2021 Cadillac Escalade Interior

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade has an opulent and spacious interior, with ample cargo space and high-tech features that are easy to use.

• "The new interior of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade is the definition of pure luxury by an American standard, at least. … From the seats to the carpet, and headliner to door skins, nearly every inch of the interior is covered in fabric of some kind. If it's not fabric, it's metal or wood. There's very little in the way of visible plastic, which is astonishing." -- Truck Trend
• "One such element can be found in the Caddy's interior, which elevates it from nice truck to legitimate luxury SUV. In addition to the rich-looking materials, there's a curved OLED display that spans much of the dash." -- Car and Driver
• "Nearly everywhere else is leather of the highest grade we've seen in a modern GM product and plastic parts that mostly fit the price point and, crucially, are mostly unshared with lesser GM products." -- Motor Trend

Cargo Space

The 2021 Escalade has excellent cargo space compared with other luxury large SUVs. The standard Escalade has 25.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 72.9 cubic feet behind the second, and 121 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down. In the larger Escalade ESV, you’ll find 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 94.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 142.8 cubic feet with the second and third rows lowered. A hands-free power liftgate is standard.

• "There's a 68 percent increase in cargo space behind the third row. … Cadillac claims more cargo space in any seat up or down configurations than any other vehicle in its class." -- Automobile Magazine
• "There’s also a reasonable size third row with decent luggage space behind it or press a couple buttons to fold that third tow (sic) down and have ample space for luggage. … The Escalade is big is my point." -- Autoweek
• "There’s also 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row in the Escalade – up from 15.2 cubes and beating the standard Navigator’s 19.3." -- Autoblog

Seating

The three-row Cadillac Escalade seats seven people with the standard second-row captain's chairs or eight people when equipped with a second-row bench. Space and comfort are excellent in all three rows, including the rearmost seats, which have ample room for adult passengers.

Standard features include synthetic leather upholstery, heated and 12-way power-adjustable front seats, power-folding and heated second-row seats, driver's seat memory settings, a power-folding third row, and a heated and power-adjustable tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Options include genuine leather upholstery, quilted or semi-aniline leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and 16-way power-adjustable and massaging front seats.

For installing child safety seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the second-row seats.

• "The extra 10 inches of legroom for the third row and sliding second-row seats mean there isn’t an uncomfortable seat anywhere." -- Cars.com
• "The Escalade has tons of passenger space. … Rear legroom increases as much as 10 inches, depending on how far back or forward you slide the second-row seats. The second-row seats — captains chairs standard, a bench optional — also provide plenty of space." -- The Detroit Free Press
• "The variability in the seat adjustments is nice; you adjust lumbar, bolster, and massaging all with one dial next to the seat bottom and seat back adjustments. It’s all very tidy. And, obviously, it’s plenty spacious, too." -- Autoweek

Interior Features

Standard features in the 2021 Escalade include a 7.2-inch digital control panel, a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 16.9-inch touch-screen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. A 19-speaker AKG Studio stereo, wireless device charging, Bluetooth, two USB ports, navigation, a Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, and HD Radio are also included.

The Escalade's infotainment system is visually impressive, with brilliant graphics spread across a huge display. The system also has quick response times and is easy to use.

Other standard features include a household-style power outlet, proximity keyless entry, remote start, tri-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a universal garage door opener. Optional features include a panoramic sunroof, cabin air ionization, a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference surround-sound stereo, a center console refrigerator and freezer, and a rear-seat entertainment system with two 12.6-inch touch screens.

Standard driver assistance features include forward collision warning, front and rear pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking camera system, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a safety alert seat, a rear seat reminder, and General Motors’ Teen Driver system, which allows Escalade owners to encourage safe driving habits. This system’s key features include the ability to limit the audio volume and top speed for secondary drivers.

Optional active safety features include a head-up display, automatic parking assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, a rearview mirror camera, reverse automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic seat belt tightening, and night vision detection. Also available is the Super Cruise system, which can maintain a set distance from other vehicles and provide a hands-free driving experience on certain highways.

See 2021 Cadillac Escalade specs »

• "The digital dash is a work of art, frankly, and it’s backed by solid hardware to boot. It boasts instantaneous response to inputs, and the infotainment system is smooth and intuitive. … The only real learning curve is a side effect of the Escalade’s massive square footage of digital real estate." -- Autoblog
• "The entire infotainment system is responsive, intuitive, and easy to operate. … A rotary knob on the center console can also be used to control the main screen, a welcome touch for those who prefer physical switchgear. The imagery on the curved OLED displays—which are about as thick as a sheet of paper and twice as pixel-dense as a 4K television—is beautifully vibrant and clear." -- Automobile Magazine
• "This unprecedented amount of screen real estate makes for super impressive standard equipment, and these displays are far from just eye candy. Like GM's other recent infotainment systems, the one in this vehicle is superb, booting up quickly, responding immediately to inputs and never stuttering or lagging." -- CNET