2019 Cadillac Escalade Sport Edition: A New Way of Boosting BOF Margins

General Motors’ full-size, body-on-frame SUVs are growing long in the tooth, but man, are they popular. It helps that The General keeps finding ways of sweetening the pot here and there, all while ticking the MSRP slightly skyward. By all accounts, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship between consumer and manufacturer.

Last year brought the RST (Rally Sport Truck) versions of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, which GM followed up with this year’s appearance of an extra half-step of luxury in the form of the “Premier Plus” trim. For the extra expenditure, customers gained newfound access to the company’s coveted 6.2-liter V8 and refined 10-speed automatic.

Cadillac Escalade buyers don’t have that desire, as the top-flight powertrain comes standard in all trim levels. They might, however, wish to look meaner. And Cadillac’s banking that they’ll pay more for the privilege.

What else can be said about the new Sport Edition package, which appears as a $2,700 option on the Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum trim levels of Caddy’s biggest offering? Well, a description might be in order. Going Sport really means going black — the gloss shade covers all of the normally shiny bits on this vehicle, right down to the wheels.

It’s a tastefully murdered-out SUV for those looking for greater cover of darkness. According to Steve Carlisle, Cadillac’s relatively new president, the Sport Edition emerged “in response to customer and dealer demand for a dark and aggressive look.” Recording artists, take note.

And about those wheels: they’re 22-inchers, finished in Midnight Silver. The finish is unique, while the size would be optional on an Escalade of any spec. Customers can apply the blacked-out treatment to their Escalade regardless of whether power flows to all four wheels or just the rear — the only configuration not chosen for Sport Edition goodness is the base Standard trim.

Pricing starts at $84,790, including destination, for an Escalade Sport Edition in 2WD Luxury guise, rising from there. Cadillac doesn’t specifically mention whether long-wheelbase ESV models are eligible for the upgrade, so we assume they are. An extra $2,700 is an extra $2,700, after all.

Orders begin in the first quarter of 2019.

[Image: General Motors]