Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
The first true Cadillac in decades
Over the past couple of decades, it’s been agonizing to watch Cadillac grapple with its car lineup in an attempt to out-German the German automakers. It’s as if they were embarrassed about their own remarkably rich and historic heritage, one that stretches back to the industry’s beginnings. What customers truly desire from Cadillac is generous size, commanding performance, exceptional comfort and convenience, wrapped in flamboyant attire that’s unafraid of what it is. In the last decade, only the Cadillac Escalade delivered that true essence of Cadillac.
Perhaps that’s why Cadillac’s most expensive vehicle is second in sales only to the XT5 crossover, even though, until now, the Escalade seemed little more than a GMC with an attitude problem.
Happily, that has changed with the introduction of the redesigned, fifth-generation 2021 Escalade. Masterfully executed and brimming with stateof-the-art technology, it’s the first true Cadillac in decades. And, for the first time, the Escalade’s essence truly makes it a Cadillac.
To call it an intimidating presence is an understatement given its sheer mass and 22-inch wheels. Yet its style is a sublime updating of the Escalade’s familiar form, with styling inspired by the Escala concept car, a sedan originally meant for production. Yes, the flashiness is there, but delivered in a more refined fashion. Yes, Cadillac’s trademark vertical lighting is — thankfully — still evident, and the test vehicle was clad in Cadillac’s new Sport trim, which features black trim across the exterior; Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum models wear slightly different details.
But it’s the interior that proves to be the biggest surprise. It’s here where past GM accountants have wielded their knives with overzealous, parsimonious efficiency. But the 2021 Escalade’s cabin is the highest-quality Cadillac interior seen in decades, one anchored by a stunning, curved 38-inch OLED display that stretches atop most of the instrument panel, an inspired design choice that avoids the lazy solution offered by other automakers, wherein a rectangular screen is stuck onto the instrument panel with all of the thought of a Post-It note.
One thing that was upgraded was the remarkable audio system, one of the best I’ve experienced in any vehicle. It’s all placed in an expansive cabin with 40% more third-row legroom and 68% more cargo space behind it, thanks to the Escalade’s longer wheelbase and longer overall length.
Initially, the Escalade will come with a 6.2-liter V-8 rated at 420 horsepower and 460 poundfeet of torque; an optional 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine rated at 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque will come later.
Both engines mate to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is a $3,000 option. Cadillac’s Super Cruise is available, which uses LiDAR map data, GPS, driver attention technology and a slew of cameras and radar sensors to facilitate hands-free driving and lane changes on highways.
It all makes for a vehicle that’s the first true new Cadillac in decades, an indulgent, intelligent return to form that makes for a compellingly oversized contemporary luxury statement.