Cadillac Escalade vs Lincoln Navigator: Which Luxury SUV to Buy

The Escalade and Navigator are the two American full-size luxury SUVs. The Escalade uses a 420-hp 6.2L V8 and is slightly larger inside (120.5 vs 107 cu ft); the Navigator's 440-hp twin-turbo V6 tows more (8,700 vs 8,100 lb). In CarWhere's used-listing data, the Escalade has held its value better over five years.

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 3, 2026

Escalade vs Navigator specs

Cadillac Escalade vs Lincoln Navigator: engines, towing, size and cargo
Measure	Cadillac Escalade	Lincoln Navigator (2027)
Engine	6.2L V8, 420 hp / 460 lb-ft	Twin-turbo 3.5L V6, 440 hp / 510 lb-ft
Performance version	Escalade-V: supercharged 6.2L V8, 682 hp / 653 lb-ft	—
Max towing (lb)	8,100 (ESV 8,000; V 7,200)	8,700 (4x4, HD trailer tow)
Length (in)	211.9 (ESV 226.9)	210.0 (L 221.9)
Max cargo (cu ft)	120.5 (ESV 142.2)	107 (L 121.6)
Behind 2nd row (cu ft)	72.9 (ESV 94.1)	69.9 (L 84.5)
Behind 3rd row (cu ft)	25.5 (ESV 41.5)	22.9 (L 37.4)
Seating	Up to 8	Up to 8

Manufacturer figures, read November 3, 2026. Cadillac lists third-row legroom of 34.9 in (Escalade) and 36.7 in (ESV).

Escalade vs Navigator price

Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator starting prices
Model	Starting MSRP (USD)	Model year
Cadillac Escalade	$102,700	2027 (2026: $91,100)
Cadillac Escalade ESV	$105,700	2027 (2026: $94,100)
Cadillac Escalade-V	$169,300	2027
Lincoln Navigator	≈ $92,000 (Premiere, before destination)	2026, as reported
Lincoln Navigator L	$3,000 more per trim, per Lincoln	2027

Cadillac prices from cadillac.com, read November 3, 2026. Lincoln did not show prices on its Navigator models page; the Navigator figure is the 2026 Premiere price reported by Ford Authority. Cadillac also sells the electric Escalade IQ.

Escalade vs Navigator depreciation

Median asking prices by age from CarWhere's live-listing study.

Escalade vs Navigator: median used asking price and percent below new, by age
Age	Escalade median price (USD)	Escalade below new (%)	Navigator median price (USD)	Navigator below new (%)
New (2026)	$125,779	—	$109,621	—
1 year old	$102,433	18.6%	$78,668	28.2%
3 years old	$67,300	46.5%	$55,082	49.8%
5 years old	$54,945	56.3%	$37,995	65.3%
8 years old	$26,971	78.6%	$25,472	76.8%

CarWhere live-listing depreciation study, data as of 2026-10-25. “Below new” compares the median asking price of that model year with the median price of a new one today; model-level medians mix trims, drivetrains and options. Full curves: Escalade depreciation and Navigator depreciation.

Reliability and mileage

In live listings, 29.4% of used Escalades and 31.6% of used Navigators show more than 100,000 miles. See Cadillac Escalade years to avoid and Cadillac reliability by model for year-by-year NHTSA detail.

Escalade vs Yukon Denali

Cross-shopping inside GM? The Yukon Denali shares the Escalade's 6.2L V8 and platform family and starts at $83,100 for 2027, about $19,600 below the Escalade. The Escalade adds Cadillac-specific styling, interior and technology. See Yukon vs Tahoe and Denali vs AT4.

Which should you buy?

Escalade — more cargo room, a V8, the 682-hp V-Series option, and stronger resale in our data.
Navigator — more torque and towing, and steeper used-market depreciation that can make a lightly used one cheaper to buy.
Buying certified? Cadillac's CPO adds a year of unlimited-mile coverage — see Cadillac certified pre-owned.

Shopping a used Escalade? Check what it was built with

Escalade prices swing with trim (Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Platinum, V-Series), Super Cruise and seating. Check the exact factory options of the SUV you are looking at before you buy. Enter the VIN on the Cadillac build sheet page: the availability check is free, and you pay $9.99 only if build data exists. You get the factory-ordered option (RPO) codes on record.

Cadillac build sheet by VIN

Free availability check first · $9.99 one-time only if build data exists for the VIN · shows the factory-ordered option (RPO) codes on record, not every code on the glovebox label · no subscription

FAQ

Which is bigger, the Escalade or the Navigator?

The Escalade, slightly. Cadillac lists the Escalade at 211.9 inches long with up to 120.5 cu ft of cargo space and 25.5 behind the third row; Lincoln lists the 2027 Navigator at 210.0 inches with 107 cu ft and 22.9 behind the third row. The long versions are the Escalade ESV (226.9 in) and Navigator L (221.9 in).

Does the Escalade or Navigator have more power?

The standard Navigator: its twin-turbo 3.5L V6 makes 440 hp and 510 lb-ft, per Lincoln, versus 420 hp and 460 lb-ft for the Escalade’s 6.2L V8. The Escalade-V’s supercharged 6.2L V8 (682 hp, 653 lb-ft) is the most powerful of either lineup.

Which tows more, the Escalade or Navigator?

The Navigator. Lincoln rates the 2027 Navigator at up to 8,700 lb with the heavy-duty trailer tow package; Cadillac rates the Escalade at up to 8,100 lb (8,000 for the ESV) and the Escalade-V at 7,200 lb.

Does the Escalade or Navigator hold its value better?

The Escalade, in CarWhere’s live-listing study (data as of 2026-10-25): five-year-old Escalades listed a median 56.3% below the new median, versus 65.3% for five-year-old Navigators.

Is the Escalade just a Yukon Denali?

They share GM’s full-size SUV architecture and the 6.2L V8, but the Escalade has its own body, interior, suspension tuning and technology, and it is priced well above the Yukon Denali — the 2027 Escalade starts at $102,700 versus $83,100 for the Yukon Denali, per Cadillac and GMC.

Sources

Cadillac — Escalade specifications (cadillac.com) — engines, towing, length, cargo, legroom for Escalade, ESV and V-Series
Cadillac — Escalade (cadillac.com) — 2027 and 2026 starting prices
Lincoln — Navigator models (lincoln.com) — 2027 engine, towing, length, cargo; Navigator L
Ford Authority — 2026 Lincoln Navigator lineup and pricing — Navigator starting price (Lincoln did not list a price on its models page)
CarWhere — Car depreciation by model (live-listing study)

Cadillac and Lincoln figures as shown on cadillac.com and lincoln.com on November 3, 2026. Prices are starting MSRPs before options, taxes and dealer fees. Used-market figures come from licensed vehicle-data providers, aggregated by CarWhere.