The Cadillac Escalade is the big hoss of GM's luxury lineup. It's more than just the high-falutin' version of the Suburbans, Tahoes, and Yukons that almost rival it for luxury fittings; it's probably the most recognizable Cadillac on the road today, thanks as much to its beveled edges to its imposing stance.
Available in base, Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum configurations, the Escalade goes from well to lavishly equipped with the tick of a few option boxes.
The Escalade earns an impressive 7.7 on our overall scale thanks to its comfort and surprising performance.
There's no question that the Escalade boasts more bravado than just about anything else to ever hit the road, but this latest SUV is far more luxurious, refined, and capable than ever before. Straddling the line between tasteful and excessive, the Escalade's unmistakable style is evident from every angle. At its core, it shares its frame, its structure, and much of its running gear with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the GMC Yukon, but the Escalade takes things to an entirely different level inside and out.
Two configurations are on offer, the standard wheelbase shared with the Tahoe and Yukon and a extended Escalade ESV model based on the Suburban and Yukon XL. Either way it is ordered, all Escalades ride on a choice of 20- or 22-inch alloy wheels, the latter of which feature a new design for 2017. Full LED lighting outside is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Escalade's high-tech features; LEDs line its vertical headlights and taillights and they illuminate the Cadillac logo on the SUV's grille.
Cadillac Escalade interior and technology
Inside, the Escalade moves even further from its comparatively pedestrian siblings. Cut-and-sewn leather upholstery trims out the cabin, with genuine hide and suede tucking neatly next to open pore wood trim. From the front seats—which are heated and cooled as standard—the centerpiece of the dashboard is Cadillac's tablet-like CUE touchscreen infotainment system, which can be activated by voice, capacitive touch and swipe gestures. The driver faces a 12.3-inch display with a cluster of digital gauges that can be configured in one of four themes. A head-up display is optional and projects selected information onto the windshield for the driver.
CUE includes as standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a Bose Centerpoint 2.0 audio system. To keep rear seat passengers occupied, rear seat entertainment systems are available with one or two screens depending on trim. (Luxury and higher trims can get dual monitors in the front headrests, when selected.) Parent company General Motors' OnStar 4G LTE connectivity also comes standard and includes a wi-fi antenna that makes the 'Slade into a mobile hotspot—albeit for an extra monthly charge after an initial trial period.
Opt for the range-topping Escalade Platinum package, available on either wheelbase, and the interior comes alive with aromatic semi-aniline leather trim. Short of a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce, we can't think of many vehicles upholstered in so much leather. Second- and third-row seats fold flat at the touch of a button, and though the cargo floor is somewhat higher than in previous Escalades, it's at a waist-height level that makes it relatively easy to load and unload heavier items. There's over 15 cubic feet of space behind the third row on the standard Escalade, a capacity that more than doubles on the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV.
Cadillac Escalade performance
A different kind of beast sits under the SUV's angular hood: A 6.2-liter V-8 rated at 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. It pairs well with the standard 8-speed automatic transmission to reach 60 mph in around six seconds, an impressive feat for a vehicle that tips the scales at about 6,000 pounds when fully equipped. That performance doesn't hurt efficiency as much as you might think—with features like direct injection and cylinder shutoff, the V-8 earns EPA ratings as high as 17 mpg combined.
Safety equipment includes an innovative front-center airbag that protects front-seat occupants thrown toward the center of the Escalade in a side-impact collision. Automatic emergency braking is newly standard on the Luxury trim level, while the optional Driver Awareness package adds a lane departure warning system that can tug the big SUV into its lane if it wanders as well as automatic high beams.
Luxury and Platinum trim levels are available with a Driver Assist package that includes adaptive cruise control and front and rear automatic braking. An additional new option is an automatic parking assistance feature that, utilizing cameras and radar, parallel parks the Escalade at the touch of a button with no driver intervention.
Styling
Bold and brash, the Escalade isn't for everyone. But its style has remained consistent and it is instantly recognizable.
Subtlety is not a Cadillac Escalade virtue. This SUV is big and grand in everything it does, making a statement anywhere it goes. It is not a vehicle for those who don't want to be noticed, even if it has become somewhat commonplace in the two decades it has been on sale. The first Escalades were just Chevrolet Tahoes with (lots of) lipstick on. Today, however, Escalade is thoroughly refined—if still swathed in chrome.
It gets an excellent 8 score in our book thanks to an above average exterior and an excellent interior.
Performance
The Escalade is genuinely fast thanks to its big V-8, but its truck chassis underneath dictates some tradeoffs when it comes to cornering and ride quality.
Escalade buyers needs make only one decision when it comes to performance: rear- or all-wheel drive. That's because all Escalades use parent company General Motors' smooth and sonorous 6.2-liter V-8 engine that cranks out 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Related to the 5.3-liter V-8 used in GM's big Chevrolet and GMC pickups and SUVs, the 6.2-liter benefits from direct injection and cylinder deactivation, the latter of which helps it achieve better fuel economy than you might expect.
We gave the Escalade an 8 out of 10 thanks to its strong powertrain, above average transmission, and great ride.
Comfort & Quality
Cadillac has made bigger strides here than anywhere else, with the Escalade finally feeling like a proper luxury SUV.
If you haven't been in an Escalade in a while, you might be surprised to learn that its restyled cabin is properly luxurious. Looking more like it belongs in a car than in a big, 204-inch long SUV (in ESV form), the Escalade pampers with Lear Jet-esque comfort and a selection of materials that feels more bespoke than assembly line.
Above our base score of 5, we gave the Escalade points for good front and rear seats, and its versatility with a third row.
Escalade offers a full suite of collision prevention features, but not all are available on the base Standard trim level.
Neither NHTSA nor the IIHS have conducted full crash tests for the Escalade, but GM's closely related Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon range have performed well and we would anticipate similar ratings for the Cadillac.
We gave the Escalade 8 out of 10 on our scale based on its available technology and related crash scores.
Features
Cadillac's CUE infotainment has been thoroughly upgraded; little, if anything, is missing here compared to even pricier rivals.
Cadillac offers a bevy of Escalades in base, Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum guises. Go crazy with options and you'll be into six figures for a fully decked Escalade ESV Platinum. Optional equipment for the short wheelbase Escalade essentially mirrors that of the Escalade ESV.
We gave it a 9 out of 10 for its exceptional array of features that cover all the luxury bases. We stopped short of a perfect score because Cadillac doesn't go as far as Land Rover or Mercedes-Benz in all-out features.
The Escalade is thirsty, but it isn't actually as bad as you might think: regardless of rear or all wheel-drive, it is rated at 17 mpg combined.
Cadillac has made an extraordinary effort to reduce fuel consumption, but there's no getting around the Escalade's sheer bulk. Moving 6,000 pounds with alacrity isn't easy, even with 420 horsepower on tap.
We give the Escalade a 5 for gas mileage, since its numbers aren't very good in the wider scheme.
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