The 2021 Cadillac Escalade starts its fifth generation and has undergone a thorough redesign. A new independent rear suspension, updated interior technology, attractive styling, and a new optional diesel-powered engine are part of its new generation. The 2021 Chevy Suburban also introduces an all-new generation. Let’s take a look at both.
Design
The Cadillac Escalade offers some impressive new changes for 2021. The longest and largest Escalade extends 8 inches and lowers its floor for an additional 10.1 inches of third-row legroom. Escalade delivers a maximum of 121 cubic feet of cargo room with its standard wheelbase configuration. Behind the third-row seats you will get 25.5 cubic feet of space, and with the third row folded down, you will get 72.9 cubic feet of space. It seats up to eight people with the second-row bench seat and it drops down to seven with optional captain’s chairs. It has increased its cabin luxury in its materials, craftsmanship, and comfort. Leatherette seats with Linear Tiger Wood trim are standard, as well as ambient interior lighting, automatic heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and 12-way power driver and front-passenger heated seats with lumbar function. You can choose from five distinct trims, with two choices of a Platinum trim: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, and Sport Platinum. Starting price for the Luxury trim is $76,195 and ranges to a starting price of $99,995 for the Sport Platinum.
The 2021 Suburban is notably larger, with more cargo and passenger space. It seats up to nine in this three-row large SUV; a front-row bench seat is optional on the LS trim. Second-row bucket seats in the Premier trim drops capacity to seven passengers. Its second and third rows have a couple more inches of legroom, and the cargo area expands by 23 cubic feet, having 145 total cubic feet. Its new independent rear suspension and design make the load floor flatter and lower. The Suburban also gets sliding second-row seats for the first time and an optional power-folding functionality for the rear seats that can be controlled from multiple places inside the SUV. The Suburban is offered in six trim levels: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country, with a starting price of $51,700 for the LS trim and ranging to $72,300 for the High-Country trim.
Safety and Technology
There are plenty of driver-assistance features that come standard in all trims of the Escalade. The standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, HD surround vision, front pedestrian braking, rear pedestrian alert, and a safety alert seat. All trims also come standard with a three-curved OLED displaying a 7.2-inch digital control panel, a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 15.9-inch touch screen infotainment system - all laying on top of one another to create almost 38-inches of combined digital housing. Standard is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability and a AKG Studio 19-speaker sound system.
You can feel secure on the road with the Suburban’s standard advanced safety features, while offering plenty of available advanced safety features. Standard advanced safety features included on all models are a rearview camera with hitch guidance, rear parking sensors, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, Teen Driver, and rear-seat alert. The Suburban offers plenty of standard features with a large touch-screen infotainment system and a user-friendly control layout. It’s simple menu structure responds quickly to inputs, but it is also accompanied by buttons and knobs to make it easy to adjust functions while driving. Standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, eight USB ports, HD radio, satellite radio, six speakers, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 120-volt household-style power outlet.
Power, Fuel, Pricing
All Escalades come standard with a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. A newly available Duramax 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine is an option and a 10-speed automatic transmission is standard with both engines. The turbo-diesel is estimated at 277 horsepower with the same torque output of 460 pound-feet. It now rides on an all-new platform with an independent rear suspension to help provide a smoother ride. Four-wheel drive is available on all models. A Performance Package is available on higher trims and includes Electronic Limited -Slip Differential, Magnetic Ride Control and Trailering Integration package. You will get an estimated 15/20 mpg city/highway with the rear-wheel drive and 14/19 mpg city/highway with all-wheel drive. The Escalade can tow between 7,400 and 8,200 pounds
The Suburban comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8 engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is available on all trim levels and standard on the Z71. The High-Country trim gets a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. An optional turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque is available on every Suburban trim except the Z71. The 2021 Suburban has a maximum towing capacity of 7,300. If you opt for a model equipped with the Max Trailering package, it will have a towing capacity up to 8,300 pounds. Fuel is estimated at 16/20 mpg in the city and on the highway with its 5.3-liter V8 engine and 15/20 mpg city/highway the 6.2-liter V8.
Conclusion
The newly redesigned 2021 Cadillac Escalade and the 2021 Chevy Suburban are sure to impress with their new style and performance. The Suburban features more cargo space and standard features and the Escalade comes standard with a more power engine.