The brand-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade has finally hit the dealerships and people are thrilled. One of the biggest changes is that it’s now possible to buy an Escalade with a diesel engine. While many love that this option is available, they can’t help but wonder if it’s really worth spending more than $100,000.

Enjoy a smooth ride in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade

It’s uncommon for car reviewers all over the country to be raving about the same car. More often than not, it seems like the very features one auto reviewer loves are the same feature that drives the next reviewer around the bend. So far, that hasn’t been the case with the 2020 Cadillac Escalade. For the most part, the biggest problem the bulk of auto reviewers have with the vehicle is figuring out which aspect of the luxury SUV is their favorite.

One of the first things everyone notices after they slide behind the Escalade’s wheel is how smooth the vehicle rides, even over rough roads. The smoothness is the result of the built-in Air Ride adaptive air suspension system. The system makes use of a central air pump that manages to both raise and lower the shock absorbers based on the road conditions.

The end result is that while the shock absorbers might be moving as much as four inches, the Escalade’s cabin remains smooth and steady. A multilink rear suspension and magnetorheological dampers also work in tandem with the Air Ride system to keep things nice and steady in the cabin.

“Combine the nicest interior from Cadillac with the optional air suspension and magnetorheological dampers, and the result is an exceptionally luxurious family SUV that can also tow your boat or horse trailer,” Connor Hoffman stated in the Car and Driver. 

All things considered, the Air Ride adaptive air suspension system is a remarkable bit of technology. It’s easy to understand why that would result in the Escalade having a high sticker price.

The diesel version

If you’re the type of person who loves the purr of a really great diesel engine, you’ll love that you can get the Cadillac Escalade with a diesel engine. The six-cylinder diesel engine has the distinction of being the most fuel-efficient option in its class. The EPA estimate is an impressive 23 MPG. It’s estimated that you should be able to coax the vehicle into providing you with about 27 MPG when driving on the highway.

While the engine does have the distinctive purr everyone connects to diesel engines, Car and Driver reported that they felt that the engine sound wasn’t overly noticeable while they were sitting in the SUV’s cabin. They were impressed with the diesel engine’s fuel efficiency. You can expect the vehicle to get about 21 mpg in stop-and-go traffic and about 27 mpg on the highway

In addition to providing you with some impressive power, the diesel version of the Escalade also has some serious pick-up and go, the estimated 0-60 mph time is 8.9 seconds. Not bad for an engine that is focused on power rather than speed.

Where the diesel version of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade is truly wonderful is when you need an SUV that can tow. Whether it’s a camper, a small horse trailer, or a bass boat, this vehicle can handle it. According to Car Indigo, the diesel SUV has a towing capacity of 8,200 lbs with a payload of 1,636 lbs.

Purchasing a 2021 Cadillac Escalade

If you dream of parking a 2021 Cadillac Escalade in your garage, beware; fulfilling your dream won’t be cheap. The base price is $76,195 and it rapidly rises from there. If you’re considering the diesel engine, you should plan on spending a minimum of $100,000. While that might seem like a lot of money, when you compare the price to a brand-new pickup truck and then compare all the features you’ll enjoy while driving the Escalade, the price doesn’t seem unreasonable at all!