Vehicle Overview The full-size Cadillac Escalade SUV has appealed to celebrities and affluent 20-somethings since its 2001 debut. Its competitors include the Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX 570, Infiniti QX56 and other luxury SUVs. In the spirit of excess, the 2009 Escalade boasts available 22-inch wheels and a 6.2-liter V-8 with more than 400 horsepower. It can be configured to seat eight people and is available with two- or all-wheel drive.
New for 2009 The Cadillac Escalade gains E85 capability for the 6.2-liter V-8, an optional blind-zone alert system and a luxury Platinum option package.
Exterior Three-tier headlights and a large crisscrossed grille define the Escalade’s styling, while chrome applications throughout emphasize the vehicle’s luxury status.
LED headlights optional
Side mirrors with integrated turn signals
Eighteen-inch wheels are standard; 22-inch wheels are optional
Power liftgate standard
Interior The total interior volume of the Escalade is 108.9 cubic feet, much more than either the Lexus LX 570 (83.1 cubic feet) or Infiniti QX56 (91.7 cubic feet) and slightly more than the Lincoln Navigator’s 103.5 cubic feet. Two rows of captain’s chairs and a three-seat bench in back are standard, and an optional second-row bench ups seating capacity to eight. The center stack flows into the floor console rather than being a separate unit.
LED-backlit instrument panel
Standard tri-zone automatic climate control
Leather seats with power adjustments in front and seat heaters in the first two rows
Power-tilting steering wheel new for 2009
Optional air-conditioned seats
Optional heated steering wheel, navigation system and rear-seat DVD entertainment system
Under the Hood An all-aluminum 6.2-liter V-8 makes 403 hp and 417 pounds-feet of torque. It works with a six-speed automatic transmission and can tow up to 8,300 pounds.
Available permanent all-wheel drive
Optional new E85 capability
Optional Magnetic Ride Control replaces mechanical shock absorbers with electronically controlled shock absorbers that GM says react to the road more quickly
Safety Safety equipment includes:
Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
Standard electronic stability system
Standard side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats
