Cadillac Escalade Esv Generation 2 (2021–2025)

Cadillac Escalade Esv Generation 2 (2021–2025) — production years, market prices by model year, NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, and live listings for sale on VehiSales.

Cadillac Escalade Esv — body generations

Vehicles within one generation share the same platform and body style.

Engines used in the Escalade Esv

Engine families this model shipped with, by NHTSA VIN build data — each links to every model that shares it.

About this generation

The fifth-generation Escalade debuted on February 4, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California, for the 2021 model year, with sales commencing in the fall of 2020. Although production of the 2021 Escalade was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GM had the vehicle scheduled to hit dealerships as planned. Dealers started taking pre-orders on April 23, 2020. To promote the Escalade, Cadillac launched a 3D visualizer showcasing the vehicle.

This visualizer lets the user interact with the Escalade and Escalade ESV by turning on the lights, changing the color, changing the rims, and looking at the interior. The fifth-generation Escalade is nearly two meters tall, and has a considerable blind spot (more than ten feet), one of the highest of popular cars. The fifth-generation Escalade is built on the GMT1XX platform, sharing it with the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL, and has a front grille design similar to the one used on Cadillac's XT crossovers.

This new platform gives the Escalade and its stablemates independent rear suspension, a first for the model. This change also allows the vehicle to increase its passenger and cargo space due to the more efficient design. In December 2019, Cadillac unveiled a teaser video that featured a 38-inch curved OLED screen dashboard that displayed the Cadillac crest (on the driver's side) and "Escalade" name (across the passenger side), making this version unique in the Cadillac roster.

This enabled Cadillac to boast of its "industry-first curved OLED screen technology" with "twice the pixel density of a 4K television." Augmented reality–enabled navigation was also introduced as a new feature available on the Escalade. On January 28, 2020, Cadillac introduced the "Super Cruise" feature, allowing for hands-free self-driving. This was followed on January 31 by the addition of the 3.0-liter LM2 inline six-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel engine as a no-charge option, badged as "600D" in line with the automaker's new naming convention.

The Escalade is the first diesel-powered Cadillac offered in North America since the 1985 DeVille, Eldorado, Seville and Fleetwood, which were available with an Oldsmobile diesel V8. On the outside, it is longer than the previous Escalade and has more passenger room (particularly for the second- and third-row occupants) and cargo space. There are five trim levels available on the fifth generation Escalade: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, and Sport Platinum.

The interior choices consist of eight trim options and four seating designs. The AKG audio technology system is new, featuring 36 speakers throughout the cabin. In November 2020, General Motors announced that the fifth-generation Escalade would be offered in Japan from 2021. It is available in standard length, two trim levels (Sport Platinum and Premium Luxury Platinum). Car and Driver magazine praised the model for its high-tech self driving program and impressive display, in addition to the available diesel that tested at on the highway.

Motor Trend also had positive comments on the Escalade, especially the cabin. They described the optional 36-speaker AKG sound system as "among the best car audio systems on the market, period" for its lifelike sound. Despite the positive comments, it came in second place to the Lincoln Navigator in a four-way comparison test released shortly after the release of the 2021 model. The 2021 Escalade ESV debuted online in April 2020, but its physical unveiling, including one scheduled for the New York International Auto Show, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It featured a unique fascia along with the passenger doors and wider exhaust pipes. In November 2020, GM announced that their large SUV lineup would be imported to China.

Source: Wikipedia — Cadillac Escalade — Fifth generation (2021), CC BY-SA.

Market by model year

Inventory and price data refreshed daily; last updated July 7, 2026.

Recalls & complaints by year (NHTSA)

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.