There are cars, and then there’s the Cadillac Escalade — the SUV equivalent of walking into a room wearing a fur coat and sunglasses at night. It’s been a Hollywood regular, a music video staple, and a fixture outside celebrity trailers. And now, if the tea leaves are reading right, it might be headed to India.
There’s no official confirmation yet, but General Motors has started making trademark moves in India, and whispers of a luxury relaunch for the Cadillac brand are getting louder. But this isn’t about bringing in a bunch of small crossovers or entry-level models. No, if Cadillac returns, it looks like they’re coming in with the big guns. And none are bigger — literally — than the Escalade.
What is it exactly?
Calling it a luxury SUV doesn’t quite cut it. This is more like a mobile penthouse. At over 5.3 meters long, with a 6.2-litre V8 under the hood churning out 420 horsepower and enough torque to move a building, the Escalade isn’t built to blend in. It does 0–100 kmph in about 6.5 seconds, which is absurd considering it weighs about as much as a Delhi flat. It also comes with a 10-speed gearbox and four-wheel drive, because of course it does.
There are multiple versions — the standard Escalade, the even longer Escalade ESV, and the downright ridiculous Escalade-V, which packs a supercharged V8 pushing nearly 700 horsepower. Cadillac has also cooked up a fully electric version, the Escalade IQ, in case they decide to appeal to buyers who like their excess with a side of environmental responsibility.
What is the hype?
What really sets the Escalade apart, though, is how committed it is to the over-the-top lifestyle. Inside, you’re greeted by a 38-inch curved OLED display stretching across the dashboard. Not one, not two — thirty-six speakers pump sound through an AKG audio system that probably costs more than most hatchbacks. Air suspension, adaptive dampers, plush seating for six or seven, hands-free driving on highways — it’s all part of the deal. And there’s chrome. Lots of chrome. Enough to make a mirror feel inadequate.
So why would Cadillac try this now?
Well, the timing actually makes sense. India’s luxury SUV market has exploded. Buyers who once flinched at a seven-digit price tag are now happily signing cheques north of ₹1 crore for a top-end German or British SUV. Cadillac sees an opening — and the Escalade, with its brand recognition and pop culture fame, could be the perfect way to test the waters.
That said, it won’t be smooth sailing. The price, expected to start around ₹1.5 crore as a full import, puts it in the same league as the Range Rover Autobiography, the Lexus LX, and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. Cadillac will need to figure out how to offer after-sales support in a country where it hasn’t had a footprint in years. The petrol V8 might also raise eyebrows in an increasingly fuel-conscious market, though the electric version could offset some of that.
And let’s not ignore the elephant in the room —
Or rather, the elephant-sized SUV. The Escalade is huge. It will struggle to fit in most Indian parking spots, and don’t even think about squeezing it into a narrow apartment complex driveway. But let’s be honest: if you’re buying an Escalade, practicality was never part of the conversation. Presence is.
If Cadillac does pull the trigger, the Escalade won’t be the company’s bread-and-butter product. It’ll be a statement. A rolling billboard for the brand’s revival in India. A luxury battering ram meant to grab eyeballs, stir curiosity, and maybe — just maybe — convince a few stars and industrialists that there’s more to life than German badges.
It won’t be for everyone. But that’s the point!
