The Cadillac Escalade has always been the preferred vehicle of people who have “made it,” but it wasn’t necessarily a good family car or a good car to drive. Sure, it could haul the family, but it didn’t feel as special as it should to cost the price it does.
The latest version of the Escalade is all-new. Unlike the redesigned Lincoln Navigator, the Escalade was rebuilt from the bottom up with all the new stuff. You can also still get the Escalade with a proper V8, which is often still a requirement for a luxury car.
But where Cadillac really improved the vehicle was with the overall build quality. It has the “New GM” feel that I’ve come to expect from Detroit’s latest, with a world-class interior that rivals that of Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
Cadillac also focused on driving dynamics and fuel economy. The new Escalade, while still a large SUV, feels better to drive, and is less thirsty at the pump. That should help luring in the younger buyers that Cadillac desperately needs.
It’s not without it’s faults; CUE still needs a lot of work to be competitive with systems like SYNC 3 or Uconnect, but overall the Escalade is a good package for a relatively good price. Plus, it still has room to haul the entire family comfortably on that long road trip.
If you’re looking for a luxury ride that can haul the whole family, you should test drive the new Cadillac Escalade.