Let moderation mumble from humbler mouths.
When you’re the flagship for luxury (or: another man’s excess) moderation could be synonymous with defeat.
Such is the mantra of Cadillac’s newest Escalade, a model so profound onto itself that it sheds the brand’s other multi-lettered monikers like XTS, ATS and CTS because, well it’s an Escalade and it can do whatever it pleases.
Completely new for 2015, Cadillac’s Escalade presents a world view unfettered by gas prices, parking spaces or the U.S. government’s estimate of a typical nuclear family. There is plenty of space in the nearly three-ton behemoth for seven to eight humans, because 2.2 children is for quitters.
Actually, there’s little holding the Escalade back from the shiny perch it has sat atop in the past. If suburban streets were an indication of popularity, perhaps the Escalade would be Nicki Minaj — unapologetically unavoidable. The first three previous generations sold like crazy, thanks to a stroke of genius from GM executives in the 1990s.
SUV’s have an unlimited profit margin (tens of thousands can be made per sale) so why not add another level — a Cadillac level! — of SUV’s and market those as luxury. Based on the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban or GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, the Cadillac Escalade quickly became standard suburban issue for a few very good reasons. As proof of their success, the Escalade became more popular than Range Rovers (too unpredictable), Lincoln Navigators (not enough bling), Lexus LX (see previous) and Infiniti QX80 (too foreign) almost overnight. Part of the Escalade’s popularity, which Cadillac loves to talk about, is because the brand took on a life of its own. The other part of its popularity, which Cadillac would never admit to, is that it never strayed far from its General Motors roots. (“It’s like the Suburban you’re trading in, sir, except it’s a little better.”)
And it’s own heritage may be the biggest hinderance for the Escalade to conquer for buyers.
With an all new interior and exterior, the 2015 Cadillac Escalade is easily the most opulent luxury runner yet. Wood intersects with leather intersects with soft touch materials. One need to look no further than the center console and 12.3-inch center digital touchscreen to see where Cadillac’s head is — if a touchscreen leather display were available, I’m sure Cadillac would have used it. It’s all very impressive and elegant, at least on the looks alone.
On the outside, the Escalade boasts the same “barn door” aerodynamic language albeit elegantly displayed. The front grille and stacked LED headlamps are extravagantly memorable, as are the motorized running boards ($1,795 option) and chrome accents down the sides. In the back, tall clear tail lamps run from the roof almost all the way down and I’m still not sure if it’s a good look.
Overall, the look for the new 2015 Cadillac Escalade is eminently notable, but not wholly dissimilar from the Suburban it was built from — and the truck it was based on by extension. Anyone who’s pulled down on the steering-column mounted shifter of a $30,000 Silverado will immediately recognize the mannerisms of an Escalade that costs 3 times more. The Escalade is still definitely a General Motors vehicle (not necessarily a bad thing), albeit one with a $9,000 higher price tag than a Yukon Denali, which nips ever-so-closely at its heels.
Under the hood, the Escalade is fitted with GM’s 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 horsepower (same as the Yukon Denali) that propels the behemoth from 0-60 mph in just over 6 seconds. Although the punch is potent, the ride is sedate because Cadillac has deployed Magnetic Ride Control (not on the Yukon Denali) to smooth out the road. Even while riding on 20-inch wheels — 22-inch wheels are available — the Escalade is smoother than its GM brethren. Points there.
Same as before, the Escalade comes in normal and extended wheelbase editions, dubbed ESV. The ESV adds 14 inches to the wheelbase, which it uses for cargo and a little more legroom all the way around. Both normal and ESV models have third-row seating, although children are likely targets for these seats — there’s not a lot of padding and it wouldn’t be very comfortable for adults on long trips.
The Escalade does achieve better gas mileage than its predecessor, 14/20 mpg in city/highway, or so says the EPA. The Escalade does use the same cylinder deactivation that other GM products use, although it’s not as overt about it. Lesser trucks and SUV’s have an in-dash display that alerts you to when the V8 has shut down enough cylinders to be a V4. Cadillac owners would prefer to know they’re using resources, apparently.
And that’s pretty much the story all the way around.
The Cadillac Escalade is very much in a class of its own, evidenced by its success and successive generations in the face of changing economics. Braggadocios branding and chrome everywhere announces the Escalade’s presence like a mega pop star. But when you listen to the song, you realize it’s one you’ve heard before — good or bad.