The Cadillac Escalade, a flagship full-size SUV model, held its media showcase today at the "Ibex Studio" in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, announcing its domestic launch.
The model, which debuted in North America last July, is making a remarkably quick entrance into the South Korean market considering the launch schedules of previous Cadillac models from GM Korea. We already explored some of the changes in a previous post.
Since its first generation launch in 1998, the Cadillac Escalade has sold over 1 million units globally, proving its worth. With this minor change, the brand aims to solidify its position once again.
Before the unveiling, the event also introduced various electric vehicle lineups and competitive internal combustion engine models from GM Korea. Personally, I hope to see models like the GMC Sierra EV and Hummer EV in the domestic market soon.
I share the unveiling video of the new Escalade.
The cleanly organized front design, along with the newly added colors, felt fresh. The main color of this new model is indeed red... officially named "Radiant Red Tintcoat."
In fact, it’s not easy for a large SUV to pull off such a color, but the Escalade seems to manage it well. The vehicle boasts an impressive presence with wheels that measure a whopping 24 inches.
Depending on the trim, there are variations, but the new model definitely needs 24-inch wheels to truly stand out.
The vehicle's hefty build makes the large wheels feel less imposing, which is a bit of a surprise. The deep gray color also adds to its appeal.
For reference, the new Escalade offers a total of five exterior color options. These include the existing Black Raven and Crystal White Tricoat, as well as Galactic Gray Metallic, Agent Silver Metallic, and Radiant Red Tintcoat.
The gear lever has moved to the right of the steering wheel, creating a cleaner gear area. A mini monitor allows for various interior controls, along with a dial-type controller.
Although it's an option exclusive to the long-wheelbase ESV model, the second-row seats also feature a variety of controls through the LED display. The 14-way power seats in the second row come with heating, ventilation, massage, and lumbar support functions.
The ESV model, which has been the most popular, does have about a $20,000 difference in price from the base model. However, if you’re choosing a full-size SUV like the Cadillac Escalade, the long-wheelbase version maximizes presence.
For reference, the prices announced today for the Escalade are 166.07 million KRW (approximately $126,000 USD) and 188.07 million KRW (approximately $142,000 USD) for the ESV model (based on a 3.5% individual consumption tax). Although the price has increased by about 10 million KRW, the added value seems to exceed the price increase. 
Even with the third-row seats folded down, the trunk space remains impressively spacious. For reference, the trunk capacity for the base model is 722 liters, and it can reach a maximum of 3,413 liters when folding down the second and third-row seats. The ESV model starts with 1,175 liters and can expand to a maximum of 4,027 liters when folding both the second and third-row seats.
The powertrain features a 6.2-liter V8 gasoline direct injection engine paired with a 10-speed transmission, delivering a maximum output of 426 horsepower and a peak torque of 63.6 kg·m. While it may not promise great fuel efficiency, the dynamic fuel management system adjusts the engine cylinder pattern based on driving conditions. The average combined fuel efficiency is rated at about 6.4 km/L (for the base model).
The tail design presents a cleaner look compared to before. While there are no dramatic changes, slight differences in the LED tail lamp design make it stand out.
The most noticeable change comes from the front LED section. The illuminated front crest surrounding the Cadillac emblem and large radiator grille emits a soft light, while the newly applied vertical LED headlights effectively convey the Cadillac flagship model's essence.
The Escalade features power open/close doors that automatically open and close, and the previous AKG Studio Reference audio system remains intact. The Escalade ESV includes four additional speakers in the second-row headrests, bringing the total to 40 speakers.
You can’t overlook the comfortable ride quality. I fondly remember praising the comfort of the air suspension in the previous model's test drive.
This new model also applies 24-inch wheels while offering precise handling and cornering performance, thanks to the independent front and rear suspension. The Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 system, which analyzes over 1,000 precise road data points per second, adjusts the suspension damping in real-time, along with an adaptive air ride suspension.
That wraps up the launch sketch for the new Escalade. I expect there will be a separate test drive opportunity soon, and I will provide a detailed review at that time.
Keep following for more updates!
