Gone is the cheap way in.
For years you could buy a base model. Now that door is closing.
Cadillac’s 2027 order guide drops some heavy changes. The cheapest trim? Deleted. Along with the rear-wheel-drive options for the Platinum Luxury and Platinum Sport trims. That means every entry point just got a price hike.
How high? Past $100,00 likely.
Think about that for a second. A new Escalade costing six figures before you even pick your paint. The 2026 Luxury trim—currently the step up from base—starts at $104995. That’s a ten thousand dollar jump. If the Luxury trim becomes the new floor without a discount the Escalade is officially luxury. Like. Actually. Luxury.
Why did they do it?
To simplify. And to make money.
By killing the RWD Platinum variants Cadillac saves engineering hassle. But they also add three thousand dollars to those stickers. The trade off? All-wheel drive. It comes standard now. Call it a consolation prize. Call it market reality. Either way you pay for traction.
There are other shifts. Small ones. Big ones.
“Sandstone is coming in.”
Yes but it’s an extra charge and you can’t get it on Platinums. Confusing? Sure. But that’s luxury branding. They add new digital key support via a software update later this year. Plus a graphics package. And trailer tire-pressure monitoring. Practical. Nice.
Then the axe falls on the old stuff.
The Onyx Lite Package for V-Series is out. So are the interior protection package. The all-weather mats. Magnus Metal Frost paint? Gone. Aegean Stone? Deleted too. You liked it. It’s gone.
Does this change the driving dynamics for everyone?
Not entirely. The Luxury and Sport trims still offer RWD. If you want that twitchy rear-end feel you can still get it just avoid the Platinum label. The supercharged V-series stays untouched mostly because it only came with AWD anyway.
Car and Driver asked Cadillac about this. Standard procedure.
We’re waiting for an official line.
Until then we’re left with a clear message from Detroit. The bottom rung of the ladder has been kicked away. You wanted an Escalade. You have to pay for the whole experience now. Or buy used.
Maybe that’s enough reason to pause.
