Cadillac Escalade surpasses Lincoln Navigator to become America’s best-selling luxury SUV for 2025
Published on Jan 09, 2026 at 11:23 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 09, 2026 at 5:28 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The Cadillac Escalade has become America’s favorite flagship luxury SUV, surpassing its key rival, the Lincoln Navigator.
Whatever you think of the SUV, it is here to stay, as it remains a fiercely popular model among consumers.
The Escalade is one of the most luxurious and expensive SUVs available, and it beat out all of its rivals in the flagship segment in 2025 when it came to sales.
For the Cadillac to beat the Navigator would have been a real source of pride for Cadillac, especially in such a crowded segment.
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How the Cadillac Escalade beat the Lincoln Navigator
The best-selling three-row SUVs in America in 2025 all came from domestic nameplates.
The luxury segment was fascinating to observe.
In 2024, Jeep dislodged the Escalade with the Grand Wagoneer.
Jeep sold 55,000 units compared to 42,000 sold for the Cadillac Escalade.
But in 2025, Jeep Wagoneer sales slipped by 20 percent, and sales of the Cadillac Escalade soared.
Cadillac sold 49,336 units of its luxury SUV during the course of 2025.
It beat out the Lincoln Navigator as well as the Toyota Sequoia and the Nissan Armada.
However, it wasn’t the best-selling SUV overall in the USA during the last 12 months.
The best-selling SUV in the United States
The top three best-selling SUVs in America in 2025 were the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Ford Expedition.
Available at a lower price point than the luxury Escalade, it makes sense that these were in the top three.
The Jeep Wagoneer had a massive fall from grace compared to its 2024 success.
Sales of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer dropped to 45,040, while Chevrolet sold 114,202 Tahoes across 2025.
Meanwhile, the Navigator suffered, with just 22,185 units sold in 2025.
Right at the bottom of the pile, though, was the Lexus LX.
The luxury SUV suffered big time, with only 7,464 units sold across 2025.
This was at least an increase on the 6,380 sold in 2024.
The GMC Yukon saw 93,303 units sold, and Ford’s Expedition had a great year at 85,921 units sold.
But when it came to flagship luxury, the Cadillac Escalade was the clear winner.
Cadillac Escalade timeline and history
- 1999: Genesis & launch. First Escalade debuts, based on the GMC Yukon Denali platform.
- 2002: Second generation & EXT. Distinct styling, luxury upgrades, and the introduction of the Escalade EXT pickup.
- 2007: Third-gen refinement. Sleeker design, improved interior quality, and enhanced performance.
- 2015: Modern era & tech. Fourth gen with bold aesthetics, advanced technology, and integrated connectivity.
- 2021: Fifth-gen leap. Major redesign, independent rear suspension, and industry-first curved OLED display.
- 2023: Escalade-V performance. Introduction of the high-performance Escalade-V, the most powerful full-size SUV.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
