He tells buyers to watch out for new arrivals with dealership markups upwards of $60,000 over MSRP.
A car dealer and finance consultant in Atlanta, Georgia, is seeing something alarming happening with the 2025 Cadillac Escalade-V. It’s not the SUV itself, which he wholly admires and would even drive daily. Rather, it’s the insane markups dealerships around the country are posting in their listings. This, combined with its proven short-term depreciation, motivates the dealer to warn potential Escalade buyers of possible financial disaster.
Look at the 2024 Cadillac Escalade-V’s depreciation
Yusef Benallal operates out of Legacy Motor Cars in Atlanta. He often posts conversations he has with clients about their bad car loans. In a recent video, he provides insight into the 2025 Cadillac Escalade-V by using the 2024’s depreciation as an example.
Right now, the 2025 Escalade-V’s original MSRP is around $162,000. One Las Vegas dealership lists their model in stock for $229,999.
He shows viewers a 2024 Escalade-V listed for $141,746. Benallal says these were also typically marked up $40K-$60K over the manufacturer’s original retail price.
Now, here again, the dealer speaks highly of the SUV’s driver experience. He likes the new gen and owned one himself. It’s comfortable, has every option, and is highly luxurious.
You just can’t escape new car depreciation, though.
After a year or two, the dealer thinks the 2025 Escalade-V will sell for $130K-$140K
If you want one, he says, just wait it out. Otherwise, you’ll have to stomach the depreciation. Depending on your financial situation, the steep drop in value can leave you so underwater on a car loan that you’d be trapped with a high payment. “You don’t have to get the first thing all the time,” he tells vehicle shoppers.
