2021 Cadillac Escalade

GM sent me their press 2021 Cadillac Escalade and not only did I get to review it for this tour, but I also got to drive it for an entire week and really put it to the test as a two under two mom. And I mean, I love her.

Exterior

Cadillac completely redesigned the Escalade for 2021 and it is beautiful and fresh. It shares a lot of DNA with the Chevy Tahoe so there are some similarities, but the fit and finishes are elevated like you would expect in a Cadillac. It has gorgeous 22” rims and beautiful chrome lines all over the exterior. I will say she does have a little bit of a squished nose. Like she ran into the wall. But, I mean, I love her. I’m in love. 

Front Row

Jumping into the driver’s seat it is clear Cadillac is all about driver’s comfort. Driving this car is an experience and the design of the interior is gorgeous. The door panel integrates chrome, wood and fabric together and it looks really good. The door cubby is extra  wide and offers a lot of storage space, but it’s not quite deep enough to fit my water bottle. One thing about the interior design that I’m not obsessed with is the beige floor. It is a beige cave and has been stressing me out. I don’t mind beige leather seats because I can wipe them off, but a darker floor would be really nice so I don’t have to worry about muddy shoes. 

The infotainment system is incredibly easy to use and the screens (yes, multiple screens) are integrated beautifully into the dash. They’re curved so I can see everything really well from the driver’s seat. And the second screen in front of the driver allows me to control things like my heads up display and odometer, and even has augmented reality that shows the road in front of me on the screen. The technology is insane. This car comes with everything: Alexa, rear entertainment and ambient lighting that makes me feel like I’m going to my highschool prom. And the sound system is insane. There are 36 speakers in here. You can jam. 

There are two cupholders in the center and a coin cubby that can be used as a third cup holder, which I like because as you know I’m starting a petition to make three center cupholders an industry standard. It has a wireless charger built in, but I don’t love that you can’t see your phone while It’s charging, but it does allow for more space for other things, like a cool box in the center console. Personally, I’d rather have more storage space than a built-in refrigerator, but it would be really great for keeping drinks, snacks and breast milk cold. There are also USB and USBC chargers up here. 

Second and Third Row

This car isn’t lacking much, if anything, and it definitely isn’t lacking space. There is so much room back here in the second row—way more than the Chevy Traverse, Ford Explorer or Subaru Ascent. It feels so much bigger. With the driver’s seat set for a tall driver there is still plenty of room back here for rear facing car seats. But let’s talk about the TV’s on the headrests. While they’re luxurious, they take up a lot of room, will likely become outdated, and impede on space for rear-facing car seats. We don’t need them. As far as second row amenities, there’s everything: USB outlets, decent side cubbies, leather back pockets, ceiling vents, heated seats, and two pop-out cup holders. But wait. There are no sunshades. Come on, Cadillac. 

To get into the third row, there is plenty of room in between the two captain’s chairs to walk through. If you don’t have car seats then you can press two buttons and the seat folds forward, giving you plenty of room to slip through, and I think a child could do it on their own. Also, the second row is on tracks so it can slide forward or backward to give more or less room to the third row passengers. Though, one important thing to note: if you go with the bench and you have car seats on both outboard seats there is no way to access the third row. So if you plan on using the third row often and have car seats, I’d go with the captain’s chairs. The third row also isn’t lacking space. With the second row pushed all the way back I still have knee clearance and I’m about 6 feet tall. And the middle seat is an actual seat, unlike in the Kia Telluride. But one major upset is there is no headrest for the middle seat, making it way more dangerous than the two outboard seats. The third row passengers not only have space, but also all the amenities they need like vents, lights and USBC outlets. 

Car Seat Set Up

There are 2 anchors for both captain’s chairs in the second row as well as tether anchors. The third row has tether anchors all the way across for 3 forward facing car seats, but there aren’t any lower anchors back there. Car seats will have to be installed with the seat belts. 

Trunk

The rear lift gate automatically pops up when you press the Cadillac logo—so cute! My Uppababy Vista fits great even with the third row up. I’m impressed by how much space there is and this isn’t even the extended length version of the Escalade. From the trunk, you can control the second and third row. Press a button and the seats automatically go up and down pretty quick, unlike the Lexus RX 350—I think I took a nap waiting for its seats to go down. There’s another USB outlet back here and a small extra storage place in the floor. But, again, I wish the interior wasn’t beige. I’m nervous my groceries are going to spill back here. 

Checking out the trims of the Escalade, it looks like the lower trim levels don’t include a lot of the safety features I think are important as a mom, like enhanced automatic emergency braking and lane change with side blind spot alert. I’d go with the Premium Luxury trim to get those extra safety features. 

I love this car. I felt like a celebrity all week driving it. It’s so comfortable—definitely more comfortable than my couch. Obviously Cadillac makes luxurious, beautiful cars, and the Escalade is no exception.