As comfy as they come, with room for four
ASSOCIATE EDITOR WESLEY WREN: Lux-ur-ry. That is what anyone who basks in the glory that is the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Premium Edition must think when they see it rolling around. It looks like money. I mean, the reason it looks like money could be due to the fact that it costs more than a lot of homes in Detroit.
But the 2015 Escalade does more than just look good on the outside — it looks good everywhere. There are cameras front and rear to aid in pulling into and backing out of parking spaces (which isn’t necessary but is absolutely helpful). The front camera is also tied into the adaptive cruise control, which takes a second to get used to if you aren’t familiar with it. Adaptive cruise control is actually one of the most fascinating parts of this luxury liner because of the way it allows you to set a cruising speed and then basically not worry about touching the accelerator or brake, even when you come up on traffic.
There are blind-spot sensors in the mirrors that illuminate a little icon to warn you about changing lanes, which is a good idea — but considering the magical lack of blind spots on this hulking vehicle, they were just a little cherry on top of the lane-changing sundae.
And you will be changing lanes, thanks to the L86 6.2-liter that churns out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It’s good for passing at any speed. The Ecotec 6.2, as General Motors has dubbed it, will kill four cylinders while at speed to help on the fuel reserves. That did actually help with the fuel economy; I netted around 20.2 mpg on the last fill-up, right in line with what GM advertises.
This could also be one of the most comfortable vehicles I’ve ever driven. Leather is everywhere, and the seat is as adjustable as they come (ours didn’t have the optional massager that I would have loved to try). The cabin is as spacious as you’d imagine and is worth every penny of the price tag — except the pad for the brake pedal was loose. A small complaint — but for the price, it’s noteworthy.
Now, it would be very possible to option a Tahoe or Yukon to about the same specs as this Escalade (for quite a bit less money), but what those lack is the prestige that comes with owning a Cadillac — the prestige of being able to pay thousands of dollars more for the same car.
2015 Cadillac Escalade 6.2-liter V8 engine, rated for 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I borrowed this for a trip to a golf outing up near Gaylord, about 200 miles north of Detroit for you non-locals. Myself and two other guys and luggage and golf bags and whatnot. I couldn’t have asked for a better ride. That won’t be a surprise to people who know me; they’ll remember I love big, full-frame trucks.
And this baby is definitely big. It’s good lookin’ too, chiseled and crisp. The interior is well built and comfy — everything’s heated and cooled. As I’ve said about other new Cadillacs I’ve driven, CUE seems quicker and less of an effort than before.
The ride feels firm(ish) and well controlled considering the truck’s weight. Three passengers was not a problem, he said, perhaps stating the obvious. The decently weighted steering surprised me by how direct it feels. This baby runs silently and confidently down the highway, gobbling up miles. For the golf outing we stopped once each way and jumped out feeling just fine. I could feel the 420 hp pulling when I jumped on the gas, and the V8 even gave a little hot-roddie roar. Power comes on smooth and stays smooth.
The new Escalade does a lot of things right. Probably why it sells like proverbial hotcakes. I’d love to take a few days and drive it back to back with a Range Rover and Benz GL.
The Escalade features higher levels of luxury, with sophisticated new technology for safety and connectivity.
Options: Power retractable assist steps ($ 1,695); 22-inch dual seven-spoke, ultra-bright finish aluminum wheels ($ 600)
