstered in leather, the speaker grilles being made of aluminum, and the adjustable ambient lighting. Both a normal and long-wheelbase variant is available, similar to the outgoing generation, with the latter providing extra storage space and legroom for third-row passengers.
2022 Cadillac Escalade: Connectivity
Cadillac has fully customized the Escalade's electronics in addition to adding more luxuries within the cabin. The digital dashboard, which consists of three curved OLED displays that stack on top of one another to create a cool 38 inches of combined digital real estate, is the vehicle's main attraction. A portion of the dashboard serves as the driver's gauge cluster, while the remaining portion displays the CUE infotainment system for the driver and passenger. The array of screens is reminiscent of the massive monolithic multimedia device found in the Mercedes-Benz GLS class, but the Escalade's stacked design adds depth and appears less tacky than the Benz.
An augmented reality navigation system and an optional rear-seat entertainment package with two 12.6-inch monitors with streaming functionality are further technological elements. A Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration are further standard features. Whichever Escalade model is chosen, audiophiles are in for a treat. Cadillac developed the Escalade's standard and optional sound systems in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning audio and acoustics company AKG. The Luxury, Sport, and Premium Luxury versions come standard with a 19-speaker Studio Sound system, but Platinum trims receive the massive 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference system.
2022 Cadillac Escalade: Engine And Performance
Cadillac's largest SUV is propelled by either a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter inline-six engine or a 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 420 horsepower and the ability to turn down half of its cylinders while idling to save gasoline. Both engines will come standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and customers can opt for either rear- or all-wheel drive depending on their specific requirements. The Escalade rides on an independent rear suspension to aid in providing a smooth ride, just like its brothers, the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and GMC Yukon.
On more expensive models, adaptive dampers with computer-controlled shock absorbers are also available. The long-wheelbase Escalade ESV's V-8 engine accelerated to 60 mph on our test track in 5.9 seconds. Although the diesel engine has a less refined sound than the V-8, for some purchasers, that trade-off is justified by the increased fuel efficiency and low-end torque.