Only a few American luxury automakers remain in business, notably Lucid, Lincoln, and Cadillac. The Lucid Gravity SUV is quick and powerful, which one might expect from an EV. Lincoln focuses on being premium, rather than building high-performance models. Only Cadillac brings a body-on-frame SUV with a supercharged V8 to a competition dominated by German and British performance cars.
Mercedes-Benz has the AMG GLS 63, Aston Martin offers the 717-horsepower DBX S, and Rolls-Royce even rules the party with its stately Cullinan. All that said, the Escalade-V is the last unapologetically American entry into a segment controlled by European brands.
All specs come directly from the manufacturers. Pricing is correct at the time of writing, and excludes destination, options, taxes, incentives, and other potential dealer fees. Automakers reserve the right to change prices at any time without notice.
Peak Escalade Means Paying Peak Prices
2025 Cadillac Escalade-V front 3/4 angle in red while parkedChristopher Smith/CarBuzz/Valnet
Excluding Cadillac’s actual Rolls-Royce rival, the Celestiq, which starts in the low-$400k range, the Escalade-V is the most expensive model Cadillac currently offers. The base 2027 Escalade-V starts at $169,300 before destination and options, while the long-wheelbase ESV begins at $172,300 for its added interior room.
That price is a hard pill to swallow when you consider its competition. The 2026 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 currently starts at $151,050 before options. A customer could add the Executive Rear Seat package, the Manufaktur custom interior package, and a Burmester 29-speaker 3D audio system, and you’d barely reach the Escalade-V’s base price.
However, both rivals’ prices pale in comparison to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It’s on an entirely different level of luxury and customization. The Rolls isn’t a direct rival to the Escalade-V or the AMG GLS 63. Cadillac isn’t afraid of the luxury industry’s big names, though, as proven by the Celestiq. That said, the Cullinan starts at around $429,600 before options, which helps put the Escalade-V’s price into perspective in this segment.
The Used Market Says They’re Not Worth That Much
2025 Cadillac Escalade-V side angle in red while parkedChristopher Smith/CarBuzz/Valnet
Despite being Cadillac’s most expensive SUV, it doesn’t hold its value all that well. According to CarEdge, the Escalade in general loses about 58% of its value after its first five years on the road. Of course, the V-Series model may hold value slightly better because it’s a more desirable performance variant, but real-world listings for used models show significant depreciation.
Using CarBuzz’s price trend data, we can see the 2023 Escalade-V (the year this variant debuted) is currently worth about $107,000 on average. That figure accounts for 70 listings posted around the country for a fair average, with the highest asking price reaching $151,440. Nicer examples often go to auction, where owners expect to sell for higher reserves. Online auction data shows the Escalade-V averages $124,067. This includes all model years from 2023 to today, so newer, lower-mileage examples are raising its overall average.
On that note, CarEdge also has data on the Mercedes-Benz GLS, which it found depreciates by 48% after five years. The AMG GLS 63 variant may hold value better, simply because it’s a more desirable high-performance model. Finally, iSeeCars is another trustworthy source, which finds the Rolls-Royce Cullinan will lose about 38.9% of its value in half a decade.
The CT5-V Blackwing Lends A Hand In Escalade’s Superiority
Engine of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade-VChristopher Smith/CarBuzz/Valnet
All three models are more powerful than any SUV driver needs, but they produce that power and handle differently. Cadillac uses an existing truck platform to build its body-on-frame model, then equips it with the same engine used in the CT5-V Blackwing. It’s a 6.2-liter V8 with a supercharger that boosts its output to 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels, which provide enough grip to launch the model to 60 mph from a standstill in a claimed 4.4 seconds.
It’s quick, but not as quick as you think. Cadillac quotes a sprint from zero to 60 mph taking 4.4 seconds. A few unofficial stopwatch sprints got me there in just under 5 seconds, so I don’t doubt the official time. Thing is, the Caddy’s force-fed V8 has a lot of mass to get moving…
– Christopher Smith, Senior Editor, CarBuzz (2025 Cadillac Escalade-V Drive Review)
Some characteristics we highlight in our drive review include its brutally loud exhaust, horrible fuel economy of 13 combined mpg, and aggressive road presence from sharper styling than the regular Escalade. It also handles fairly well for a 6,361-pound SUV; when in V-mode, steering is tighter, the six-piston Brembo brakes are more sensitive, and its suspension prevents too much body roll around corners.
The AMG GLS 63 is no slouch. It’s equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels, which is smooth enough for a claimed 4.1-second 0-60 mph sprint.
Then we have the Cullinan. This high-luxury SUV isn’t built for speed, but it’s not slow, either. Under the hood is a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 that makes 563 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, and the Black Badge variant pushes 592 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. The standard model can sprint to 60 mph in about 5.0 seconds before reaching a limited top speed of 155 mph.
Are The 6.2L V8’s Issues Enough To Steer You Toward German Luxury?
2025 Cadillac Escalade-V rear 3/4 angle in red while parkedCadillac
General Motors’ 6.2-liter V8 has major issues that have been plaguing trucks and SUVs, including the Escalade-V, for a few years. There have been lawsuits and recalls, but even the federal government is tired of hearing about it. GM’s recalls haven’t totally fixed the issues, and bad engines keep coming out of the factory. Nevertheless, buyers keep choosing Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac models like this one.
Even if your engine is free of factory machining debris, you’ll still be on the hook for luxury SUV-worthy maintenance costs. CarEdge data shows owners are paying an average of $4,803 in maintenance and repair costs over their first five years on the road. That’s $1,657 less than the average luxury SUV and beats both the Mercedes-Benz GLS and Rolls-Royce Cullinan by far.
The same source notes a 17.65% chance an Escalade could need a major repair, or a repair costing $500 or more, within its first five years on the road. That’s 2.9% better than similar vehicles in its segment.
Escalades Aren’t Cheap To Maintain, But Cullinan Costs Are Otherworldly
2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan blue exterior front 3/4 parked on docksRolls-Royce
CarEdge also says owners spend $5,940 to maintain and repair their GLSs in their first five years of service. AMG variants could cost slightly more, depending on how aggressively owners drive and treat their models. Harder driving could cause parts to break sooner, leading to higher yearly costs.
The Cullinan is a little harder to find averages for, since relatively few are on the road. That said, some dealerships publish their anticipated service costs; one dealer explains how an annual service, including an oil change, tire rotation, and inspecting countless other parts, could cost $4,000.
Cadillac Knows How To Make An Interior
2025 Cadillac Escalade-V interior view of the front seatsChristopher Smith/CarBuzz/Valnet
Our road tester explains how the engine might be what everybody wants to hear about, but the Escalade-V’s interior may be its best feature. JD Power just named Cadillac the most innovative brand selling cars in the United States, as it stands out in five main categories: comfort and convenience, connected vehicle, driver assist, electric vehicle, and smart vehicle. That said, the Escalade-V’s comfort and convenience are better than its bold performance.
It comes with a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen for the gauge cluster, infotainment system, and passenger entertainment, plus two standard 12.6-inch screens for the second-row passengers. Leather and carbon fiber adorn the interior. A 36-speaker AKG surround-sound audio system is standard, along with so much more.
In A Segment Filled With German Luxury, This American Makes A Good Point
2025 Cadillac Escalade-V Interior view of the dashChristopher Smith/CarBuzz/Valnet
The AMG GLS 63 is just as luxurious, with its heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, among plenty of other features too long to list. Plus, we’d need a whole separate article to write about the Rolls-Royce Cullinan’s features. Nevertheless, the Escalade-V’s pure American excess is exactly why you should be considering it. A GLS might blend into the crowd, while the Cullinan costs more than twice as much as the Escalade-V. Choosing the Cadillac means having more eyes on you, as your SUV sounds like a Corvette rumbling, popping, and banging when you let off the accelerator.
Sources: Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, CarEdge, iSeeCars, Classic.com
