2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT

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2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Starting MSRP $63,060–$69,640


Expert Reviews

By Cars.com Staff

Cars.com National October 7, 2011

Vehicle Overview

The high-end Cadillac Escalade EXT luxury sport utility truck competes with the Ford F-150 Platinum and the Toyota Tundra Limited. It features a unique folding midgate that converts the Escalade EXT from a five-seat short-bed truck to one with two seats and an eight-foot cargo bed. Like other Escalades, it's powered by a 6.2-liter V-8. All-wheel drive is standard. 

New for 2012

Apart from navigation system upgrades and a variety of new anti-theft features, there are no significant changes for 2012.

Exterior

The EXT's cargo bed is 45.5 cubic feet, about the same as a compact short-box crew-cab pickup truck. The midgate flips inward along with the second-row seats, expanding the pickup box to 101 cubic feet of cargo volume. It maintains the triangular C-pillar extensions of GM's first-generation crossover pickups, and the design is highlighted by its rectangular headlights and angular face. Exterior features include:

  • Eighteen-inch wheels standard; 22-inch wheels optional
  • Removable and lockable tonneau cover standard
  • Power-retractable assist steps optional

Interior

Two rows of seats accommodate five occupants. The folded midgate creates an expanded, continuous load floor for the bed, but the lack of a partition exposes occupants to the elements. Interior features include:

  • Standard leather upholstery
  • Standard power front seats
  • Standard automatic climate control
  • Leather-wrapped, wood-trimmed steering wheel; heated steering wheel optional
  • Standard navigation system with a backup camera that has new guide lines
  • Standard Bose surround sound system
  • Optional rear-seat entertainment system

Under the Hood

A 6.2-liter V-8 generates 403 horsepower and 417 pounds-feet of torque and works with a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard. Mechanical features include:

  • 7,600-pound towing capacity
  • Optional Magnetic Ride Control replaces mechanical shock absorbers with electronically controlled shocks that GM says react to the road more quickly

Safety

Escalade EXT safety features include:

  • Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
  • Standard electronic stability system with rollover-mitigation technology
  • Standard side curtain airbags
  • Standard side-impact airbags for front seats

 

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*Invoice prices are made available by Cars.com and are not dealer advertising. All prices are subject to regional variations. Prices last updated 9/23/10. Click here for more information.

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