If you follow Cadillac, you’ll like this update. The 2025 Escalade V has been tuned to feel quieter in daily use without losing its signature drama when you hit V-Mode. Cadillac confirmed the hush comes from revised exhaust tuning rather than new hardware, so the character is more refined but the personality remains familiar.
By J.S. BIBHAB KUMAR
What changed for 2025?
Cadillac adjusted the exhaust calibration to reduce constant drone and soften the background thrum at cruising speeds. A spokesperson even called it “turning it down” versus the earlier setup, which lines up with what many owners wanted for long trips.
The goal is simple: keep the luxury SUV feel inside the cabin, and let the V speak up only when you ask it to.
Quieter Drive, Same Attitude on Command:
Reports around the 2025 model point to less second-row boom and a more relaxed highway note. Yet the cold start bark and the performance-mode soundtrack are still very much Escalade V, so you can have the calm commute and the weekend roar in the same Cadillac.
Active noise-control logic works alongside the new exhaust tune to keep routine trips comfortable.
Daily Comfort vs Performance Mode:
In regular driving, the revised tuning makes the big Cadillac feel more premium: conversations are easier, long stretches are less fatiguing, and that low-frequency hum is dialed back. Switch to V-Mode and the valves open, restoring the energetic note people expect from the badge.
If you want the loud character, it’s a button press away; if you want the luxury vibe, the baseline is now calmer.
Why Cadillac did this?
The update reflects what family buyers of a luxury SUV actually asked for: the freedom to enjoy the Escalade V every day without constant exhaust drone. By changing the calibration—not the hardware—Cadillac kept costs and complexity in check while improving perceived refinement.
For road-trip families and chauffeur duty, this is the right trade-off.
Should you upgrade if you own a recent Escalade V?
If you love the nonstop thunder of the older tune, you may prefer your current setup. If you wanted the same Cadillac presence with less cabin boom—and the option to unleash it on command—the 2025 makes a strong case.
Either way, the luxury SUV identity is intact, and the performance character hasn’t gone missing; it’s just better balanced for real-world use.
Cadillac Escalade V FAQs:
Did Cadillac change any hardware to make it quieter?
No. Cadillac says the 2025 Escalade V uses the same hardware, but the exhaust and noise-control tuning changed to reduce constant drone.
Is the 2025 Escalade V still loud on startup or in V-Mode?
Yes. The cold-start note and the performance soundtrack remain strong; the quieter behavior applies mainly to everyday driving.
Why focus on comfort now?
Cadillac is targeting long-distance comfort and luxury-SUV refinement while preserving performance on demand—a better fit for daily owners.
Cadillac didn’t tame the Escalade V; it taught it manners. With quieter exhaust tuning and calmer cabin behavior in normal driving—and full drama available in V-Mode—the 2025 update makes the super-SUV easier to live with without losing what makes a Cadillac V special.
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