The Cadillac Escalade is now in its 4th generation since it started production in 1999. Whilst entering a very competitive market of luxury 4x4’s it has succeeded and become one of the front runners in its market. The Escalade was originally released to compete with Ford’s Lincoln Navigator, now a days the Cadillac Escalade is up against the Infiniti QX80, Mercedes GL500 and the Lexus LX570.
Key Features:
Engine: 6.2L V8
Transmission: 8 Speed Automatic
Power: 420 hp / 623 NM
Top Speed: 209 km/h
Price: AED 315,000 - 360,000
Exterior
Cadillac claims the Escalade was hand sculpted at the design stage and you know what, I believe them, this car is beautiful. When I first got the Escalade I was admiring the rear light blade LED taillights when I thought hold on where's the rear window wiper, It's hidden and only appears when needed. That's what this car is about, ultimate luxury and top class looks. The headlights look like they should be hanging from the roof of a palace ballroom, stunning. The wheels, 22’ premium painted with chrome inserts, the thought of a kerb being near them gives me chills. The Escalade has immense presence, with the large front grill and chrome everywhere, it makes a statement in every situation.
See More: Cadillac CT6 Launch UAE
Interior
I'm not really sure where to start on the Escalades interior, seriously. The leather is everywhere and it's the finest money can buy. The seats are filled with features, vibrating if any area of the exterior gets to close to an obstacle you can't drive over, 3 different settings of massage with different pressure settings as well as cooling for both front seats. The steering wheel is hand stitched, again with the finest leather, it's the most comfortable steering wheel I've ever used and is ergonomically perfect with all the controls being easy to reach.
The all new Escalade comes with a 12.3’ customisable display showing speed and rpm as well as a large array of instrument clusters ranging from Sat-Nav to entertainment. Cadillac’s “CUE” infotainment system has always had its quirks and has been slightly laggy to use, it has gotten better from previous models but still has some improvement to match the standard of the rest of the vehicle.
The Escalade has lots of space in the cabin and the rear seats have loads of legroom as do the seats in the boot. In the Platinum we tested, the rear passengers can also enjoy movies, tv shows, and stream online from the screens placed in the back of the front seats, there's also a drop down screen for the occupants of the seats in the boot so no one is left out. The Escalade is very well equipped to say the least.
Safety
The all new Escalade, as expected has top of the range safety systems and is built from ultra high strength steel alloys and strategically placed crumple zones. The car comes standard with seven airbags and a first in the market front centre airbag designed to deploy between the driver and passenger in the case of a side impact or rollover.
The Escalade also has lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, side blind zone alert, lane change alert and forward collision alert. In the Platinum on top of all the previously mentioned you get, adaptive cruise control, front and rear automatic braking and automatic safety belt tightening. Whilst driving the car you do get a sense that it's not 100% you driving, it's as if the car thinks its better and always has you covered incase anything goes wrong. The Escalade passed with 5 stars in the NHTSA crash test.
See More: Cadillac CT6 2016 Review
Drive
The Escalade is pitched against some very strong competitors when it comes to its price range but seems to hold its own. When I drove the car the first thing I noticed, and I know this may sound stupid but it felt heavy. Not in the sense of weight but responsiveness. I was surprised at how long it took from the moment you plant your foot on the go faster pedal for the car to change down a few gears and take off. Having said that when it does eventually change down it's like a steam train.
The 8 speed gearbox has been one of the biggest changes from its predecessor. With the new gearbox comes shorter gear ratios, dramatically improving acceleration and cruising comfortability. Whilst cruising the engine will shut down from 8 to 4 cylinders to improve fuel efficiency and Its magnetic ride control works like a dream simply floating you wherever you point the thing.
The beautiful headlamps are also very adaptive and move around depending on the direction of the steering wheel, they also automatically adjust according the weather or time of day with the new IntelliBeam system. The powerplant is a large 6.2L V8 producing 420hp and 623NM, thus allowing the 5000+ pound beast to accelerate from 0-100km/h in a scarcely believable 5.6 seconds
Verdict
The Cadillac Escalade was created to exude luxury and comfort, it achieves this with flying colours. The only downside I could find with the car was the responsiveness of the engine but when you feel like you're in Thailand getting a massage whilst the car drives itself, its forgivable.
Check out Car Prices and Specs for Cadillac Escalade and Competitors
Editor’s Picks
Bentley Bentayga arrives in GCC
