Given we’ve already seen the 2025 Chevy Suburban and the 2025 GMC Yukon was just spotted sans-camo, it’s no surprise that the 2025 Cadillac Escalade is also being updated. Riding on the same “T1” platform as the Chevy and GMC, the Escalade continues to be the luxxed-up sibling of the trio. But what do you do when the others are… also pretty nice?
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade and its siblings are receiving what Cadillac calls a “MCM,” or a Mid-Cycle Major refresh. Normally they’d use the term “Mid-Cycle” for a facelift that encompassed the basics, maybe updated bumpers, wheels, and dashboard tweaks. In this case, though Cadillac updated enough hardware to consider the 2025 Escalade more than a simple facelift. Here’s what they did.
It Has Power Doors
We spent a lot of time discussing this at the product briefing, and for good reason. All four doors are now power operated, and the driver’s door will open as you approach the 2025 Escalade with the key fob on certain trim levels. Pressing the brake pedal closes the driver’s door. The driver can control all four doors using the new “command center” touchscreen that sits below the air vents
Each door is also controlled by pulling the exterior or interior door handle slightly. Cadillac says they all have sensors embedded in the door handles to ensure the door doesn’t exuberantly smack into a wall, car, or other object in a tight space. In those cases, the door will only open so far, and you can open it further by hand if you really need to squeeze.
Neat.
The Dashboard is One Giant Screen Now
Mimicking the upcoming all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ, the 2025 Escalade gets a very similar dashboard design. That means a “55-inch” screen that stretches from A-pillar to shining A-pillar. I use quotes because the display is actually made up of two screens, one 35-inch screen for the driver and center of the dashboard, and a second 20-inch unit for the front passenger.
Yes, the trend of front passengers somehow needing more pixels in their face is here. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer was one of the first on the “oops, all screens” trend and now we’re seeing Lincoln, Audi, and Cadillac all move this way for some nonsensical reason. Despite Cadillac claiming the passenger-side screen is polarized, so the driver cannot see it in Reverse or Drive, I’m still unconvinced that anyone wants these extra screens. Don’t passengers have smartphones and tablets if looking at the scenery or engaging with their fellow companions is just too much?
Again following the Escalade IQ’s interior design, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade ditches physical climate controls in favor of the “command center” as mentioned above. It’s Yet Another Screen, one Cadillac claims features persistent climate controls while otherwise adapting to the driver’s needs. In Park, it’ll show controls for the power doors, for example, but if you go to enter a navigation destination, a keyboard appears. I’m eager to try it for myself when these Escalades hit fleets, but I’m not convinced that everything-is-screen is the answer.
Steering Wheel ‘Buttons’ are Haptic
We get a new steering wheel in the 2025 Escalade, one that mimics what the Lyriq, Celestiq, and Escalade IQ all have. It’s a fine wheel, having sampled it myself during a week in a 2024 Cadillac Lyriq, but the buttons are indeed not-buttons. Instead, Cadillac uses touch sensors and haptic feedback, like your iPhone, to simulate a button press.
Volkswagen did this and fumbled it so spectacularly that they redesigned their steering wheel due to constant bad press. Cadillac’s implementation has been, for me, a better experience so far. However, I still question how this benefits the driver over some actual buttons. At least the volume controls – on the wheel and on the dashboard – are knobs.
Diesel is Dead, More Escalade V -Series are Being Built
Citing a low take rate, Cadillac will no longer offer the inline six-cylinder turbodiesel engine on the 2025 Escalade. The standard 6.2-liter V8 remains as the only engine, making the same 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft as it has in the current model.
For those who need an absolutely absurd variant of Escalade, there will be a 2025 Escalade V-Series and Cadillac is building more of them than they have in years past. The supercharged 6.2 was stuffed under the hood for the 2023 model year and has apparently been enough of a success to not just keep it around, but allocate more production capacity to the shrieking, rumbling, 682 horsepower brick. I dig it.
The Colors Are Good, Inside and Out
Cadillac is offering three new paint colors for the ’25 Escalade, including the Deep Sea Metallic shown here that is vaguely reminiscent of the GMT800-era Riptide Blue. Aegean Stone and Latte Metallic join the palette as well. Inside, Cadillac has added a Renaissance Red leather that frankly, from the photos, looks stunning. If your entire home is painted Agreeable Gray, Cadillac is also offering a Jet Black/Sheer Gray interior that looks nice, if a bit subdued.
Keep in mind, I have a magenta wall in my condo and my commentary on colorways is sometimes a bit out there.
Otherwise, More is Still More
Luxury-via-features is nothing new and the 2025 Escalade somehow offers even more than last year. The Executive Second Row package amps the AKG sound system’s speaker count from an already-wild 36 to 40 speakers. It also adds stowable tray tables, a seatback-mounted screen (yay, pixels) for each second row occupant, dual wireless phone chargers, and massaging second row seats.
GM’s phenomenal SuperCruise is standard on every 2025 Escalade, and a full-color heads-up display is standard on all but the Premium trim. Night vision is available on the Platinum and V-Series.
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade will go on sale this fall in both shorty standard-wheelbase and extended ESV wheelbase models. Pricing has not yet been announced.