Cadillac Luxury in a Big Way

Some five years after its introduction, a truck version of the Cadillac no longer seems like such an incongruous idea. Cadillac's luxury sport-utility vehicle, which spans three variants (the Escalade, ESV and EXT), has quickly become a Cadillac bestseller and part of the automotive landscape. Pro athletes, celebrities, rap-music artists and the well-heeled country club set have demonstrated their appreciation of the Cadillac brand beyond its luxury sedans, and Cadillac dealers are pleased by the new life breathed into their showrooms.

I first tested and reviewed the Escalade in April '03 with high praises for its combination of luxury, size and power. For 2005, Escalade remains one of the most luxurious SUVs available with a number of welcome changes. Most noticeable is the redesigned instrument cluster with chrome bezels, a more user-friendly driver information center and optional touch-screen navigation system, refreshed door panel trim, upgraded cooling system and standard chrome exhaust tips. Also new is the "it literally comes with everything" Platinum Edition ESV (base price $69,535) that includes the navigation system, a chrome grille and 20-inch chrome wheels in place of Escalade's standard 17-inch alloys. Other Platinum goodies include a Bose® premium audio system with six-CD changer and nine speakers, XM satellite radio, a two-screen DVD entertainment system, heated and cooled cup holders. The only choice you'll have to make is exterior color; five are available, two at extra cost.

The Escalade ESV is built on GM's full-size Suburban truck platform and has much in common with the Chevrolet and GMC. At over 18 feet in length, these are huge vehicles that can comfortably haul up to 8 passengers in three rows of seats, and luggage and gear in over 45 cubic feet of cargo space. All Escalade models, including ESV, are all-wheel-drive only, and the sole engine is a high-output 6.0-liter V-8 engine with 345 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. The massive engine provides abundant passing power even with the four-speed automatic transmission. Most other luxury SUVs on the market today, however, come standard with either a five- or six-speed automatic.

Even considering ESV's massive size, it's surprisingly easy to drive and feels stable on the highway at high speeds. The ride is aided by a computer-controlled self-leveling suspension combined with extra-large high-tech Bilstein® shock absorbers. I drove the Platinum ESV roundtrip from Phoenix to Tucson loaded with seven passengers and found the ride and handling to be stable, quiet and comfortable. Of course, our luxurious accommodations with roomy, over-stuffed climate-controlled captain's chairs, thick carpeting and Shrek II playing on the DVD monitor made the trip most enjoyable.

All Escalades come standard with the StabiliTrak stability control system, as well as four-wheel antilock disc brakes, side airbags for driver and front passenger and rear park assist that makes parking this rig much easier. In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the standard Escalade earned four out of five stars for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts.

Industry reports suggest that the entire Escalade line will get a thorough and much needed overhaul for 2007 and possibly a complete new look. Likewise for GM's sister products Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Suburban. When compared to competition from Range Rover, Porsche, Lincoln, Infiniti and other premium brands, the GM lineup is past the freshness date, particularly in interior styling.

ESV, the biggest Caddy, is quiet, smooth, handles well and is extremely comfortable to drive even when behind the wheel for full days. If offers room to spare with a commanding view of the road ahead and behind. But exterior and interior styling executions are showing signs of being dated and aren't up to its premium pricing when compared to offerings like the Infiniti QX56 And if you're considering an ESV, I recommend the base version; nice as it is, the Platinum Edition isn't worth the extra 11 grand.

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