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2027 Cadillac Escalade drops its base model and rear-drive Platinum trims

Pickup Truck + SUV Talk Staff

Pickup Truck + SUV Talk Staff

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November 9, 2026
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Blue 2026 Cadillac Escalade parked outside a home
2026 Cadillac Escalade (Photo courtesy of General Motors, LLC)

The 2027 Cadillac Escalade order guide removes the previous base model and rear-wheel-drive Platinum configurations, while adding a digital-key feature that still requires a future software update. The same changes appear for the longer Escalade ESV.

For shoppers, the important question is which configuration replaces the one they had in mind. These are updates to the gasoline-powered Escalade family, separate from the electric Escalade IQ and IQL.

The base model and two-wheel-drive Platinum entries disappear

Blue 2026 Cadillac Escalade parked outside a home
2026 Escalade shown for reference. The 2027 order guide changes the available trim combinations. GM photo.

Cadillac’s 2027 Escalade highlights delete the 1SA base-model entry and the two-wheel-drive Platinum Luxury and Platinum Sport configurations. The ESV guide lists the corresponding deletions.

That does not mean every rear-wheel-drive Escalade disappears. The deletion is specific to those Platinum entries. It does mean that a buyer comparing an outgoing model with a 2027 should match the actual trim and drivetrain, rather than assume the least-expensive configuration or a preferred Platinum setup carries over unchanged. The deletion list alone does not establish a dollar-for-dollar price increase.

Digital key has a software condition, and colors change

Red Cadillac Escalade-V viewed from the front
Escalade-V file photo shown for reference, not an illustration of the new 2027 Sandstone finish.

Cadillac Digital Key is new in both guides, with an explicit requirement for a future software update. Treat that as planned functionality until it is demonstrated on the vehicle you are buying. The guide does not provide an activation date.

Sandstone joins the paint choices at extra cost, except on Platinum models. Magnus Metal Frost and Aegean Stone are removed. The dealer-installed Onyx Lite Package is listed for Sport, while its V-Series application is deleted. A dealer-installed trailer tire-pressure monitor is also new. Package availability should be checked against the specific trim and wheelbase.

Two V8 choices, with different towing limits

Illustration of the supercharged Cadillac Escalade-V V8 engine
Cadillac’s simulated image of the 2023 Escalade-V engine, shown for reference. The 2027 V retains the listed 682-hp output.

Cadillac’s 2027 specifications list a 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet on premium gasoline. The Escalade-V uses a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 rated at 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet. Those are separate engine offerings; the V’s extra output should not be mistaken for a higher trailer rating.

The published maximum towing figures are 8,100 pounds for the regular Escalade and 8,000 pounds for ESV. The V versions are listed at 7,200 and 7,000 pounds, respectively. These are configuration-dependent maximums, so confirm the equipment and rating of the particular SUV, including its allowance for passengers and cargo.

ESV adds meaningful cargo room behind the third row

Passenger seating viewed from the rear of a 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V
2023 Escalade-V passenger area shown for reference. Compare the 2027 regular-body and ESV cargo measurements below.

The regular Escalade measures 211.9 inches long on a 121-inch wheelbase. ESV stretches to 226.9 inches on a 134-inch wheelbase. Cadillac lists up to eight seats for the regular models and seven for the V-Series.

Cargo space behind the third row is 25.5 cubic feet in the regular body and 41.5 cubic feet in ESV. That is the space worth checking if you routinely carry passengers in all three rows. Bring the luggage, stroller or equipment you normally carry to a test fit, and consider the longer ESV’s parking footprint alongside its added storage.

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