If you have a large family say, three or four children, you detest minivans, are well-heeled, extremely well-heeled, and need a large capacity and luxurious AWD vehicle, Cadillac’s Escalade ESV AWD Platinum may be for you.
The 2011 Escalade I tested was decked out with no options or extras. Why? Because it has every imaginable amenity and convenience item included. And its price reflects it. A cool $88,295 gives you the best of the best including such posh trimmings as heated steering wheel, olive ash and walnut burl wood trim, first and second row heated/cooled Tehama Aniline leather seats and Nuance Leather third row seat, all with contrasting stitching on the French seams.
There’s also retractable assist steps (running boards) that power out and in when opening/closing a door. Otherwise, there’s a 23-inch step-in into the cabin whereas the assist step is a mere 12 inches.
The AWD Platinum ESV (the designation for extended length) is but one model as there’s also an EXT Platinum that features a reconfigurable cargo bed with segment-exclusive midgate. This enables the rear compartment to flex between passenger and cargo space.
Also offered is a hybrid version that delivers, says Cadillac, up to 33-percent better fuel economy over the standard 6.2L, 403-hp all aluminum V8 that is EPA rated at 13 city, 18 highway mpg. Powered as such, Escalade has brute torque and power, but with its heavy curb weight of 5,693 pounds, you pay for it at the pumps.
If space is what you need, the Escalade has it. Aside from a roomy cockpit and second row, there’s 30 inches of cargo length and 49 inches of width behind the third row seats. Fold the second and third rows and length extends to a whopping 101 inches. But they don’t fold flat to the floor. They can, however, be removed entirely, but they are heavy.
Of course the kids are treated to dual DVD video screens behind the front headrests with ability to watch two separate videos simultaneously. So there’s no, “Mom, sis won’t let me watch my show.”
And if you decide to drive to Orlando from Allentown, there’s a generous 4x6 inch GPS Nav screen to show/tell the way as is a XM Radio Nav/Traffic system and OnStar assist.
And the long ride down there will be smooth, quiet and comfy on 22-inch Bridgestone tires. Cadillac’s exclusive Magnetic Ride Control controls body motion in real-time damping mode. It reads the road in milliseconds and changes damping in five milliseconds, says Cadillac. The system replaces conventional mechanical-valve shocks with electronically controlled shocks.
Safety wise, Escalade is loaded with an array of airbags front, rear and side, side blind zone alert and StabiliTrak that uses sensors to proactively predict vehicle “tip-up” whereupon appropriate brake force comes on to prevent such events.
Without a doubt, Escalade is the ultimate long distance driving machine, with, in my opinion, the sizable Infiniti Q56 being it’s only competitor. And if any snowy weather is encountered, the full-time AWD system keeps this boat on even keel. And it’s a good-looking boat with its stacked, long-lasting LED headlamp assemblies plus a sexy array of LED taillights. It’s all Cadillac.
To take a test drive, stop by Scott Cadillac on Lehigh Street in Allentown or Faulkner Cadillac off Route 22 in Bethlehem. And to automatically receive auto news and reviews from Nick Hromiak, click on the “Subscribe” notation on this page.
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