Escalade is still big, luxurious and pricey
CADILLAC: 2016 model receives minor updates such as lane assist and infotainment options
When I went to pick up my Cadillac Escalade test vehicle, the person who hands over the keys jokingly asked if I had my hat on backwards. There is something to that: introduced for 1999, largely in response to the Lincoln Navigator, the Escalade soon gained a following with rap stars and pro athletes.
That helped put a new shine on Cadillac, which was feeling the pinch from overseas competitors. It would follow up with extended wheelbase and pickup truck versions, and by 2002 the Escalade pulled well ahead of the Navigator.
Why is anyone’s guess, given both were roomy enough for oversized athletes. I have a half-baked and completely unverified theory: it’s the three-syllable name. Drivin’ downtown in my Cad-il-lac rolls smoothly off the tongue, so it became the vehicle of choice in rap songs.
Fast-forward to my 2016 tester. The Escalade is based on the GMC Yukon Denali and still comes in two wheelbase lengths. Both have threerow seating, although the pickup disappeared when the corresponding Chevrolet Avalanche was discontinued.
The Escalade was completely redesigned for 2015, so changes this year are minor, consisting of a new lane-keeping assist and some new infotainment system items, including Apple CarPlay.
I had the regular wheelbase model, which starts at $84,145 and moves through the Luxury trim at $89,830, my Premium tester at $94,830, and the top-level Platinum at $103,745. All use a 6.2-litre V8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-wheel-drive system offers RWD, 4 High, 4 Low and an Automatic four-wheel setting that can be used on hard surfaces.
For all its high-end features, the Escalade is still a truck. It offers up to 8,100 lbs. (3,675 kg) of towing capacity — less than the Navigator’s maximum 8,600 lbs. (3,900 kg) or the Infiniti QX80’s 8,500 lbs. (3,855 kg), but more than other luxury SUVs such as the Range Rover or Lexus LX. It also drives like a truck, however, and a big one at that, which might turn off those who expect a sport ute along the lines of a Mercedes-Benz GLS or BMW X5.
The interior lacks some of the finesse in those German competitors, and it feels like a truck gussied up with a lot of leather. But the firstand second-row seats are supportive and comfortable, and there’s a lot of room. That ends at the cramped third row, which features hard slabs for seat cushions. The two rows fold down electrically to produce a flat floor for extra cargo space.
GM’s truck engines are really well done, and the 6.2-L in the Escalade is a smooth and stout performer, cranking out 420 horses and 460 pound-feet of torque. It includes fuel-saving cylinder deactivation, which runs on half its cylinders when full power isn’t needed. The switch is seamless and you’ll likely only know if it’s on eight or four by checking the indicator in the dash.
All Escalade models include Magnetic Ride Control, which uses magnetic force on tiny metal particles inside the shock absorbers to instantly tighten or soften the suspension, depending on the road surface. It does a great job of smoothing out the bumps, and can be adjusted for Comfort or Sport settings.
Many features are accessed via the Cadillac User Experience (CUE). The best thing I can say is it’s pretty. You tap the tiny icons on the glass, which vibrates to let you know you’ve hit the right place. It takes too much time away from the road to look for what you want to do, and sometimes requires too many taps, especially when the glass is cold. This stuff should be much simpler.
My tester contained several driver-assist systems, including blindspot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane assist and automatic front or rear braking. Some warnings are delivered through the driver’s seat, which vibrates harshly if you’re about to do something such as back into another car. It startled the hell out of me when I was waiting to back out of my driveway and it detected cross traffic — but I guess that’s the point.
The Escalade is pricey, and unless bling is your thing, I’d suggest also looking at the GMC Yukon Denali, which includes such items as the Magnetic Ride Control, premium seats and much simpler controls for a starting sticker of $6,500 less than the base Escalade. It’s just as good a driver, plus you can wear your hat any way you like.