by Cheryl Eldridge and wire reports
Cadillac engineers are welcoming buyers to the next-generation Escalade. The official mover of the shakers. The essence of luxury culminating the very best of what art and science brings to this iconic vehicle. The SUV that spoils up to eight passengers as well as countless spectators.
Driving in one of the world’s rich and famous luxury editions was definitely my cup of tea during last week’s test drive. My tester was coated in a Majestic plum metallic with ashlar with a cocoa accented interior.
My tester Cadillac Escalade gets a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive are standard, but all-wheel drive is an option. If you want to keep the neighbors’ heads turning and are used to drawing attention, then, parking a 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV in your driveway is synonymous with living large. That also happens to be a fairly apt description of everyday life with this full-size luxury SUV.
My backseat and front seat passengers (my children) especially enjoyed riding in the Escalade and were greeted by their friends each morning and afternoon during my normal drop off and pick up schedule. They all thought that the car was “cool”, one kid even saluted me. Now I know what it feels like to be a celebrity, just kidding.
Cadillac’s latest CUE electronics interface, has Escalade’s touchscreen and overall dashboard layout fit for a queen or king. No worrying about turning knobs, just simply gliding your index finger will set the atmosphere and gives the driver and passenger easy accessibility.
CUE – Cadillac User Experience – is standard. It is an advanced system for connectivity and control, featuring state-of-the-art voice recognition with touch controls common with the world’s most popular tablets and mobile devices. The eight-inch center screen uses capacitive touch technology and gesture recognition, enabling tapping and swiping common to smartphones and tablets.
The system also uses proximity sensors to activate common options and controls as the user’s hand approaches. An expanded “favorites” section offers quick access to phone contacts, navigation destinations – even digital music – in the same one-touch form as traditional radio presets.
The instrument cluster features a reconfigurable, high-resolution 12.3-inch digital driver information center (DIC) display paired with Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system, with data also shown on an available, full-color head-up display on Luxury and Premium Collections. Along with vehicle systems information, the DIC provides details on the audio, Bluetooth phone and navigation systems, which can be adjusted via steering wheel controls.
Enhanced connectivity includes a new Text Messaging Alerts feature for smartphone users with Bluetooth profile (M.A.P.), which reads incoming texts through the vehicle’s speakers, and Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users to enhance connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity, to help keep phones safely stowed and hands on the wheel.
Complementing CUE to enhance Escalade’s connectivity is new OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot (late availability). It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three gigabyte data trial.
At more than 18 feet long, the Escalade ESV dwarfs most other passenger vehicles on the road. It’s also an exceptionally luxurious way to transport up to eight people and their luggage. The 403-horsepower V8 under the hood of this gussied-up version of the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL is another celebration of excess, as it delivers strong acceleration and robust towing capacity.
As is typical in life, though, there’s a downside to this super-size approach. The ESV’s expansive dimensions make it challenging to maneuver in heavy traffic, not to mention cramped parking garages. Then, there’s fuel economy, which is predictably poor.
The 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a full-size, extended-wheelbase luxury SUV. It’s to the Suburban what the regular Escalade is to the Tahoe. It’s offered in four trim levels: base, Luxury, Premium and a top-of-the-line Platinum Edition. The cabin seats seven with the standard captain’s chairs and eight with the second-row bench seat that’s optional on all but the Platinum Edition.
Standard equipment on the entry-level Escalade includes 18-inch alloy wheels, an adaptive and auto-leveling suspension, a locking rear differential, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, power-folding heated mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming, running boards, roof racks, a power liftgate, rear parking sensors and keyless ignition/entry. Interior features include tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats with driver memory functions, heated second-row seats, a 50/50-split third-row seat, a power tilt-only steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Standard technology features include a touchscreen interface, a navigation system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone connectivity, OnStar emergency communications, voice controls and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with a six-CD changer, satellite radio, an iPod/USB audio interface, rear seat controls and two sets of wireless headphones.
The Luxury trim level gets you 22-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded adaptive suspension, automatic high beams, a sunroof, a blind-spot warning system, a power-folding and -tumbling second row and a heated steering wheel. Options here include power-retractable running boards and a rear seat video entertainment system with a single screen. The Premium gets you all of the above plus distinctive exterior trim and unique 22-inch alloy wheels. LED headlights are an option.
The Platinum Edition starts with all those goodies and adds its own special exterior styling details and 22-inch chrome wheels, upgraded leather upholstery, leather-trimmed dash and door tops, genuine wood accents, contrasting stitching, heated and cooled cupholders, and unique interior color choices. The standard video entertainment system also gets dual headrest-mounted screens.
Accelerating from zero to 60 mph should take a little over 7 seconds, an impressive number by large SUV standards. Estimated EPA fuel economy numbers are about what you’d expect from a heavy vehicle with a powerful V8: 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 13/18/14 with all-wheel drive. A properly equipped rear-drive Escalade ESV can tow up to 8,000 pounds, while the all-wheel-drive model’s towing capacity is only slightly less at 7,700 pounds.
The 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV comes with most of the expected standard safety features including antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags that cover all three rows, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. Also standard is OnStar, which includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking and stolen vehicle assistance. A blind-spot warning system is included on all but the base model.
Compared to the Chevy model upon which it’s based, the Cadillac Escalade ESV offers a handsome cabin with an upscale look enhanced by high-quality materials. From a practical perspective, the gauges and controls are easy to see and operate. Regardless of whether it’s fitted with the standard second-row captain’s chairs or the available second-row bench, occupants of the first two rows will enjoy a generous amount of head- and legroom. The available power flip-and-fold feature for the second-row seats makes accessing the three-person third row easier, but between the climb required to get back there and the distinct shortage of legroom, the third row is really only suitable for children.
By the way, as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” My tester’s sticker price was $86.480 .
Until next week, drive safe and buckle up, it’s the law.
