2026 Cadillac Escalade drops Key Card, keeps digital key
2026 Cadillac Escalade skips Key Card, leans on digital key
2026 Cadillac Escalade drops Key Card, keeps digital key
Cadillac’s 2026 Escalade drops the Key Card, sticking with a smartphone digital key. Get details on the updated cabin, tech suite, V8 options, and diesel exit.
2025-09-03T10:52:57+03:00
2025-09-03T10:52:57+03:00
2025-09-03T10:52:57+03:00
Cadillac has unveiled the updated 2026 Escalade, and contrary to expectations the SUV did not receive the Key Card system. The feature had been slated to be standard across all trims, allowing owners to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle with a slim card that slips easily into a wallet.Interestingly, GM’s related models—the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and GMC Yukon—keep Key Card as standard equipment. The system supports up to eight unique cards and would suit families or corporate fleets. Even so, the Escalade sticks with the familiar smartphone-based digital key.Beyond that, the model carries forward the core 2025 changes: a redesigned cabin, an updated tech suite, and the traditional engines. The base version uses a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, while the Escalade-V is fitted with a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8. The 3.0-liter Duramax diesel has been discontinued. All versions continue to be built at GM’s plant in Arlington, Texas.Cadillac has chosen to lean on other tech options, yet dropping Key Card looks unexpected against the competitive set—especially for a brand eager to underscore its technological edge in the premium SUV segment. The omission draws more attention than the company might prefer on a vehicle meant to showcase its latest ideas.
Cadillac’s 2026 Escalade drops the Key Card, sticking with a smartphone digital key. Get details on the updated cabin, tech suite, V8 options, and diesel exit.
Michael Powers, Editor
Cadillac has unveiled the updated 2026 Escalade, and contrary to expectations the SUV did not receive the Key Card system. The feature had been slated to be standard across all trims, allowing owners to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle with a slim card that slips easily into a wallet.
Interestingly, GM’s related models—the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and GMC Yukon—keep Key Card as standard equipment. The system supports up to eight unique cards and would suit families or corporate fleets. Even so, the Escalade sticks with the familiar smartphone-based digital key.
Beyond that, the model carries forward the core 2025 changes: a redesigned cabin, an updated tech suite, and the traditional engines. The base version uses a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, while the Escalade-V is fitted with a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8. The 3.0-liter Duramax diesel has been discontinued. All versions continue to be built at GM’s plant in Arlington, Texas.
Cadillac has chosen to lean on other tech options, yet dropping Key Card looks unexpected against the competitive set—especially for a brand eager to underscore its technological edge in the premium SUV segment. The omission draws more attention than the company might prefer on a vehicle meant to showcase its latest ideas.
