Great Machines: Automobiles Cadillac Escalade

Christian Gulliksen

06/03/2003

Cadillac is cool again. During the 1970s and ’80s the venerable manufacturer that once touted itself as “the standard of the world” produced a stream of perpetually downsized models that were remarkable more for their oddly baroque designs (remember padded vinyl roofs and opera lights?) than for their quality or performance. It was a given until recently that Cadillacs could not compete head-to-head against German luxury cars. But that has changed. Cadillac has a dramatic new aesthetic—a commendable risk we should applaud the traditionally conservative marque for taking—and even better, the engineering to back it up.

Central to Cadillac’s renaissance, the first Escalade did little to disguise the fact that it differed only in detail from GM’s other full-size SUVs. The newest incarnation continues to share architecture with other divisions, but features unique design and technology that justify its exalted position. To keep the franchise fresh, Cadillac has added the stretched ESV and the EXT pickup. (Click image to enlarge)

Aside from the two-wheel-drive version, all Escalade models come with a 6-liter V-8 that puts out a class-leading 345 hp and bestows satisfyingly strong acceleration. The Escalade moves swiftly from a rest, and there is ample power on reserve for passing. A capable 4-speed transmission offers smooth, well-timed shifts, and the Road-Sensing Suspension provides a comfortable ride that absorbs road imperfections without isolating the driver from reality. Handling is far more capable than the Escalade’s sheer size and truck platform would suggest. (Click image to enlarge)


The Escalade’s leather-swathed interior features good materials and craftsmanship, but could be easily mistaken for a nicely equipped Yukon, if not for the liberal application of the Cadillac crest about the cabin (which is embossed on the headrests, for example). And although trimmed in wood and sporting a swell Bulgari clock, the Escalade’s dashboard and center console do not quite live up to the expectations set by the SUV’s stylish sheetmetal. Straightforward and functional, the plasticky radio and climate controls nevertheless appear sadly low-rent when compared to the spectacular look and feel of their counterparts in the Lincoln Navigator. The available XM Satellite Radio, a definite asset, maintains reception even in areas like Malibu, where radio reception is erratic at best, and provides genre-themed channels as well as audio feeds from news channels like CNN and the BBC. It’s a worthwhile feature even if used only occasionally. (Click image to enlarge)

Complimenting a Cadillac’s performance without having to add the phrase “for an American car” is a new—and pleasing—reality. And with the introduction of cars like the superb CTS sedan and the forthcoming XLR convertible, it seems the phrase might be rendered obsolete at Cadillac.


-ENGINE: 6-liter V-8
-POWER: 345 hp at 5,200 rpm
-TORQUE: 380 ft lbs at 4,000 rpm
-ZERO-TO-60 TIME: 8.5 seconds
-TRANSMISSION: 4-speed automatic
-WHEELBASE: 116 inches
-CURB WEIGHT: 5,641 pounds
-BASE PRICE: $53,680

Cadillac, 800.333.4CAD, www.cadillac.com