2025 Cadillac Escalade Gets A “Mid-Cycle Major” Makeover

The Cadillac Escalade gets an update for 2025, but it’s more than what you’d normally expect, mid-cycle. Along with the requisite tweaks to exterior and interior styling, it adds an assortment of new tech features, including power-operated doors and a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar digital display borrowed from the new, all-electric Escalade IQ. Here’s a closer look.

Coming up on four years since the full-size flagship SUV’s last makeover, the Cadillac Escalade is due for some upgrades. But what comes to market later this year can be thought of as a “mid-cycle major” update, Caddy officials suggested during a recent background briefing.

And many of these changes – including a new, 55-inch digital instrument panel – bring the familiar, gas-powered Escalade more in line with the all-electric Escalade IQ also making its debut later this year. It also adds some luxury details, including doors that can open and close with the touch of a button

“The 2025 Escalade continues the design story introduced in the 2021 Escalade, but with thoughtful and dramatic updates that showcase the best of what Cadillac has to offer,” said Vicente Beire, lead designer, 2025 Cadillac Escalade.

Escalade meets Escalade IQ

While there’ll still be plenty of differences between the classic Escalade and the all-electric Escalade IQ, they’ll be a bit more in sync when it comes to design this year.

For one thing, the classic model adopts IQ’s new vertical headlights and daytime running lamps. And the gas model also adds a standard illuminated Caddy crest badge on the grille. The grille surround also gets illuminated on upper trims.

Inside, all versions of the fifth-generation Escalade adopt the IQ’s curved, pillar-to-pillar digital instrument panel which includes a screen for the front-seat passenger. That part of the display is polarized so it can’t be seen by the driver when the SUV is in motion.

Other design updates

Beyond the new headlights, the 2025 Escalade gets new fascia and grille designs, with unique design details for each of its trime packages. That includes carbon fiber elements for the V-Series model.

There are new, 22-inch wheels and tires, as well as 24s, the biggest ever offered on the flagship SUV.

Inside, there’s a new steering wheel with a “cross-car” design meant to emphasize the width of the big sport-utility vehicle.

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Upgraded tech

As one would expect of a modern flagship, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade adds plenty of new technology.

The pillar-to-pillar digital dashboard is the most readily apparent, but another notable features for 2025 is the addition of new power-operated doors. Depending upon how an owner sets the system up, the driver door can open automatically as soon as someone with a keyfob approaches the vehicle. Other doors can be opened or closed automatically, either by tapping the handles or using a virtual button on the interior display.

A new version of the AKG Studio audio system offers anywhere from 19 to as many as 40 speakers with the optional Executive package. Like the IQ model, the 2025 Escalade now features Google built-in technology, including a voice assistant. But the gas model retains Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – both of which are dropped on the EV. There’s also Amazon Alexa functionality.

All Escalade models now come standard with the hands-free Super Cruise system – and three years of free service. The latest version is capable of automatically passing a slower vehicle on designated roads. And parent General Motors is currently upgrading Super Cruise so it will soon be able to operate on up to 750,000 miles of U.S. and Canadian roadways.

The 2025 Escalade gets upgraded to 5G and can stream video to the passenger screen while adding WiFi hotspot capability.

Powertrain

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade carries over the SUV’s current 6.2-liter V-8. It makes 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque in standard trims. For the V-Series package, however, the big 8-banger gets supercharged, with the specs jumping to 682 hp and 653 lb-ft.

One notable change for 2025 is the elimination of a diesel option for the Escalade due to lackluster sales.

All models feature a 10-speed automatic and offer an option of rear or all-wheel-drive.

As before, Escalade models feature magnetic ride control dampers and an air suspension.

Pricing and availability

Potential buyers will have to wait a short while for some key specs, such as fuel economy. Considering the powertrain options are carried over, however, we can expect little to no change in the current ratings. The standard engine now gets 14 mpg city, 19 highway and 16 combined with rear drive. The highway number drops to 18 on AWD models. The V-Series dips to 11 city, 16 highway and 13 combined.

Pricing also has yet to be released. The current model starts at $81,895. But the figures could go up considering all the new technology on the 2025 Escalade.

Production will start late this year. And Cadillac said it will increase availability of the Sport and V-Series trims to match current demand. Look for the first of the 2025 models to reach U.S. showrooms by late this year. The Escalade also will be offered in a number of overseas markets.