The full-size Cadillac Escalade SUV has appealed to celebrities and affluent 20-somethings since 2001, when a flashier version debuted. Its competitors include the Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX 570, Infiniti QX56 and other luxury SUVs. In the spirit of excess, the Escalade boasts available 22-inch wheels and a 6.2-liter V-8 with more than 400 horsepower. It can be configured to seat up to eight people and is available with rear- or all-wheel drive.
The Cadillac Escalade’s 6.2-liter V-8 now features cylinder deactivation, a technology designed to save gas by automatically shutting off four cylinders when driving conditions allow. The clock from prior Platinum trims is now standard across the lineup, and there are new side-impact airbags for the front seats. There’s a USB port for connecting a portable music player to the audio system.
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
- 18-inch wheels are standard; 22-inch wheels are optional
- Power liftgate standard
Two rows of captain’s chairs and a three-seat bench in back are standard. 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
- Navigation system
- Power-tilting steering wheel
- Optional air-conditioned seats
- Optional heated steering wheel and rear-seat entertainment system
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 (RWD) or 8,100 pounds (AWD) when properly equipped.
- Available permanent all-wheel drive
- Optional Magnetic Ride Control replaces mechanical shock absorbers with electronically controlled shock absorbers that GM says react to the road more quickly
Safety equipment includes:
- Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
- Standard electronic stability system
- Standard side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats
- Front-seat side-impact airbags new for 2010
- Optional blind spot warning system
