Cadillac Escalade Generation 1 (1999–2010)

Cadillac Escalade Generation 1 (1999–2010) — production years, market prices by model year, NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, and live listings for sale on VehiSales.

Cadillac Escalade — body generations

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

Engines used in the Escalade

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

Cadillac Escalade fuel economy: every year & engine (EPA) →

Used Cadillac Escalade prices by year →

About this generation

The introduction of the Lincoln Navigator in the 1998 model year necessitated that General Motors be able to compete in the burgeoning American market for full-size luxury-type trucks. This generation was only a five-seat (two-row) SUV. Fearing the growing hegemony of the Navigator, the Escalade was rushed through the design process to reach dealers quickly. Essentially little more than a badge-engineered GMC Yukon Denali, the SUV's aesthetics were similar to the Denali, and the final vehicle was smaller than the Navigator.

The Escalade's underpinnings were borrowed from the Yukon Denali line, with the GMC logos on the center caps replaced with Cadillac's crest. The Escalade also used the same 5.7L Vortec 5700 V8 at as found in all other GMT400-based models, which was underpowered compared to the Navigator's and 5.4L InTech V8. All first-generation Escalades and Denalis featured Auto-Trac selectable 4×4. The 1999–2000 Escalade achieved city and highway based on U.S.

EPA test protocols. The first-generation Escalade (as well as its mechanically identical twin, the GMC Yukon Denali), was available only in the short-wheelbase four-door wagon configuration with few options. The GMC Yukon Denali was heavily differentiated from the standard Yukon models, with a unique front hood, fenders, grille, headlamps and bumper cover, color-keyed mirrors and door handles, a unique paint-matched roof rack and running boards, and lower paint-matched cladding all around with embossed emblems.

The only exterior differences for the Escalade (other than badging) were a slightly different grille treatment and smooth cladding with emblems placed on the sheet metal. The interior design, however, would differ significantly between the two models. Denali already added unique two-tone seats, genuine zebrano wood trim on the front-window switch panels and unique center console, chromed interior door handles, "Yukon Denali" embroidery on the door panels, a color-keyed steering wheel, and a unique instrument cluster versus the standard Yukon.

The Escalade would add additional real wood trim on all four-door panels and the steering wheel, imitation wood on the instrument panel, and "Cadillac" script on the console veneer, a color-keyed steering column, a leather-wrapped column shifter, and unique front and rear seats with perforated leather, a Cadillac crest embroidered on the headrests, and a storage compartment in the rear seat armrest. Both vehicles included a generous amount of standard equipment not available on other GM full-size SUVs, including 16-inch chrome-clad aluminum-alloy wheels, a Bose Acoustimass seven-speaker stereo (including subwoofer), an in-dash CD player and console-mounted six-CD changer, auto-dimming exterior and rearview mirrors with compass and temperature display, automatic headlamps with daytime running lights, front projector fog lamps, heated front and rear seats, rear-seat audio controls, a BCM (body control module) providing functions such as retained accessory power and interior illumination fade-off, a unique warning chime, a special coating used on the dashboard for a more premium appearance, front and rear Bilstein shock absorbers, and unique engine and transmission tuning for a more refined driving experience.

An OnStar in-vehicle telematics and communications system was optional on the Denali but standard on the Escalade, with the only other option for both models being a choice between twin rear barn doors or a split tailgate with rear-window wiper. A dealer-installed cellular telephone was also available with factory provisions in the center console. Colors available on the Escalade were Silver Sand Metallic, Sable Black, Aspen White, and Bordeaux Red Metallic.

All Escalades came with a Neutral Shale interior.

Source: Wikipedia — Cadillac Escalade — First generation (1998), CC BY-SA.

Recalls & complaints by year (NHTSA)

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

For sale right now

• 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT — $17,455 · 109,366 mi · York, PA
• 2009 Cadillac Escalade Ultra Luxury — $8,972 · 179,108 mi · Warminster, PA
• 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT — $18,499 · 95,890 mi · Ephrata, PA
• 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV — $4,500 · New Hope, PA
• 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV — $24,995 · 34,611 mi · Freeport, PA
• 2003 Cadillac Escalade Luxury — $6,695 · 194,320 mi · Norristown, PA
• 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV — $5,496 · 149,000 mi · Saylorsburg, PA
• 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV — $6,995 · 147,000 mi · Lititz, PA
• 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV — $4,445 · 172,814 mi · Bath, PA
• 2004 Cadillac Escalade Luxury — $4,995 · 198,638 mi · Bath, PA
• 2010 Cadillac Escalade Platinum — $13,485 · 158,400 mi · Quakertown, PA
• 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV — $10,900 · 135,806 mi · Gilbertsville, PA
• 2004 Cadillac Escalade Luxury — $7,384 · 175,167 mi · Harrisburg, PA
• 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV — $4,500 · 172,962 mi · Winchester, VA