2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The Cadillac Escalade ESV is ingrained in American popular culture and is a favorite for Tik Tok meme rappers and Soprano housewives alike. This luxurious full-size SUV, now in its fifth generation, personifies the American dream, and the Escalade ESV is the cherry on top, competing against other large SUVs like the Lincoln Navigator L. This is the long-wheelbase version of the already sizable Escalade and not only inflates the ego of anyone who owns one of these, but also adds a ton of practicality in terms of cargo space and passenger room. The 2021 model debuted a turbodiesel option, but most will still go for the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 gas engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, although it's not as powerful as its twin-turbo Lincoln rival. So, is ESV short for excessive or is there a legitimate need for a towering SUV of this size and weight? Depending on your point of view, you could make a strong case for both.

We only need two words to describe the 2022 Escalade ESV exterior: big and bold. This large luxury SUV has some serious road presence and easily intimidates smaller cars on the road. Standard exterior features start off at a high level on the base model and include 22-inch alloy wheels, power-folding exterior mirrors with an auto-dimming function on the driver's side, LED headlamps and taillights, chrome roof rails, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Premium Luxury adds features such as a panoramic sunroof and rear camera mirror washer. Sport models get Gloss Black exterior body parts and bodyside moldings, as well as a unique wheel design.

This full-size luxury SUV measures 227 inches in length and is 81.1 inches wide excluding the mirrors. The total height is 76.4 inches, ensuring that your driving position is lifted far above that of someone in a sedan. The wheelbase is a lengthy 134.1 inches compared to the 120.9-inch wheelbase on the regular Escalade. These ample dimensions result in a vehicle that is a true heavyweight. Even the lightest model - the V8 with 2WD - already has a curb weight of 5,785 pounds. With the turbodiesel engine and 4WD, the Caddy tops out at 6,182 lbs.

Traditionally, the Cadillac Escalade has been powered by a brutish 6.2-liter V8 engine. This big lump of metal produces an adequate 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, which gets sent to the rear or all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission that is a refined partner to this engine as it silkily selects the appropriate gear. Cadillac has, however, thought it good to add a turbodiesel option to the lineup for 2021. This 3.0-liter Duramax unit produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque and is more than capable of lugging around the massive Escalade ESV. It is also paired with the 10-speed auto. The diesel offers better low-down torque and will save you money at the gas station, but the V8 is quicker and will sprint to sixty in only 5.9 seconds, according to independent testing.

The maximum payload capacity of the 2022 ESV is 1,636 lbs for the 2WD 6.2-liter model, and the best trailering capacity is 8,000 lbs for the same engine/drivetrain configuration. By comparison, the diesel can tow up to 7,900 lbs, so it isn't too far behind. That being said, the Lincoln Navigator L is more powerful and can tow up to 8,400 lbs.

To the regular customer, the Escalade's looks and curvy OLED displays will steal the show, but what few will register is that the 2021 Escalade debuted on an all-new platform with an independent rear suspension setup that dramatically improves its ride and handling characteristics. In base form, the body-on-frame ESV delivers an impressively comfortable ride at any speed, but don't expect nimble responses when making quick steering inputs; this is still a near-6,000 lbs SUV and unibody German SUVs still corner with more composure than the Caddy.

Higher in the model range, Magnetic Ride Control becomes standard, making a big difference in the way this vehicle drives daily. Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trim levels get standard four-corner air-ride adaptive suspension with selectable modes for the most refined ride. For its intended purpose of isolating occupants in comfort, the new Escalade does a fine job.

When you're working with this amount of weight and the sheer amount of luxury features, fuel economy will naturally suffer. Still, those interested in the Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV will, by this time, be fully aware of the vehicle's shortcomings.

The new diesel is easily more efficient than the V8. It returns 21/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined in RWD guise or 20/26/22 mpg when paired with 4WD. By contrast, the most efficient V8 is the 2WD model, which returns 15/20/17 mpg. All models are fitted with stop-start technology from this year. At the other end of the spectrum, the least efficient model is the V8 with 4WD, which returns 14/19/16 mpg.

A 28.3-gallon gas tank means that the new Escalade ESV has a range of between 453 and 651 miles.

This extra-large family meal will feed seven adults, and there will still be leftovers after they've all tucked in. The entire point of the ESV is to offer more interior space for passengers and their stuff. The standard Escalade mirrors the front, middle and rear headroom of the ESV, but it's all the way back in the third row where the ESV shows off its extra length with a legroom measurement of 36.6 inches as opposed to the 34.9 inches you get in the regular Escalade. Front leg and headroom is more than generous, and second-row space is more than you'd get from the front row in most luxury sedans. Standard eight-way power front seats are upgraded to 12-way power seats in Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum variants, which also have massaging front seats. All models have heated first and second-row seats.

If you're looking to haul a bunch of kids and their stuff in style, then the Escalade ESV will be perfect. If your surname is Soprano and you've been doing a lot of whacking, then the same applies. The trunk of the Escalade ESV is simply enormous: behind the third row, you get 41.5 cubic feet instead of the 25.5 cubes in the normal Escalade, and behind the second row, you are offered 94.1 cubes instead of the standard 72.9. With all the seats folded, the Escalade ESV offers 142.8 cubic feet of space. A hands-free power liftgate makes getting stuff in and out an easy job, as do the second-row power-release seats.

Small-item storage is good. There are cup holders for seven, a large glove box, a center console storage box that is extremely deep, first and second-row door pockets, and a storage nook next to the shifter. Cadillac offers a front-center console refrigerator for those who like to drink and drive.

From the base model up to the top-tier trim, a lot is going on in terms of standard features. The base model is equipped with standard Inteluxe leatherette seating, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated first and second-row seats, an automatically heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, tri-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, 110- and 12-volt power outlets, a power tilting/telescoping steering column, power-release second-row seats, remote start, and wireless phone charging. The Premium Luxury adds features such as leather seats, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof and, from this year, the Touring Package is standard, which includes soft-close doors, illuminated sill plates, and adaptive air suspension. Premium Luxury Platinum trims add 12-way power front seats with massaging.

On the safety front, all models come standard with seven airbags, hill-start assist, Cadillac's Buckle to Drive system, a teen-driver feature, rain-sensing wipers, front auto braking, front and rear park assist, auto emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, an HD surround-view camera system, and forward collision alert. Premium Luxury models add adaptive park assist, adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic braking, automatic seat-belt tightening, a head-up display, a rear camera mirror, lane-keep with lane departure warning, side blind-zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, and lane change alert. Platinum models include trailer blind-spot monitoring. The Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving function is not available this year due to the semiconductor chip shortage but is expected to reappear later.

One of the biggest changes for the 2021 model was with regards to the technology used inside the new Escalade. Cadillac has gone for a futuristic curved OLED display in the dashboard that consists of three displays stacked next to each other for a combined 38 inches. The display features a driver cluster, main infotainment section, and passenger info section, and looks absolutely gorgeous.

This system includes all the have-to-haves such as wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, Bluetooth, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, HD Radio, navigation, and a host of USB-C charging ports. The navigation is enhanced by the augmented reality display when the system is active. The standard AKG Studio sound system consists of 19 speakers and sounds incredible for an 'entry-level' system. Platinum models enjoy a 36-speaker system that will blow eardrums. A rear-seat entertainment package with two 12.6-inch displays, two HDMI and two USB-C ports, and two sets of two-channel headphones is standard on Platinum trims. Cadillac has taken things to a new level with this new setup.

J.D. Power hasn't yet rated the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV, although the regular Escalade did manage an excellent overall score of 82 out of 100 and an average quality and reliability score of 78. Unfortunately, the 2021 ESV were recalled six times according to the NHTSA. The issues were for a loss of power steering at startup or at lower speeds, an airbag warning light malfunction, an issue with the overhead console's seat belt/airbag status lights not being visible, possible fuel-pump failure, damaged seat belts, and for incorrect bolts used to secure seat belts. The 2022 model was still recall-free at the time of writing.

Cadillac will cover the Escalade with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty. There's also a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty and a one-year/one-visit maintenance plan.

The NHTSA's review of the Cadillac Escalade ESV returned good but not perfect results. Disappointingly for such a new and high-end SUV, it missed out on a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, attaining four stars instead. This rating included a three-star rollover rating, five stars for the side crash test, and four stars for the front test. The IIHS hasn't yet rated this vehicle.

All models come standard with seven airbags. The base model gets standard auto emergency braking, brake assist, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, and front and rear park assist. The Premium Luxury adds features such as enhanced auto parking assist, HD surround vision, lane change alert with side blind-zone alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear pedestrian alert. Sport models get trailer side-blind zone alert. Premium Luxury Platinum models add automatic seat belt tightening, enhanced auto emergency braking, and reverse automatic braking. Cadillac's Super Cruise driver assistance feature that allows for hands-free driving is not available this year due to the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage. It is expected to become available again later.

The Cadillac Escalade is an icon for a reason; it looks cool, drives well, and demands respect. Despite some changes for 2022, the basic recipe has gone unchanged. This is still a seriously bold statement to make. Look past all the hype, and the Escalade ESV is a hugely practical car and offers tons of space for people and their stuff. For the new generation, Cadillac has set the bar even higher with the new Escalade's upgraded suspension and an interior that is beautiful to look at and also packed with technology. Sure, that 6.2-liter V8 engine isn't going to solve global warming, and your wallet is going to take a beating at the gas station, but the Escalade ESV is all about comfort and not economics after all. The updated SUV also benefits from new tech. Sure, Chevrolet and GMC offer a similar product for much less money, but there can only be one Escalade.

Cadillac advertises the Escalade ESV as a luxury SUV, and its considerable price tag leaves no doubt about its positioning. There is a small price difference between the V8 and the turbodiesel; Cadillac lists the turbodiesel as an option and selecting this engine increases the price by $100.

The range begins at an MSRP of $79,195 for the base Luxury model with the V8 gas engine. Following the Luxury is the Premium Luxury at $87,795 and the Sport at $90,495. After that is the Premium Luxury Platinum and the Sport Platinum which each have the same price of $104,545. The $100 charge to upgrade to the turbodiesel engine applies to every trim.

The price of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV will increase by $3,000 when upgrading from 2WD to 4WD on all trims. All these prices exclude tax, licensing, registration, and a destination charge of $1,695.

The Escalade ESV is already an expensive vehicle to start with but comes with lots of luxury features in base form, so we don't think you have to stray too far from the entry-level model to find what you're looking for. If we were buying, we'd go with the Premium Luxury model with the 6.2-liter V8 engine. It includes all the features found on the Luxury model but adds important bits such as a panoramic sunroof, the Driver Awareness Plus Package (rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert, blind-zone alert, and lane change assist), enhanced auto parking assist, a full-color head-up display and, from this year, soft-close doors, adaptive air suspension, and illuminated sill plates thanks to the newly standard Touring Package.

The Lincoln Navigator is arguably the better-looking car and has a Euro look that feels more Range Rover than Ranchero. The Lincoln is a slightly smaller car on the outside, but it's still an imposing piece of machinery. It's our choice on the road, purely thanks to that 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine which beats the Caddy's outputs. This motor offers 450 horsepower, 510 lb-ft of torque, a decent gas mileage figure of 16/21/18 mpg in 2WD guise, and a better towing capacity of up to 8,400 lbs. Inside, both SUVs offer tons of passenger space and cargo room, but the Cadillac takes it thanks to its fantastic OLED dashboard displays. With little in it price-wise, we'd go for the Navigator purely because of that engine and its euro-centric styling.

The Chevrolet Tahoe is a much smaller SUV than the Escalade ESV but still offers three-row seating and powerful engine options, not to mention a drastically reduced asking price. Starting at under $50,000, the Tahoe is $30k cheaper than the Escalade but does most things just as well. Under the hood, the 2022 Tahoe is offered with your choice of 355-hp 5.3-liter V8, or the same 277-hp, 460 lb-ft 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel and 420-hp 6.2L V8 as found in the ESV. The Tahoe feels quicker in a straight line and is the more responsive car to drive. In terms of gas mileage, the Tahoe will return an impressive 21/28/24 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle in a 2WD diesel configuration. Inside, both cars offer equal front legroom, but the Tahoe offers slightly more in the second row, but less in the third row. The bigger ESV dominates in terms of cargo space, however. The more luxurious Cadillac offers superior tech and the image that everyone wants, but at a massive cost. We'd go with the more balanced Tahoe every day of the week.