Cadillac goes big on 2025 Escalade V
690hp V8, 55-inch screen, 24-inch wheels and 126 ambient lighting colours - the Escalade is back, baby
Good old Cadillac, it just can’t let a good thing go. With EV Escalade IQs around and the all-electric Lyriq launched, plus the end in sight for the V saloons, it seemed like the supercharged 6.2 V8 would be consigned to the history books. But no - for one last year, the 690hp Escalade V is on sale in the US, complete with 2025MY update. The diesel option was dropped due to lack of demand, so apparently enough people want a near-700hp Escalade for it to continue just a little longer.
Fundamentally this is the same car as launched in 2022; just like before, it’s even arrived without EPA fuel economy for the moment. But the 10-speed auto is carried over, the 2,885kg kerbweight is unchanged and it’ll still romp through the quarter mile in 12.74 seconds. In its final year on sale, the world’s silliest seven seater isn’t changing for anyone.
Where the 2025 V is different is in being more, well, Escalade. The standard wheels are now 24s, up from 22 before, filling out those cavernous arches a bit more convincingly. The interior, though with new seats and more carbon, is dominated by a 55-inch display, reaching from pillar to pillar, offering up an ‘immersive and personalised infotainment experience’. They’re not just bragging, either - a standard 19-speaker setup can be upgraded to 40 (!) as part of the Executive Second Row package. It’ll make your home seem underequipped. Indeed with HD streaming and browser compatibility on the screen, nobody will ever really have to leave. Staying inside also means they wouldn’t have to see the new-for-25 illuminated grille surround. Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 is said to keep V passengers ‘isolated from undesirable road surfaces while providing precise steering and feel’. While also able to tow more than three tonnes.
All things to all people, see. Family bus, quarter mile hero, perfect track day tow car. Alright, so an Escalade remains pretty silly, never more so than in V-Series guise. But people still want them, so Caddy will keep making them for as long as they can, supercharged V8 and all: more than a million Escalades have found homes in the past 25 years. However ridiculous, the Escalade V is still the most interesting SUV in the Caddy stable. Just not for very much longer.
The V is hilarious. The noise it makes is incredible - I'd recommend people to go on Youtube and listen to it. It's well made and very comfortable, and perfectly suited for US roads and for dropping the kids off at school...!
When it comes to the daily, it would have to be the sort of humungous gas-guzzler that just wouldn't make sense over here, but does over there.
I'd either go all-in on still being British and opt for a full-fat Range Rover or I'd embrace my new home and get one of these. I can't help but think I'd have to try it.
k what you think.Only slightly bigger than an LWB Range as well... (1 inch wider, 3 inches taller and 4 longer. Same length as a Cullinan). Basically the same weight too.
I do think people who cry these are "too big" for the UK just haven't seen them next to the more common equivalents in the UK. There's really not much in it externally.
Only slightly bigger than an LWB Range as well... (1 inch wider, 3 inches taller and 4 longer. Same length as a Cullinan). Basically the same weight too.
I do think people who cry these are "too big" for the UK just haven't seen them next to the more common equivalents in the UK. There's really not much in it externally.
The RR itself is borderline in parts of UK already imho.
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