Expert Reviews
By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National December 1, 2010Vehicle Overview
Cadillac's Escalade ESV offers more room for those who find the Escalade, a full-size SUV, just a bit too small. Its wheelbase is 14 inches longer than the full-size Escalade, and its total length exceeds the standard model by more than 20 inches. Third-row occupants benefit from increased legroom, and cargo capacity behind them nearly triples. The ESV competes with other luxury SUVs such as the Lincoln Navigator L and Lexus LX 570. As with the regular-wheelbase Escalade, the Escalade ESV gets a full complement of luxury equipment, including leather seats, plenty of exterior chrome and optional 22-inch wheels. It's available with rear- or all-wheel drive.
New for 2011
Cadillac now includes standard scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, replacement of engine and cabin air filters, and multipoint vehicle inspection for four years or 50,000 miles.
Exterior
Built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL, the Escalade ESV stretches more than 20 inches longer than the regular Escalade. Fourteen of those inches go to extending the wheelbase, which allows for larger rear doors unconstrained by wheel wells. Height increases by 1.2 inches, and width remains about the same. Despite the bigger dimensions, curb weight increases by just 217 pounds for rear-wheel-drive models. Exterior features include:
- Jeweled headlights
- Cadillac's now-familiar grille up front
- Rectangular taillights in back
- Eighteen-inch wheels standard; 22-inch wheels optional
- Power liftgate standard
Interior
The ESV's extended dimensions don't yield significant gains for first- or second-row occupants, but third-row passengers gain nearly 10 inches of legroom. Cargo volume behind the third row increases from 16.9 cubic feet to 45.8 cubic feet. With the third-row seat removed and the second row folded forward, maximum cargo volume is 137.4 cubic feet — about 28 cubic feet more than the regular Escalade. Interior features include:
- Optional DVD entertainment system includes a second 8-inch screen for third-row passengers
- Standard leather interior, automatic climate control, power-operated front seats
- Standard seating capacity is seven; available second-row bench expands capacity to eight
Under the Hood
The Escalade ESV uses the same engine as the regular Escalade: a 6.2-liter V-8 with 403 horsepower and 417 pounds-feet of torque. It works with a six-speed automatic transmission. Mechanical features include:
- 7,600 (RWD) or 7,800 pounds (AWD) of towing capacity when properly equipped
Safety
Safety equipment includes:
- Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
- Standard electronic stability system with rollover mitigation technology
- Standard side curtain airbags in all three rows of seats
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