2021 Cadillac Escalade Pricing Confirmed, Diesel Included

The first-ever diesel Escalade joins the SUV's powerful 6.2-liter V-8 in the engine lineup.

If you were wondering how Cadillac was going to position its new Duramax inline-six turbodiesel option—the first-ever oil-burner in an Escalade—in the luxury full-size SUV's hierarchy, we have some news for you: A Cadillac representative confirmed to MotorTrend that it's a no-cost option for the 2021 Escalade, as well as pricing for the all-new SUV overall.

That no-cost business means 2021 Escalade buyers will have an interesting choice when it comes to powertrains—and one that won't hit them in the bank account. They can opt for the revised 420-hp, 460 lb-ft 6.2-liter V-8, an engine we experienced in a ride-along in a 2021 Tahoe and described as "burly" and that makes "joyful noise(s)".

Or, they can choose the Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel, which makes considerably less horsepower (277 ponies) but the same torque figure—and more importantly, is "buttery smooth" as we experienced in the 2020 Silverado. The diesel is also quiet and eagerly torquey in its Chevy application, so much so that Features Editor Scott Evans feels like the smooth, refined, and quiet engine will match the laid-back character of the Escalade perfectly as-is.

More importantly, the Duramax will give owners a considerable fuel economy boost over the V-8, in addition to dispensing its pleasing torque characteristics. But we don't mean to throw shade on the 6.2, which gains clever Dynamic Fuel Management cylinder-deactivation tech to save some at the pump.

So, whichever engine you choose for your 2021 Escalade, you're likely to be satisfied—both have their strengths and weaknesses, but neither is an inferior choice. And since there's no price differential between them, either gas or diesel Escalades will start at $77,490 for two-wheel drive short-wheelbase models, a $1,000 increase from the 2020 model. The long-wheelbase ESVs will start at $80,490. All-wheel drive will be an additional cost on all trims, but that upcharge hasn't been released yet.

We're expecting other improvements from the Escalade beyond its engine bay, which we went into great detail about in our ride-along article. This includes better independent rear suspension, and on some trims magnetorheological dampers in combination with air springs for an ultra plush ride. The cabin is stunning, with its eye-catching curved OLED screen (an industry first) and even better materials, as well as enhanced Super Cruiser functionality. It seems like the Lincoln Navigator, a big luxury SUV with a lot of appeal, has a real fight on its hands.