The name Cadillac has been synonymous with luxury for decades. The Cadillac Escalade is one of the priciest models in the brand’s lineup, and its most expensive production vehicle to date is about to hit the market.

The 2021 model year saw the first Escalades to hit the six-figure mark, with some models exceeding $100,000. The newest and beefiest version of Cadillac’s luxury full-size SUV, the Escalade-V, will sell for more than $150,000. For the same amount of money, you can buy a house in some parts of the country. Let’s look at the Escalade-V and see if it justifies the steep price.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V’s luxurious interior

The interior of the Escalade-V is cavernous and features some new and exciting additions to the Escalade Platinum trim, including Zebrawood accents and semi-aniline leather on all three rows. The front seats feature power massage and a heated steering wheel. 

A standard curved OLED with 38 inches of total diagonal display and twice the pixel density of a 4K television are among the new technological features. Augmented Reality displays a real-time image of what is in front of the vehicle on the 14.2-inch-diagonal center cluster display. When a navigation route is active, directional information is displayed on the screen. 

It will also come with Super Cruise. Super Cruise is the first truly hands-free driver assistance technology in the industry. It employs real-time cameras, sensors, and GPS, as well as detailed LiDAR map data, to provide drivers with confidence while driving hands-free on more than 200,000 miles of compatible roads in the United States and Canada. 

The 2023 model also has some muscle under the hood

The Escalade-V is the most powerful full-size SUV on the market. The supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine rated at 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which is calibrated for Escalade-V’s full-time active all-wheel drive system. All this translates to an estimated capability of 0 to 60 mph in under 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.74 seconds at 110 mph based on initial GM testing. 

For comparison, the standard Escalade can deliver about 425 hp. Additionally, this will be the last gas-powered vehicle in the V series. However, EV technology is growing by leaps and bounds, so electrification doesn’t necessarily mean you have to compromise on power. For example, Tesla says the X Plaid is the most powerful and fastest-accelerating electric SUV in the world, with a 163 mph top speed and 0 to 60 mph in only 2.5 seconds.

When can you buy a 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V?

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V made its debut on May 11, 2022, and will be available for purchase later this summer. Cadillac released a short video featuring the sound of the Escalade-V’s engine to get consumers excited about the first supercharged Escalade to be offered since it was first introduced more than two decades ago. 

This is the first time an Escalade has worn the brand’s “V” badge, which denotes exceptional performance. Expectations are high for the newest version, but Cadillac isn’t accepting pre-orders.

In fact, GM Authority announced that the Escalade-V will not have a reservation program. Cadillac will instead allow dealers to handle orders as they normally would. 

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V may be expensive, but you will certainly get what you pay for. Cadillac has enhanced its luxury standards and added a little extra to this historic vehicle. With more power than ever and more features, the Escalade-V is pushing the luxury envelope to its limits.