In the automotive world, few things epitomize luxury more than the Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade has spawned plenty of competition in the full-size luxury SUV market. With over-the-top luxury, and an equally unmatched frame and engine, the Escalade leads its competition.
Enter my tester for the week, the 2013 Escalade Platinum. Few changes have been made to this model year other than a revised braking system and the addition of some exterior colors.
My tester was the top-of-the-line Platinum trim with all-wheel drive — talk about luxury and comfort.
There is nothing subtle about the chromed-out exterior of the Escalade. The stout, sturdy exterior puts on airs with its impressive grille, LED headlamps,
22-inch chrome aluminum wheels and dual chrome exhaust. Power running boards are concealed until passengers are ready to enter, when they slide out to help even the shortest of passengers access the interior with ease.
Inside, more luxury awaits, making it obvious why the Escalade is one of the most popular vehicles among business executives and high-end transport services.
Driver and passengers will quickly get spoiled. The Escalade comes standard as a 7-passenger vehicle with second-row bucket seats. There is a second-row, bench-seating option to make it an 8-passenger vehicle.
Regardless of how many people are inside, the Escalade flashes its style with natural wood grain trim, leather seating throughout and heated and cooled front seats. The second-row seats are also heated, and there are up to four DVD monitors, with separate entertainment settings, to aid in amusing passengers for longer road trips.
The driver will enjoy adjustable pedals, leather-wrapped steering and even heated and cooled cupholders.
For such a hulking vehicle, the Escalade drives much smoother than most trucks. Thanks to Cadillac’s magnetic ride control technology, the Escalade runs effortlessly over any terrain, cushioning riders along the way.
There is also nothing subtle about the 6.2-liter Vortec V8 engine. It is big and powerful and generates 403 horsepower. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system, the Escalade takes on more of a truck persona. The blue-collar performance of the powertrain is one of the best features of this otherwise white-collar vehicle.
The Escalade is obviously a gas-guzzler. A hybrid version is available for those who don’t wish to spend upwards of $3,500 a year in fuel. My tester has an EPA rating of 13 city and 18 highway. In a week’s worth of driving, I averaged 15 MPG.
GM’s Active Fuel Management technology is used in the Escalade. The vehicle is also E85 capable.
There are four trimlines available including the hybrid and the platinum. The base Sport model has a starting price of $65,270. For those wanting the full Escalade experience, and the Platinum lifestyle, it will cost umore than $80,000. My tester came in with an MSRP of $83,490.
For those who demand the finest things in life, where even gold might not be enough, there’s options, even in the auto industry. That’s where the
Cadillac Escalade comes in, and does so in style.
Jimmy Dinsmore is the Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115. Follow him on Twitter @wheelseditor