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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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If you’re looking for a luxury ride that can haul the whole family, you should test drive the new Cadillac Escalade.