2023 Cadillac Escalade-V Is A 682 Horsepower SUV Beast

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V is the first Cadillac SUV to wear the coveted V-Series badge. The automaker confirmed the arrival of a high-performance V-Series Escalade earlier this year, and rumors immediately began swirling about what could be under the hood of what Cadillac refers to as "the industry's most powerful full-size SUV." We all know the Escalade as a roomy, luxurious V8-powered conveyance. However, the V-Series badge has given Caddy's upscale SUV some bragging rights at the dragstrip.

"We do not deploy the V-Series designation lightly," said Rory Harvey, Global Cadillac Vice President. "The arrival of the 2023 Escalade-V results from a rigorous development program that allows this highly anticipated model to meet the criteria and capability thresholds established by nearly two decades of inspired V-Series performance." 

In addition, the new Escalade-V commemorates Cadillac's 120^th anniversary. Henry Leland established the Cadillac brand in 1902 and named the automaker after the founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. The first V-Series Cadillac was the CTS-V unveiled in 2004, and the ultra-high-performance Blackwing variants arrived in 2021 for the CT4-V and CT5-V.

What better way to celebrate 120 years of existence than by crafting the most potent yet opulent full-size SUV money can buy? The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V has a burly 6.2-liter supercharged V8 like the CT5-V Blackwing. This handbuilt motor features a bigger 2.65-liter R2650 TVS supercharger that spins to 13,500 rpm, pumps out 10 pounds of boost, and has four-lobe rotors to offer exhilarating performance. GM claims the blown mill outputs 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque, the latter arriving at 4,400 rpm.

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"With a power-to-weight ratio among the top in its class and advanced driving technologies to put that power to the pavement, the Escalade-V offers an engaging and energetic driving experience like no other full-size luxury SUV," added Jaclyn McQuaid, executive chief engineer, Cadillac Full-Size Trucks. And when you think about it, the Escalade-V has more power than its peers like the BMW Alpina XB7 (612 hp), Bentley Bentayga Speed (626 hp), Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge (592 hp), and Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, to mention a few.

We may be talking about a 6200-pound SUV, but the Escalade-V can accelerate like no other Escalade. Equipped with a full-time active all-wheel drivetrain (with an electronic limited-slip differential), and an updated 10-speed automatic gearbox, the Cadillac Escalade-V can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Furthermore, GM claims a quarter-mile run in 12.74 seconds at 110 mph based on initial testing. The AWD system continuously varies the torque feed between the front and rear wheels to maintain consistent grip.

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The Escalade-V has standard Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 with air ride adaptive suspension and bespoke V-suspension hardware to deliver sportier handling without penalizing ride comfort and on-road refinement. A new customizable V driving mode alters the engine and transmission shift points while lowering the ride height by nearly 20 mm (0.8 inches). Additionally, the Escalade-V has launch control for some track-induced driving fun.

Meanwhile, other performance-oriented hardware like six-piston Brembo front brakes (with signature red brake calipers), quad exhaust pipes, and unique 22-inch wheels are standard, too. Despite its performance merits, the Escalade-V can tow a maximum of 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg).

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V is a hotbed of groovy styling details and fancy equipment. It has a bespoke sports mesh grille and a distinctive rear fascia. Inside, it has semi-aniline leather upholstery (across all three rows of seats) in Black or Auburn, front massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, and Zebra Wood accents.

Also standard is a 38-inch curved OLED display that boasts twice the pixel density of a 4K television, said Cadillac, and features a 16.9-inch diagonal infotainment touchscreen display with natural voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto connectivity. Meanwhile, there's a 14.2-inch cluster display capable of projecting augmented reality when a navigation route is active. Driving tunes are courtesy of a premium AKG Studio Reference audio system with 36 speakers, 3D surround, and navigation rendering.

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Arriving later in the Escalade-V is GM's Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance technology. The system will include automatic lane changing, trailering, and proprietary features like adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warnings. 

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V will go on sale this summer 2022 in two trim variants: Escalade-V and Escalade-V ESV. Expect the base prices to start at about $149,990 (including destination fees).