2023 Cadillac Escalade-V Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Escalade-V visually differentiates itself from the rest of the Escalade lineup with revised lower front and rear fascias. You have to know what you are looking for since they are rather small details on an otherwise massive machine. The dark mesh grille, dark headlight bezels, and dark window trim are all similar to that of the non-V Escalade Sport, but the Escalade-V stands out with unique dark 22-inch wheels. It also features several V badges that would be massive on any other vehicle in Cadillac’s V-Series lineup.

Inside, the dash is dominated by the 38-inch curved OLED fully digital instrument panel and infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. This screen draws attention the second you step into the big cabin, but you’ll soon be distracted by the comfortable front bucket seats. Standard features on the Escalade-V include semi-Aniline premium leather upholstery with a unique quilt pattern, Zebra-wood inlays, heated and ventilated 16-way power-adjustable front seats, and massage function for the front seats. While the front seats are plush, the rear seats are stiff in both appearance and feel. They fold flat for cargo use, so it's understandable that they’re not quite as plush as the front seats—something had to give.

The Escalade-V boasts a 36-speaker stereo system, a rear-seat entertainment system with dual 12.6-inch rear-seat screens, and a massive panoramic sunroof. Many of these features are options on the standard Escalade, but on the Escalade-V, they come standard.

The new Escalade-V features an intercooled and supercharged 6.2-liter V8. The engine is hand-built at GM’s Bowling Green Performance Build Center. Each engine has the name of its builder stamped on a cover above the rather large supercharger. Though this engine shares architecture with that of the CT5-V Blackwing, GM beefed up the supercharger setup. The result is an output of 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque, routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission to standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

The whole setup makes for impressive acceleration. It feels the quickest in the 20 mph to 80 mph acceleration, rather than from a complete standstill. The laws of physics still apply with the Escalade-V, but only at low speeds. GM claims a zero-to-sixty time of 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.74 seconds at 110 mph. These would be respectable for a sporty sedan, let alone a 6,200-pound full-size luxury SUV (6,400 pounds for the longer ESV trims). When properly equipped, the Escalade-V can tow up to 7,000 pounds.

Cadillac equips the Escalade-V with Magnetic Ride Control, Air Ride Adaptive suspension, and Brembo performance front brakes. Air suspension is optional in the non-V Escalade, but here, the dampers have been tuned for a responsive ride. For as much as it’s fun to mash the throttle in a straight line, the most impressive moments with the Escalade-V come in the corners, where the body roll is minimal and the steering is sports-car direct, responsive, and communicative.

But perhaps the most incredible feat is the braking. Along with the steering, throttle response, shift mapping, and exhaust note, the brakes have dual personalities thanks to the V-Mode or Tour mode. It would have been perfectly fine if the brakes were strong with a “truck brakes” feel, but the pedal feel on the Escalade-V is incredible. You can take a big “bite” leading up to a turn, and threshold brake as you negotiate a sharp curve at speed. In all, the various systems play a delicate dance to keep the Escalade-V feeling more taut and responsive than any vehicle its size deserves to be.

Oh, and if you want to have some real fun, activate V-Mode, put the shifter in Manual mode, and take your foot off the throttle to let the vehicle coast. It will emit more snaps and burbles than you’ve ever heard in the most heavily modified sports car.

Three-row seating is standard in this big SUV. Buyers can choose the standard-wheelbase Escalade-V and the long-wheelbase Escalade-V ESV. The standard version provides 121 cubic feet of cargo space with 2nd and 3rd rows folded. With just the third row folded, there are 72.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 25.5 cubic feet behind the third-row seats. Moving up to the Cadillac Escalade-V ESV brings cargo space to 142.8 cubic feet of total cargo space. There are 94.1 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 41.5 behind the third row.

There’s plenty of adult-friendly passenger space in all three rows. The second-row seats easily fold to provide third-row access, but you can just as easily make your way through the space between the second-row captain’s chairs. The best place to sit, however, is up front. Here, the driver and front passenger have plenty of room to spread out in comfort.

Storage space is everywhere, from multiple in-door cubbies to a massive center console with external pockets on either side. Each door has multiple cupholders, and the second row gets a retractable set of cupholders that pop out from the back of the center console.

The standard 38-inch curved OLED screen is serious business. Cadillac has developed a screen that tapers off into sharp angles (rather than squared off corners) and features dual touch zones. There’s the main 16.9-inch touchscreen area in the center of the dash, which has a logical layout and boasts standard navigation. But then on the left side of the instrument panel, there is an additional small touchscreen. It includes the trip computer and toggles for the head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality instrument panel. This lefthand toggle screen is a clever solution to how we interact with modern cars, where some require touch controls for some functions and steering-wheel buttons for others.

We’ve seen massive digital screen setups from brands like Mercedes. But where the Escalade stands out is the curved screen, giving it a sense of depth to go along with its sheer width. Many of these new massive screens simply feel snapped on at the last minute (which is kind of true, as automakers develop the infotainment technology last, so as to assure it is as new as possible). But with the OLED curved dash, it feels like it’s supposed to be there.

The Escalade-V comes equipped with a 36-speaker AKG premium stereo system. AKG might not be a household name, but it is widely used in the music and movie industry. With all these speakers, the system creates individual audio ecosystems for each document. You’ll find speakers nestled in the roof, dash, headrest, and more. Listening to a song you’ve heard a million times on this system reveals new details. Playing a live track on this system presents the lead guitarist in one corner of the cabin and the vocals in another.

Cadillac also nestles microphones throughout the car, allowing for a seamless in-cabin communication system so that you don’t have to yell back to the third row.

The Escalade-V comes standard with a host of assistance features including standard forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, GM’s safety alert seat, lane-departure warning, and an HD surround-view parking monitor. It also comes standard with adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. The driver is also treated to a vivid head-up display, and the OLED screen includes night vision and an augmented reality display. The latter presents a live feed of the road ahead on the instrument panel, including turn-by-turn directions.

We also spent time in the driver’s seat with our hands off the wheel, thanks to the latest iteration of Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free driving technology. It does all the things we’ve come to expect, such as hands-free highway driving, smooth lane following, and being able to accurately sense vehicles around it. It notifies you that the system is engaged with a solid green light that’s embedded in the top of the steering wheel. But for 2023, there’s a new function added to the mix—automatic lane change.

Say you’re traveling on a three-lane highway in the middle lane with Super Cruise activated. As the Escalade-V approaches a slower vehicle, it automatically scans the left lane, and if it is clear, it will merge into the left lane, pass the slower vehicle, and then merge back to the right when the coast is clear. You don’t have to do anything. If you want to manually change lanes while in Super Cruise, you can still do that simply by tapping the turn signal to the left or right.

The system still scans the driver’s face to make sure they are paying attention. If it senses you are looking down at your phone or otherwise distracted, the green light on the steering wheel will start to flash. If you don’t put your hands back on the wheel, it will flash red and start to disengage. The system can make the Escalade-V start to coast and merge to the right, eventually slowing down in the breakdown lane. All-in-all, it’s an impressive system that even works while towing a trailer. Most importantly, Super Cruise requires that you always remain vigilant of your surroundings.

The EPA has not yet released fuel economy estimates for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V, but in our time with the Escalade-V ESV, we averaged 15.5 mpg. There was a lot of highway driving during that, but there was also plenty of opportunities to lay into the throttle—653 lb-ft will do that to you. The Escalade-V has a 24-gallon tank and the ESV has a 28.3-gallon tank, so despite the less-than-stellar fuel economy, this vehicle is designed for long hauls. And of course, the Escalade-V requires premium fuel.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade-V starts at $149,990. The Escalade-V ESV starts at $152,990. Compare that to the non-V Escalade, which starts at $76,495 and costs more than $112,000 when fully loaded. The Escalade-V is backed by a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

With gas prices on the rise, now seems like a strange time to unleash the fastest, most powerful Escalade ever. But perhaps that’s just the point. The Escalade-V has been long-awaited and seemed inevitable, but GM also had to get around to it before the industry started to truly pivot towards electric. Much like the Dodge Challenger/Charger and its insane lineup of V8 engines, this feels like the opening chord of a swan song… and its name is Blackwing.

As long as there are untamed rural areas, long desert roads, and those looking to venture out there with minimal stops, there will still be a place for large, powerful full-size SUVs. The need for towing, hauling, and cargo space will ensure there’s still a demand for these vehicles. They may go from mainstream to niche, but don’t count out vehicles like the Escalade just yet. The combination of potent supercharged V8 and game-changing tech like the curved OLED dash and Super Cruise show that the Escalade-V truly is a luxury SUV at a crossroads.