The 2022 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Platinum Edition SUV
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: What is an Escalade? An Escalade is a full size luxury SUV built and sold by the Cadillac Sales Division of General Motors. The Escalade is a 3 row SUV that comes standard with 2nd row captain’s chairs and seating for 7. In any model you can bump the seating capacity to 8, by switching to a middle bench seat, at no extra cost.
In the 1990s, Cadillac adapted to growing automotive trends, including the SUV segment. In 1999 they introduced the Cadillac Escalade as a further upscale model above and beyond the then current luxury SUV leader, the GMC Denali. Today Cadillac has taken the Escalade to new heights, and new price levels, than ever before. Now the Cadillac Escalade is at the top of the line in luxury full size SUVs in the United States.
The 2022 Cadillac Escalade comes in 5 trims: the Luxury base model, Premium Luxury, Sport Edition, Premium Luxury Platinum, and Sport Platinum. All models share a 420 HP horsepower 6.2L liter V8 gas engine bolted to a 10 speed automatic transmission with standard RWD rear wheel drive. Four wheel drive 4WD is available on all trim levels.
This week Cadillac sent me a 2022 Escalade 4WD Premium Edition SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this model starts at: $104,595. The options on the press SUV are: Super Cruise for $2,500, Night Vision for $2,000, power retractable side steps with perimeter lighting for $1,750, a center console with a refrigerator and freezer for $700, and the metallic paint for $625. The MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $1,695 destination charge, minus the $50 credit for the deleted electronic steering column lock, came to: $113,815.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price is: $128,042. This price puts the Escalade Platinum Edition with Super Cruise and Night Vision in the super luxury full size SUV class, and there are only a handful of competitors at this level. Think Lincoln, Lexus, and the new kid on the block from Jeep, the Grand Wagoneer.
The key to being the best luxury SUV is the options that Cadillac added to the Escalade with the Platinum Edition. Start with the SemiAniline leather seating in all 3 rows with a full leather wrapped interior trim, then add a unique Platinum Edition grill, and mount the tires on a special set of 18 spoke polished 22” alloy wheels. When you buy an Escalade with the Platinum Edition option this SUV stands out from the crowd all day long.
Interior upgrades include: a 16.9” OLED infotainment screen with embedded navigation and voice recognition, a 14.2” OLED reconfigurable center stack cluster display, and a 7.2” OLED control panel. Tunes come from a AKG studio reference audio system with 36 (!) speakers, then add in wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless rear seat entertainment system, head up display, a power panoramic sunroof, a rear camera system, a wireless charging pad, passive entry and keyless start, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, 2nd row bucket power release heated seats, 3rd row 60/40 split bench seats with power fold, a 110 volt power outlet, plus 25 more options.
And what is Super Cruise? GM Super Cruise is a semi autonomous driver assistance feature that allows the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel during extended periods of highway driving. Available again on Escalade for 2022, Super Cruise offers the ease and convenience of hands free driving on compatible highways. Super Cruise maintains a selected following gap between you and the detected vehicle ahead.
And what is Night Vision ? GM has commenced production of its fourth generation thermal sensing system called Night Vision, which made its debut on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, to enhance forward visibility. By using a wider field of view thermal camera, with four times greater resolution compared to the previous generation, it extends visibility in the dark. The images show up on the center dashboard screen in real time, so you know what’s ahead of you, before you can actually see them.
Now when you’re ready to buy a new full size luxury SUV, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade should be on your ride and drive list, as it’s one of the best luxury SUVs for sale today. Call, click or visit your local Cadillac dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Escalade starts at only $77,795. Cadillac - Rise Above.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense © editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net