As if life weren’t expensive enough these days, it looks as though the 2027 Cadillac Escalade is going to start at more than $100,000 for the first time in its nearly 30-year history. According to an official GM order guide, the full-size luxury SUV is doing away with its base “1SA” model, leaving the Luxury 2WD as the value leader of the group. Although the automaker hasn’t released prices for the upcoming model year, the 2026 Cadillac Escalade had a base price of $93,995 for the 1SA 2WD, while stepping into the Luxury trim meant spending at least $104,995.
Base Trim Engine
6.2L EcoTec3 V8 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
10-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
420 HP @5600 RPM
Base Trim Torque
460 lb.-ft. @ 4100 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
15/19/17 MPG
Infotainment & Features
9.5 /10
A Six-Figure Fashion Statement
In addition to the demise of the base trim, the 2027 order guide shows that the Luxury model will continue to offer the buyer’s choice of two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, as will the black-accented Escalade Sport. However, the top two trims, Platinum Luxury and Platinum Sport, will have four-wheel traction as standard, meaning warm-weather states are gonna have to pony up a little more for their flagship ‘Slades.
2025 Cadillac Escalade-VChristopher Smith/CarBuzz/Valnet
For now, all-wheel drive is a $3,000 option on every 2026 trim except the hot-and-heavy Escalade V, which relies on automatic all-wheel drive to keep its 682-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under control.
“The 2027 Escalade lineup has been simplified to align with customer demand, and yes, the 1SA and 2WD Platinum Sport/Luxury are no longer available.”
–Statement from Cadillac
Cadillac confirmed that the 1SA and the two rear-drive Platinum trims would indeed be removed from the lineup for 2027, but the automaker wasn’t ready to announce pricing for its newest Escalade. We can’t imagine the luxury SUV is going to get any cheaper, with prices unchanged (or perhaps even slightly increased) from 2026 levels. The MSRP for the outgoing Escalade is detailed below, as well as the 2027 trim and model lineup.
Cadillac Escalade Pricing*
2026 Escalade
2027 Escalade
1SA
$93,995 (RWD)
$96,995 (4WD)
Discontinued
Luxury
$104,995 (RWD)
$107,995 (4WD)
Pricing N/A
Sport
$105,595 (RWD)
$108,595 (4WD)
Pricing N/A
Platinum Luxury
$122,795 (RWD)
$125,795 (4WD)
RWD discontinued
4WD pricing N/A
Platinum Sport
$123,295 (RWD)
$126,295 (4WD
RWD discontinued
4WD pricing N/A
V-Series
$170,895 (AWD)
Pricing N/A
*incl. destination
Is The Escalade Now The Most Expensive Luxury SUV?
The 2026 Cadillac Escalade undercut its primary rival, the 2026 Navigator, by $895. That said, Lincoln cut prices for the 2027 Navi by a couple grand, meaning it now starts at $92,890 instead of $94,890. If the loss of the Escalade 1SA is indeed accurate, that could mean that the Caddy may be at least $10,000 more expensive than the Navigator for 2027, a number that may be hard for some domestic luxury shoppers to swallow.
Ditto those willing to look at import marques. Despite a very heavy refresh for the 2027 model year, the Mercedes-Benz GLS is expected to start at less than $100,000. The BMW X7, meanwhile, starts at $89,050, and the Infiniti QX80 is cheaper still at $87,835. Whether Cadillac shoppers will be willing to pony up an extra 20 large for the Escalade compared to some of its rivals remains to be seen.
Related
Driven: 2025 Cadillac Escalade Is Still The Most Important Full-Size Luxury SUV
Cadillac wants to be the “Standard of the World” again, and the Escalade is proof.
The biggest Caddy does have a lot going for it, however. The 2026 model can tow up to 8,100 pounds, a number we don’t see changing for 2027. That gives it more trailering capability than either the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS (7,700 pounds) or the 2027 BMW X7 (7,500 pounds), although the Navigator and QX80 beat it out with 8,700- and 8,500-pound ratings, respectively. What those full-size SUVs can’t match is the Escalade’s impressively crafted interior, which is free of any chintzy squeaks and rattles and features a useful 55-inch curved display spanning the width of the dash.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
The Cadillac Escelade is a popular SUV option for US customers.Cadillac
For the average Escalade shopper, a $10,000 jump in base price is equivalent to about $1,500 extra on something like the Hyundai Venue or Chevrolet Trax – inconvenient, but probably not a dealbreaker for those who want the prestige and panache of the flagship Cadillac. That said, fleet customers might feel the pinch if GM fully discontinues the 1SA model, as the extra cost of the Luxury trim could add hundreds of thousands of dollars to a limo company’s expenses. We know Cadillac will close the base trim to retail sales, but one company representative couldn’t confirm if it would still be offered to fleets.
Related
Driven: 2025 Lincoln Navigator Puts American Luxury Back On Top
Lincoln’s flagship SUV no longer wants to play second fiddle to the Escalade.
Source: General Motors via Car and Driver
