What’s New For the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?
The Cadillac Escalade is one of the most popular full-size SUVs in America. However, it needs to continue to impress. For many, the Cadillac brand hasn’t delivered on high expectations in recent years. After a few redesigns in the lineup and some incoming EVs, is the Escalade worth buying again? Here’s what’s going to change with the 2023 Cadillac Escalade. What’s new, and how much more does the new Escalade cost?
There’s a new 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series
This year is the first time a V-Seris Escalade will be available. It’s a new trim level that sits atop the lineup, providing the most equipment at the highest price. Moreover, it’s a high-performance model with a more powerful engine than the rest of the lineup. According to Car and Driver, it is very likely to use the same 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 682 horsepower as the CT5-V Blackwing sedan, also in the Cadillac lineup.
In addition, the V-Series gets a blacked-out exterior appearance. Now, the mean-faced Escalade can look more menacing than ever before. Next, it has standard all-wheel drive, sports six-piston Brembo performance brakes, red-painted calipers, and a retuned air suspension for enhanced handling. That said, it’s no surprise that the Escalade V-Series will be the most expensive model in the lineup, starting at a whopping $152,490.
Outside of the new trim level, there are no significant changes to the Escalade lineup. However, as usual, every version of the full-size SUV is a little more expensive than last year.
2023 Cadillac Escalade trims and prices
For the new model year, almost every vehicle gets a slight price increase. This is no different for the Escalade, which is getting a little more expensive in every version. For example, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Luxury Base model started at $79,440. However, the new 2023 version of the same trim now starts at $82,590. That’s roughly a $3,000 increase, which you’ll find is common throughout the Escalade lineup. Even the pricier models, which start above $100,000, are more expensive for the 2023 model year.
| 2023 Cadillac Escalade trim | Price | 2022 Cadillac Escalade trim | Price |
| Luxury | $82,590 | Luxury | $79,440 |
| Premium Luxury | $91,390 | Premium Luxury | $88,290 |
| Sport | $94,390 | Sport | $91,290 |
| Premium Luxury Platinum | $108,890 | Premium Luxury Platinum | $105,840 |
| Sport Platinum | $108,890 | Sport Platinum | $105,840 |
| V-Series | $152,490 | N/A |
Optional packages for the new model year
According to Edmunds, it is assumed the same optional packages will carry over from the 2022 Escalade. Furthermore, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury unlocks access to many packages. They are the Touring, Performance, and Heavy-Duty Trailering packages. Additionally, a few other items are available as standalone optional selections.
Buying the Touring package gets you an adaptive air suspension and soft-close doors. Next, the Performance package adds an upgraded suspension, an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential, trailer hitch assist, and a trailer brake controller. Lastly, the Heavy-Duty Trailering package offers an upgraded cooling system, an auxiliary trailer camera, and a trailer tire pressure monitoring system.
A few notable standalone options include an adaptive air suspension, an upgraded Brembo brake system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and the Super Cruise automated driving system. We appreciate that these features are each available without forcing customers to buy a bundle at a much higher price.
What’s new with the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?
In conclusion, the only significant change to the 2023 Cadillac Escalade comes in the form of the V-Series trim. At the top of the lineup, it provides more luxury, better performance, and a much higher price. However, every trim level’s price is slightly higher than in 2022. Additionally, things like optional packages and extras remain the same as the previous version. For the most part, the 2023 Escalade is the same full-size SUV as it was before.
