With such solid competition, Cadillac was not in a position to just phone in the Escalade’s redesign. The highlight of that effort is a new platform, shared with the new Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, that finally features an independent rear suspension. There's also the gorgeous and tech-rich interior featuring a 38-inch curved OLED dash screen, a new diesel engine option and – stop us if you’ve heard this one before – Super Cruise.
While the Escalade does share its fundamentals with the Tahoe and Yukon, the Cadillac-branded variant of GM’s big truck platform always gets special treatment. Only the very base model is available without a leather interior, for example, and the aforementioned in-cabin tech is exclusive to the Escalade. You’re also limited to just two engine options: the standard 420-horsepower V8 that's the range-topping option on GM's other SUVs, and the new 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six that's good for 277 hp and a V8-matching 460 pound-feet of torque. Both are paired with GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission, and there’s no price difference, regardless of trim.
