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2008 Cadillac Escalade
2008 Cadillac Escalade
When Too Much is Not Quite Enough
The Cadillac Escalade is a hulking glitz-mobile that performs well, especially if your goal is conspicuous consumption.
Like its less glamorous corporate cousins, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, the Cadillac Escalade rides on a truck chassis that has been revised to provide added sophistication, comfort and performance. The base Escalade uses rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is an option, but the system is optimized for on-road use, as the Escalade is designed more for urban showboating than backwoods off-roading.
Exterior styling, though recently updated, remains familiar. Despite changes to improve aerodynamics, including a more steeply raked windshield, this is still an imposing vehicle that struggles against the wind with its rectangular profile. A massive grille is flanked by high-intensity headlamps up front. A multitude of bright chrome accents around the vehicle might explain why so many Escalade owners wear sunglasses.
The vehicle's leather-clad, seven-passenger cabin was recently upgraded and feels more luxurious thanks to higher-quality materials and a more attractive design. The back-lit instrument panel is low and pushed toward the front of the vehicle to add a sense of spaciousness while diminishing the big-truck feel that some might find intimidating. A power-folding second row makes getting into or out of the third row easier.
Under the Escalade's massive hood is a 6.2-liter V8 engine that uses variable valve timing to generate an impressive 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. This enables tire-smoking launches from a stop and strong acceleration on the highway. It also allows the Escalade to tow up to 8,000 pounds.
The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that affords smoother shifts and better fuel economy than the crude four-speed gearbox in the previous model. Manual gear selection is possible with a button on the column shifter.
The six-speed transmission improves fuel economy, but not by much. At best, the Escalade will hit about 19 miles per gallon in relaxed highway driving.
The Cadillac Escalade’s ride is pleasant thanks to its stiffer frame and relatively low center of gravity. Its steering mechanics have been revised for quicker turning. That, combined with a light steering feel, makes the Escalade feel more nimble than it is.
General Motors’ stability control system, called StabiliTrak, is coupled with rollover mitigation technology that deploys the vehicle's standard head-curtain airbags before a crash occurs, if it determines a rollover is imminent.
The Cadillac Escalade comes standard with a power liftgate, rain-sensing wipers with heated washers, park-assist technology and a remote-starting feature. Noteworthy options include a Dolby Digital Surround audio system, adaptive headlamps that pivot to illuminate the road around curves at night, and a rearview video camera that alerts the driver to people or objects behind the vehicle.
Is the Cadillac Escalade for You?
| Buy the Escalade if | You need a full-size SUV for towing or hauling heavy loads but also want a spruced-up luxury model; you like drawing attention to yourself; fuel economy rates low on your priority list. |
| Keep Looking if | You don't like to stand out; you'd just as soon save some money and drive a Chevy Tahoe or GMC Yukon. |
| Who Fits? | There’s room for seven riders in the Escalade, though it's less hospitable to shorter motorists than some smaller SUVs. While the third row is best suited for kids, power-folding second-row seats make getting into and out of the back aisle easier. |
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