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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 7 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $68,461–$82,005 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade is a suv that earns a Carivo score of 7.2/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 8.3/10, while Value at 6.4/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 6.6/10 for reliability, this suv trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 8.3/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
With 7.4/10 for performance, this is a car tuned for daily driving rather than excitement — perfectly capable on the commute, unremarkable on a back road. At 7.6/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $68,461–$82,005, 11 MPG, seating 7, the Cadillac Escalade sits in the luxury tier of the suv market. The value score of 6.4/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 8 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2018 Cadillac Escalade sits in the middle of the field. Until its reliability and value scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ranks #1611 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 34% of the segment. Its 7.2/10 overall score is 0.2 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $68,461 starting price is about 90% above the segment's median of $36,079.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking →
Smart-money pick: the 2015 Cadillac Escalade scores 6.9/10 — within striking distance of the 2018's 7.2 — and starts roughly $7,500 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.6/10 | $85,994 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.6/10 | $85,994 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.5/10 | $83,490 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.5/10 | $80,985 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.4/10 | $78,480 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.3/10 | $75,975 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.2/10 | $73,471 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.2/10 | $70,966 | Read review → |
| 2018 (this review) | 7.2/10 | $68,461 | |
| 2017 | 7.1/10 | $65,957 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.1/10 | $63,452 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 6.9/10 | $60,947 | Read review → |
The following recall campaign has been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Service brakes, hydraulic / Power assist / Vacuum 01/10/2020 · 20V603000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time,… |
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Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2018 Cadillac Escalade's reliability 6.6/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 1 NHTSA recall campaign on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
1 NHTSA recall campaign matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.2/10 overall, ranking #1611 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 34% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade starts at $68,461 and ranges up to $82,005 across trims (MSRP when new). At 11 MPG, expect roughly $4,773/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Cadillac models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.