The days of getting into a new Cadillac Escalade for less than $100,000 are officially over.
For 2027, Cadillac has dropped the entry-level 1SA trim from the Escalade lineup, pushing its flagship SUV even further upmarket. And at the opposite end of the range, things get considerably more expensive. Load up an Escalade V-Series ESV with every available option and the price climbs to nearly $200,000.
Cadillac’s 2027 configurator confirms just how far the Escalade has moved beyond its traditional role as a big luxury family SUV. In fully loaded V-Series form, it now sits firmly in territory occupied by some of the world’s most expensive and powerful luxury SUVs.
The 2027 Cadillac Escalade Is Getting More Expensive
The range-topping Escalade V-Series ESV starts at $175,195, or roughly SAR 656,981, including the $2,895 destination charge.
That figure is only the starting point.
Black Raven is the standard no-cost exterior color, while Radiant Red Tintcoat and Vibrant White Tricoat each add $1,325 to the price.
Then there is the $5,200 Onyx Package, which brings 24-inch black wheels, a black illuminated Cadillac badge, and gloss-black Escalade lettering.
Buyers looking to give rear passengers the full luxury treatment can add the $7,500 Executive Second Row Package. It brings massage and ventilation functions to the rear seats along with wireless smartphone charging.
A few smaller extras can push the price even higher, including a $195 rear bumper protector, a $135 windshield sunshade, and a $799 mobile service package. Cadillac also offers an eight-year extension for Super Cruise at $3,000.
Tick all those boxes and the final price reaches $193,349, equivalent to approximately SAR 725,058.
That is serious money for an Escalade, but this is also far from an ordinary Escalade.
A Supercharged V8 Still Does The Heavy Lifting
Under the hood, the Escalade V keeps one of its biggest attractions: a supercharged 6.2-liter V8.
The engine produces 682 horsepower and 885 Nm of torque, giving this enormous luxury SUV the kind of performance figures normally associated with much smaller machines.
Power goes through a 10-speed automatic transmission and reaches all four wheels through a full-time all-wheel-drive system.
It is an unapologetically American formula. A huge SUV, a huge engine, plenty of luxury, and enough power to make its size seem almost irrelevant once you put your foot down.
ArabGT’s Take
Cadillac dropping the cheapest Escalade while allowing the V-Series ESV to climb toward $200,000 says plenty about where the company sees its flagship SUV today.
The Escalade is no longer simply competing as a larger and more luxurious American SUV. At these prices, Cadillac is putting it into the same conversation as machines such as the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, Mercedes-AMG GLS 63, and Range Rover SV.
What makes the Escalade V particularly interesting is how different its approach remains. Its supercharged V8, imposing dimensions, and unmistakable soundtrack deliver a distinctly American take on high-performance luxury at a time when Cadillac itself is moving deeper into electrification with the Escalade IQ.
For buyers who still want the noise, character, and excess of a supercharged V8 in their luxury SUV, the Escalade V is becoming an increasingly rare kind of machine.
What Do You Think?
Would you spend around SAR 725,000 on a fully loaded Cadillac Escalade V-Series ESV with its 682-horsepower supercharged V8, or would you choose a European luxury SUV at the same price?
Share your thoughts through the ArabGT app, available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play, and join the ArabGT community of car enthusiasts across the Arab world.
