Attention-shy drivers need not apply
Make no mistake: Cadillac’s redesigned beast-of-an-SUV, the Escalade, has tons of competitors. Heck, its own kin, the GMC Yukon Denali, compares favourably — and costs tens of thousands less.
Then there’s the Mercedes GL-Class, the Lexus LS570 and Infiniti QX80.
But the Escalade offers a quality none of the others do: It’s an Escalade. Dang it, people like ’em and rumours are Cadillac can barely make them fast enough.
So it’s no surprise the beast is back for 2015 and Caddy, never timid about its heft, is making no apologies: It is even bigger — about four-centimetres longer and wider, heavier by 45 kilograms or so, and more powerful than last year, too.
The fourth-generation Escalade is all Caddy, with its chiselled physique, sharp angles and imposing attitude. It is peppered with LED lights to make it a must-look at night.
Propelling a 2,660-kilogram SUV requires lots of muscle and Escalade has it. A reengineered, fuel-injected 6.2-litre engine ups the horses this year to 420 while torque figures jump from 417 to 460 pound-feet.
The power is strong and smooth, especially on the open highway. It’ll chew up kilometres so fast and comfortably you’ll miss your exit.
From the stoplight, it is impressive, too, with a zero-to100-km/h time of 5.9 seconds, according to Cadillac. That would rank it one of the quicker heavyweight SUVs.
Escalade offers a wonderfully quiet ride. With minimal road and wind noise, conversation is easy and no one needs to shout from the third row.
Light-weighted steering at slower speeds means the Escalade drives smaller than it is. It also makes parking manageable at the mall. And the Escalade is surprisingly stable on corners for such a tall, heavy vehicle.
Earlier 2015 Escalades received six-speed transmissions, but now they’re produced with eight-speed trannys that offer manual shifting via a button on the steering wheel. The rear wheels do the work here but fourwheel-drive is available.
The Escalade, when properly equipped, can tow up to 3,765 kilograms.
All this power takes a toll on mileage, as you might imagine, but the figures are still competitive. A cylinder deactivation system operates the engine with four cylinders when the full eightcylinder bundle is not needed.
Unlock the doors and the power side steps come out to assist you. Once inside, you’ll hear the steps retract as you take in the premium materials and elegant look of the interior.
It is flush with real wood trim and brushed metal accents. All of the panels and pieces fit snugly and have a soft, rich feel.
Seats covered in leather and Alcantara can massage your bottom while heat and cooling systems keep the seats just the right temp. A heated steering wheel helps on frigid mornings.
There’s plenty of head and leg room in the front and middle rows. Not so much in the third row. The seats are mounted lower and rob passengers of leg room. Best suited for the kids.
The good news is that those seats are now power-operated by a trunk-mounted button and fold flat. That means easier access to a cargo area that grows to 51.6 cubic feet with the third row down. Stow the second row, too, and it opens up 94.2 cubic feet of space. The hands-free liftgate can be opened with a swipe of the foot under the rear bumper.
The centerpiece of Escalade’s renewed interior is the CUE infotainment interface featuring a 31-centimetre screen.
Techies will like that Escalade has five USB ports and five 12-volt outlets, a rear entertainment system with Blu-ray player and Bose 16-speaker sound system that will blow them away. Oh, and the navigation system is second to none on the market.
All Escalades also get a rearview camera and rear parking sensors, side curtain air bags and another one between the front seats for added cushion. Higher trim levels get tech features like blind-spot monitor, forward collision alert, a driver-seat alert that vibrates and forward and reverse collision mitigation with automatic braking.
The big and luxurious Escalade, often the SUV of athletes and celebs, will attract attention. “I feel like everyone’s staring at me,” said my wife.
If the attention is not a problem, and if you’re all for making a statement, this brute should fit just nicely in your driveway.