Plenty of American car brands exist, but many of them actually fall under General Motors‘ umbrella. And some of GM’s cars take notes from one another. That’s the case with the latest Cadillac Escalade. Here’s why the 2021 Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum is just a supercharged Chevy Tahoe. 

A look at GM’s three full-size SUV children

According to MotorTrend, GM offers Americans three relatively similar vehicles in the full-size SUV category. They’re the GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Cadillac Escalade. In fact, at one point, the Escalade was almost identical to the Yukon. Though that’s no longer the case, these three full-size SUVs still have plenty in common.

That’s mostly because they share a common platform. So these GM SUVs generally offer similar engine options and performance capabilities.

But customers tend to want variety, so GM has spruced things up. That’s why, despite their similarities under the hood, the latest Escalade is remarkably different from its siblings when it comes to interior features. Ultimately, it’s also why there’s a price difference in the tens of thousands of dollars. But the latest Escalade’s offerings justify that price jump. 

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum’s impressive interior

Off the bat, the Escalade’s premium trim costs almost $110,000, but because GM is touting it as the brand’s flagship, that price tag makes sense. For comparison, the 2021 Tahoe starts around $49,000, so the Escalade’s premium trim costs more than double the standard Tahoe. 

But as MotorTrend said, this premium Escalade boasts an extraordinary interior. That’s how GM is differentiating it from its siblings. The premium Escalade oozes luxury with leather seating and other high-quality materials.

Plus, it offers a futuristic and premium infotainment system. The centerpiece is a massive 38-inch OLED screen, bolstered by a huge 36-speaker premium sound system. You’ll also find a plethora of smart toys and tools, including an augmented-reality navigation system, a 360-degree sound stage, and, soon, a semiautonomous self-driving system. 

Differences between the 2021 Escalade and Tahoe

As the massive price difference between the premium Escalade and the Tahoe suggests, the latter SUV isn’t as well-equipped as the Caddy. Though they both offer the same 6.2-liter V8 engine, the Tahoe’s interior is simply functional when compared with the premium Escalade’s lavish interior.

For instance, both full-size SUVs seat up to eight people and offer plenty of cargo space, U.S. News reports. However, the standard Tahoe comes with cloth upholstery and far fewer infotainment features. U.S. News says the Tahoe comes with a decent-sized 10.2-inch touchscreen display and a six-speaker stereo system.

The Tahoe’s features are more than enough for the average driver. But the massive OLED screen and powerful stereo system in the Escalade prove it isn’t intended for the average driver. So, although this Cadillac SUV is related to the Tahoe, the Escalade is the rich sibling in the GM family.