Refreshed 2025 Cadillac Escalade Features 55-Inch Dash Display

August 17, 2024

Chris Clonts

Amid its constant rollout of new battery electric vehicles, Cadillac today announced a refreshed and tech-laden 2025 version of its flagship internal-combustion SUV, the Escalade.

And in just a few months Cadillac will launch the all-electric Escalade IQ.

The showstopper of an array of design and interior improvements is a 55-inch diagonal display that runs the width of the dashboard. Part of that display, a 25-inch diagonal area, is reserved for items the passenger can access and control.

Asserting that the Escalade has always been known for craftsmanship, technology and performance, John Roth, vice president of Global Cadillac, said it is the standard-bearer for full-size luxury SUVs. “Escalade … has continuously raised the standard of full-size SUV luxury since it was introduced 25 years ago,” he said, adding that it is “the best-selling luxury full-size SUV in North America since 2014 and has sold more than 1 million units globally.”

On the outside, the 2025 Escalade inherits lighting technology from the coming Escalade IQ, while other details come from the design language common to Celestiq and Lyriq EVs. Thin and bright horizontal signal lamps are more cohesive with the iconic vertical LED daytime running lights and headlights. A larger grille is available in three patterns depending on trim level. Adding more visual effects after dark are an available lighted brand crest and LED lighting around the grille.

At the rear, the crest has been repositioned slightly and trim below the window has been simplified. Revised taillights now include a second vertical LED element. Cadillac rounds out the exterior changes with available 24-inch wheels, the largest ever offered on the Escalade, and power open-and-close doors.

On the inside, the seating surfaces still feature the quilted and perforated surfaces that Cadillac is known for. An available Executive Second Row package includes stowable tray tables, 12.6-inch diagonal personal screens, a rear command center, dual wireless charging pads, massaging seats and speakers in the headrests. Ambient lighting can be personalized in 126 colors and over two lighting zones. The V-series features a (real) carbon-fiber, performance-focused interior.

Martin Hayes, chief engineer for the 2025 Escalade, said the model has always been the brand’s technology flagship, “starting with the 1999 Escalade that offered the safety and convenience of OnStar hardware as standard equipment. The 2025 Escalade features the best technology Cadillac has to offer,” he said.

Among the highlights are the previously mentioned enormous pillar-to-pillar curved display. It includes voice control, navigation, an app store and more, including available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. What else?

• Power- and flat-folding third row.
• AKG Studio 19-speaker auto system standard, and an available 36-speaker system (40 speakers with the Executive Second Row package).
• Standard Super Cruise driver assistance with a three-year complimentary subscription to OnStar Super Cruise. A paid subscription is available after that.
• Available 5G Wi-Fi hotspot capability that connects through OnStar.
• Passenger entertainment options including HD streaming and browser compatibility, meaning users can log into the services they already subscribe to at home.
• Available night vision that is standard on V-Series and Platinum trim levels.
• Full-color head-up display is standard for Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sports Platinum and V-Series trims.

The 2025 Escalade is still powered by a direct-injected 6.2L V8 that makes 420 hp (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque. It is mated to a 10-speed Hydra-Matic transmission. The Escalade-V is powered by a supercharged version of the same engine that makes 582 hp (508 kW) and 653 lb-ft (885 Nm).

Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport Platinum and V-Series trims are equipped with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and Air Ride Adaptive Suspension.

All Escalades receive Cadillac’s suite of standard active safety and driver-assistance systems.

Production of the 2025 Escalade will begin later this year in the Arlington, Texas, plant that is celebrating its 70 th anniversary. Pricing will be announced just before the model hits North American dealerships.

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