Supercharged, Super Cruising Escalade-V is Hulk on wheels
The Cadillac Escalade-V’s specs seem like something out of a Marvel comics creative session: big as Hulk, seats seven, built on a steel truck frame, cruises on autopilot — yet accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, dances on Corvette-inspired magnetic shocks, and stops on a dime with Brembo brakes the size of Captain America’s shield. Superhero stuff.
Oh, but it’s very real. The Escalade has been Cadillac’s halo vehicle for 23 years, setting the brand’s tone in style, design and notoriety. But adopting the V-series performance badge for 2023, Escalade-V takes its ambitions to another level: a halo vehicle for all SUVs. This SUV represents the industry’s pinnacle in performance, design, comfort, driving-assist tech and just plain ol’ visceral fun.
Let me count the ways. Power. At the heart of the Escalade-V is the same nuclear power plant that motivates the 662-horsepower Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Only the Escalade-V increases the Blackwing’s output by another 20 ponies, thanks to the 2.65-liter supercharger.
Driver assist. I settled
into a long, comfortable drive on Arizona-87, a divided four-lane perfect for Super Cruise, GM’s state-of-the-art driverassist system.
Super Cruise kept an eye on me to make sure I was paying attention but otherwise let me relax in the driver’s seat. Super Cruise smoothly passed slower truck traffic without breaking stride, then respectfully moved back in the right lane. Only on curves would the SUV balk at passing, preferring that I give the OK by tugging the left turn signal for an automatic pass.
Tech ’n’ utility. Big screens are all the rage these days, and Caddy puts up a big number — 36 inches of curved display.
With three screens in one, it manages multiple functions, including head-up display, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, Sirius XM and massaging seats.
An independent rear suspension (IRS) means more footwell for thirdrow passengers to enjoy the ride under a panoramic sunroof. And since those seats are in another ZIP code, a microphone allows the front row to communicate with the third.
The ride. The Escalade-V manages its wide bandwidth with cutting-edge suspension technology. Magnetic ride shocks and air suspension come standard.
As a particularly long, curvy stretch of AZ-87 loomed, I tapped the V-mode button behind the monostable shifter.
The shocks stiffened, the steering tightened and the 10-speed transmission shifted down a gear to access all 653 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 RPM.
Escalade-V is a technology showcase that allows even a mega-SUV to defy physics like a Marvel superhero, while providing 380 miles of range in a cabin as comfortable as the passengers’ living room. That basket-full of goodies will ring the cash register at a $152,990 — about the price of a tank of gas — when V goes on sale later this summer.