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
