Americans Now Shelling Out Way More for Cadillacs Than BMWs And Mercs

The average transaction price of new cars in America has been hovering around the $50,000 mark for a few months now, with lower-priced vehicles (under $30,000) accounting for a measly 7.5% of total sales in November. High-priced models continue to thrive, and when looking at the average prices per brand last month, Cadillac jumps out more than any other. The average transaction price for a Caddy is now a lot higher than for BMW, Audi, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. In fact, such is Cadillac’s resurgence in the luxury sector, that only two brands had higher average transaction prices last month.

Average Cadillac Prices Now At $87,739

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Despite Cadillac having multiple models that start at under $50,000, the average transaction price of its models reached a whopping $87,739 in November, a 29% year-over-year increase. In the process, Cadillac has surpassed all other luxury brands analyzed, other than Land Rover ($105,767 average transaction price) and Porsche ($122,674). Exotic brands like McLaren, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley were not included, but these all operate on another level entirely.

Compared to a year ago, buyers spent less on BMWs, Mercs, Audis, and Acuras last month, so Cadillac’s big jump contrasts with these fellow luxury brands. Here’s a look at the average transaction prices of some other luxury brands in November, based on data from Cox Automotive:

Acura: $49,083
Audi: $64,902
BMW: $72,616
Lexus: $61,901
Mercedes-Benz: $75,000

Although Cadillac does now have a $400,000 EV in the form of the Celestiq, that’s an ultra-low-volume model so can’t bring up the brand’s average alone.

Cadillac’s Top Models Are Thriving

In its most recent quarterly sales report (Q3 2025), Cadillac posted its best sales for that quarter in over a decade. The ever-popular Escalade full-size SUV saw sales increase by 29%, while the brand’s EV range is performing well. That group includes the Lyriq, Optiq, and Vistiq. Cadillac sold over 7,300 Lyriqs alone in Q3, and this is a vehicle that starts at around $60,000, so it’s easy to see how the brand’s average transaction price has gone up.

The Escalade IQ moved over 2,200 units in Q3, and the cheapest derivative costs $127,405. For months now, Cadillac has led the way in the luxury EV segment, a trend that shows no sign of slowing down.

Earlier this year, Cadillac said conquest rates for its EVs were very high, sitting at 79% for the Lyriq and 76% for the Optiq. A large percentage of Cadillac EV buyers are new to the brand and coming from marques like Audi, Mercedes, and Lexus. Clearly, consumers are loving the performance, refinement, and authentic luxury feel of Cadillac’s EV lineup.

Final Thoughts

Cadillac’s strategy is clearly paying off. Between its brilliant EV lineup and the presence of an aspirational flagship in the Celestiq, the brand is showing that American luxury has found its mojo again, after years of being considered inferior to European brands. The trusty Escalade is still holding its own in the full-size SUV segment, too, despite more intense competition from the likes of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer.