Is a comfortable SUV worth the poor fuel economy? Some drivers would probably agree, but you better get a Costco gas card before signing on the dotted line. One of the most comfortable luxury SUVs happens to be the 2023 Cadillac Escalade, but one version of this luxurious sport utility vehicle fails in the fuel economy area.

How much does a 2023 Cadillac Escalade cost?

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade has an MSRP range of $80,795 up to $151,090 for the regular body style with four-wheel drive. For the bigger version, the ESV, that ranges from $84,190 for the two-wheel drive version all the way up to $154,090 for the Escalade-V ESV with four-wheel drive. The good news is that no matter what option you select, the Cadillac Escalade is one of the most comfortable luxury SUVs that happens to get only 11 mpg. Cadillac never promised it would be fuel efficient, but it does deliver on the promise of high performance and power.

While the base 2023 Escalade gets 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, that is still below average for the class. Four-wheel drive also brings that down to 18 mpg on the highway. The previously mentioned Escalade-V is one of the most comfortable and luxurious options in all of Cadillac’s lineup. Still, it only gets 11 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway.

There is a pretty good tradeoff to that terrible fuel economy, though. That 6.2L V8 engine gets 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It also comes equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. There is a more fuel-efficient option available with the 3.0L Duramax Turbo Diesel. This version gets 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

What makes the Cadillac Escalade one of the most comfortable luxury SUVs?

Even if the 2023 Cadillac Escalade does not deliver on fuel economy, the Escalade and Escalade-V are some of the most comfortable luxury SUVs on the market. The interior is made with high-quality leather and wood finishes and even comes with a refrigerator in the center console.

The regular Escalade has 121 cubic feet of cargo room, while the ESV gets 142.8 cubic feet. That is an incredible amount of space for both passengers and cargo. Cadillac ensured the Escalade had room for seven passengers with space in all three rows. The ride is smooth and comfortable, as drivers might expect, and the newest version of the infotainment system is easy to move through.

Cadillac also revamped the exterior of all models for this year, and it looks it. The 2023 Escalade and 2023 Escalade-V have all the luxury and comfort that many drivers are looking for, but the fuel economy takes it down a few notches. While the most comfortable luxury SUVs of 2023 have many passenger-focused features, the smooth ride of the Escalade might make up for its lacking fuel economy.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade can tow more than the average SUV

Even though it lacks in fuel economy, that 2023 Cadillac Escalade can tow quite a bit. With two-wheel drive, the Escalade can tow up to 8,100 pounds with the standard V8. That goes down to 7,900 pounds with four-wheel drive, though. The available 3.0L turbo diesel can tow 7,900 pounds with 2WD and 7,700 pounds with 4WD.

The Escalade-V ESV is only available with the 6.2L supercharged V8 engine that gets an astonishing 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. Towing numbers are right at 7,000 pounds, with a maximum payload of 2,004 pounds.

If you are looking for this year’s most comfortable luxury SUVs, the Escalade and Escalade-V deliver on that promise. Fuel economy isn’t a strength of the V8 engines, but the base Escalade still could suit many drivers. It also made the list of best luxury SUVs for families, thanks to all of that extra comfort and space.