Eric's Autos: 2024 Cadillac Escalade

Is a Cadillac Escalade worth $20,000 more than a GMC Yukon? Is a GMC Yukon worth $4,000 more than a Chevy Tahoe?

All three are basically the same SUV sold under three different labels -- at three different price points.

You'll have to decide whether the price is worth the difference.

What It Is

The Escalade is Cadillac's version of the Chevy Tahoe, which is also resold as the GMC Yukon. All three are full-size SUVs that come standard with V8 engines, with one of the chief differences between the Escalade and its fraternal twins being it comes standard with the 6.2-liter V8 that's optional in the less prestigious (and less expensive) Tahoe and Yukon.

There is also a supercharged version of the 6.2 V8 that you can't get in the twins.

But of course, it'll cost you more to get into an Escalade, which stickers for $81,895 to start for the two-wheel-drive Luxury trim vs. $58,200 for essentially the same SUV sold under the GMC Yukon label, albeit with a smaller, not-as-powerful 5.3-liter V8 (and sold under the Chevy label, as the Tahoe -- with the same 5.3 V8 -- for $54,600).

The Escalade also comes standard with 22-inch wheels, a huge 16.9-inch secondary LCD touch screen and a primary 14.2-inch LCD main gauge panel, a 19-speaker premium stereo system and heated rear outboard seats, among other upgrades that aren't standard -- or even available -- in its less expensive fraternal twins.

A top-of-the-line Premium Luxury Platinum trim comes with a 36-speaker audio system, power soft-closing doors, an adaptive suspension, a rear-seat entertainment system and GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system.

It stickers for $110,695 with 2WD and $113,695 with the optional four-wheel-drive system.

There is also the high-performance Escalade V -- the centerpiece of which is a supercharged version of the 6.2 V8 that offers 682 horsepower versus 420 horsepower for the nonsupercharged 6.2 V8 that's standard in other Escalade trims (and available in the Yukon and Tahoe). It stickers for $152,295.

What's New for 2024

There are no changes to the Escalade, per se, for this model year. However, there is an electric version of GM's biggest SUV coming out later this year called the Escalade iQ.

What's Good

Standard V8.

Luxury amenities not available in Tahoe or Yukon.

Significantly more cargo capacity than its main rival, the Lincoln Navigator.

What's Not So Good

Get the same basic vehicle in a Tahoe or Yukon wrapper for thousands -- even tens of thousands -- less.

Not much range (just 336 miles in city driving) on a full tank of gas.

V8 doesn't make as much power as rival Navigator's twin-turbo V6.

Under The Hood

Unlike its Tahoe and Yukon fraternal twins, the Escalade comes standard with the 6.2-liter, 420-horsepower V8 that's optionally available in those two.

They come standard with a 5.3-liter V8 that makes 355 horsepower.

A 10-speed automatic is standard, as is rear-wheel drive. All trims are available with 4WD. Depending on the configuration, an Escalade can tow between 7,000 and 8,200 pounds.

The Escalade V -- with 682 supercharged horsepower -- cuts the time down to 4.3 seconds, which is about as quick as a new Mustang GT that weighs a ton less and that's half the size.

There's also an optional turbo-diesel engine. It's a 3.0-liter in-line six that makes 277 horsepower and 460 foot-pounds of torque (same as the V8). This one increases fuel economy to 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway -- the latter figure a significant improvement over what you'd get with the V8, especially when pulling a trailer.

On The Road

A Cadillac has been defined, historically, by its size -- and while the Escalade is very closely related to its GMC and Chevy-badged fraternal twins, it is without question a Cadillac-sized vehicle.

At almost 212 inches long and riding on a 120.9-inch wheelbase, it is almost as long as a '70s-era Sedan de Ville and much heavier. The 2WD version with the V8 weighs 5,635 pounds. With the diesel six (which is heavier than the V8 because it's a heavier-built engine) and 4WD, an Escalade crests 3 tons (6,015 pounds) before anyone gets onboard, including the driver.

That -- to quote the '80s one-hit wonder band Duke Jupiter -- is a lot of automobile.

And that is a big part of the appeal -- of a Cadillac.

Size does matter when it comes to Cadillac. Also attitude. Rivals like the Lincoln Navigator are also large but not as imposing, another quality that successful Cadillacs have always had. The Escalade is not shy about its size, and that includes what's under its hood, which makes light of all that size in a purposely showy way. The Navigator's twin-turbo V6 is actually stronger -- and the Navigator is nearly as quick -- but the Cadillac feels and sounds quicker. The V8 does not require "augmentation" to sound like a V8.

Because it is a V8.

At The Curb

Though it's not quite as long as a '70s Caddy, this one's much more roomy both for people and stuff. You have no doubt heard the cliche about the "three-body" trunks of the land yachts of the '70s. More like two.

One, if rolled up in carpet.

In this one, you could probably fit a casket. With the second and third row out of the way, the Escalade has 121 cubic feet of space for whatever you need to carry. Here -- as under the hood -- the Escalade out-bigs its main rival, the Lincoln Navigator, which has a comparatively cramped 103.3 cubic feet of total cargo space available and only 19.3 behind its third row (vs. 25.5 cubic feet for the Caddy).

And this latter-day Sedan de Ville can carry up to eight people, three more than could go for a ride in the '70s Caddy.

The Rest

Oddly -- in view of the base price of this Cadillac -- features such as adaptive cruise control and leather seat covers are optional. To get these, you must step up a trim from the base Luxury trim (an odd way to put it) to the Premium Luxury trim, which stickers for $93,195 to start. That's a bump of $11,300 ... to get leather and heated seats. The good news is you also get ventilated (as well as heated) front seats, a panorama sunroof and a head-up display.

The Bottom Line

Big Caddys like the '70s Sedan de Ville may be long gone, but their SUV inheritors deliver a similar experience -- and even more attitude.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.