Overview:
This week we look at the Cadillac Escalade SUV or is it just a Chey Tahoe in a tux? If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it probably is a duck. In this case it’s a duck. It’s built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. It must be intended to provide the ruggedness of a GMC truck with the amenities expected in a Cadillac.
At first blush I got the feeling of “Big” and that meant more like the Chevrolet Suburban. But after a week in this very special SUV I felt the subtle sense that I was indeed in a Cadillac.
I fully expected it to be a so-so car and folks wouldn’t care about it. The fact that Cadillac got into the SUV fray was still a surprise to me and probably you too. I asked myself, why would they get down to “Truck’n” and off road’n. What’s a luxury car doing playing in the mud? Well, I think it really comes down to money. Sales are brisk in this category of car / truck and I suspect that Cadillac thought they had a market. My guess is that they found that upscale product consumers also want to have the image of tough and tumble kind of people while retaining the luxury of Cadillac.
Well, this surely is the Cadillac of SUV’s but it’s not the Jeep of SUV’s if you get my drift. Don’t get me wrong, Jeeps are very comfortable and luxurious too, but there is no other name that speaks class and quality like Cadillac. It has become a common use term to describe anything from soup to nuts as being the best. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, that I’ve owned eight Cadillac’s over the years and was always happy with them. The quality is unmistakable. And it’s interesting to note that 75% of SUV’s will never go off road anyway, so Cadillac must have factored that in the decision to produce an upscale Sport Utility.
I liked the partial wood steering wheel because it added that distinction of being a Cadillac and those are the subtle differences buyers would expect in this car. Someone asked, “if it felt so great, then why didn’t they make the whole wheel out of wood?” Good question and I don’t know the answer, but I liked it just the same. In any case I knew I wasn’t driving just any SUV. After all, this is a Cadillac. I knew that, but imagine my surprise when folks actually came up to me and asked about it. When you drive a different car every week, as I do, you notice these kind of attitude changes in people. I experienced smiles, thumbs up, pleasant conversation and sincere interest in the fact that…. “It’s a Cadillac! I didn’t know they made one of these”. They didn’t ma’am until this year and it’s very nice. Then she looked at my shirt and said, “Oh, well you work for Cadillac”. I too then noticed the Icon on my shirt did resemble the Cadillac emblem. “Wait, Ma’am it’s not like that….” Oh well.
I suspect Cadillac’s market research already determined that folks would be interested in the fact that SUV’s could also be classy. And to add even more class to this SUV, Cadillac added OnStar for the rich and famous who would want to be rescued if they went a little too far “Off Road”. If they found themselves in the middle of the jungle with lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Well, they simply push this little blue button and 24 hours a day there is a real live person to talk to who will send whatever help you need. They know exactly where you are via satellite. And there is even a panic button that brings 911 type help even faster if there are bad guys following you. I wonder if that includes cars with flashing red lights? What will they think of next? I guess tough times demand tougher solutions. Speak of being Boy Scout Prepared. And this new version of OnStar is even more simplified as everything is built in. The first year service is free with purchase and then you just get billed monthly after that. And finally, Cadillac Escalade comes in a single trim. What you see is what you get. What else would you expect from a class act?
Would I buy one, you ask? Well, for Beverly Hills bumps it’s ok, but I’m a pretty practical guy. I prefer the 4-wheel independent suspension, 50% more out of the gas tank and a smaller price tag all of which you get from smaller SUV’s. In particular I prefer the Mercedes ML320 or the Lexus RX 300. But let’s face it, American’s like bigger cars for all the gear they carry to go out into the wilderness. You know, generator for the hair dryer, TV and other essentials.
Competition:
GMC Yukon $30,039 – $42,975, Infiniti QX4 $35,550, Jeep Grand Cherokee $25,900 – $34,095,
Land Rover Range Rover $58,000 – $75,000, Lexus LX 470 $55,905, Lincoln Navigator $40,660 – $44,310, Mercedes-Benz M-Class $34,950 – $43,750.
Good News:
It’s new, it’s a Cadillac, it’s great, three cheers for the good guys.
Bad News:
The tow package is for a small gas tanker you’ll need to get across town.
Standard Equipment:
5.7 liter V8 255 hp engine with 4-speed automatic transmission, autotrac 4WD, speed sensitive power steering, chrome aluminum wheels, OnStar system with 1 year service, airbags, remote keyless entry, theft deterrent system, 4-wheel anti lock brakes, air conditioning front and rear, power windows, locks and 10-way front seats, leather and Zebrano wood trim, heated front and rear seats, rear seat audio, cruise control, Bose AM/FM stereo system with cassette, center console-mounted CD changer with six speakers.
Gas Stats:
12 City and 16 Highway MPG.
Pricing:
MSRP $45,875.
