Cadillac Escalade. Iceberg

 

Cadillac Escalade. Price: from $87,648 (701,177 UAH) On sale: since 2008

Cadillac has always been associated with a brand for kings and connoisseurs of beauty. And the passion of Russians for huge and powerful SUVs has turned the massive Escalade into a sales leader on the domestic market. However, even this almost celestial being has to drive on the ground, which means it cannot avoid tests at the proving ground


Bigger means better

Everything in the Cadillac Escalade is done on a grand scale. Take its dimensions, for example — the length exceeds five meters, the width is more than two, and the height almost reaches two meters. In such space, eight passengers can sit comfortably. Yes, exactly eight. On the second and third rows, there are three separate seats each. Competitors offer only two places on the third row. For each row, the Escalade has its own climate control zone — a three-zone system works here. All eight riders can not only travel comfortably in this Cadillac but also enjoy music worthy of a concert hall.

The acoustics for this car were created by Bose specifically for this model. If you want not only to listen but also to watch, passengers have a display screen at their service — for example, for movies. The base package includes a CD changer and a DVD player. The Escalade looks rich and expensive not only inside but also outside, which is perhaps even more important — after all, you meet people by their clothes. The exterior of the SUV is brutal, but at the same time maintains aristocratic calm. Chrome plays a significant role in the image. This shiny material covers the mirrors, door handles, moldings, part of the radiator grille, and the tailgate trim. But the main accent is the chrome wheels of the eighteenth radius, the design of which was developed specifically for the Escalade. As a result, this Cadillac makes exactly the impression expected of it — big, expensive, and attractive.

 

 

With its gigantic size, the Cadillac Escalade stands out from the traffic. Seeing this giant in the rearview mirror, you involuntarily want to give way. Go ahead, respected giant!

 

We are used to the fact that a big and solid car should be black. But in white-pearl finish, the Escalade looks even more noble, resembling a huge iceberg. The secret of the attractive appearance of this giant is simple: classic style with strict lines. This principle is traced throughout the entire Cadillac lineup, and the Escalade is no exception.

The premium class affiliation is emphasized by an abundance of chrome parts on the body: radiator grille, exterior mirrors, moldings, door handles. Moreover, all this splendor is included in the base package, not an option.

Despite its power and significance, the Escalade is very friendly to owners. You just pull the handle of any of the four doors, and a wide running board helpfully extends, so getting into the high cabin is not difficult at all. The only place where you will have to sweat a little is getting to the third row. Although there is enough space there even for adults.

The cabin is spacious, and it could not be otherwise with such dimensions. The front seats resemble soft home armchairs, devoid of lateral support. You sit wide and free. Thanks to the width of the body, a huge armrest with spacious niches is placed between the front seats. This is very convenient, because reaching the glove box on the go is quite problematic.

Classicism is manifested not only in the design of the Escalade. The engine is started with a regular key, and the gearshift lever is still located on the steering column. But the automatic transmission itself has become more modern: now it has six gears and a manual mode. But it is inconvenient to use — shifting is done by buttons on the gearshift lever, which are not immediately noticeable. And there is not much point in manual mode. The maximum speed of 172 km/h is reached already in fourth gear, and this happens in 28.4 seconds. It will not be possible to accelerate faster. Fifth and sixth gears are economical. Even at maximum speed in sixth gear, the rpm does not exceed the mark of 2700.

Under the hood is a V-shaped eight-cylinder engine with a volume of 6.2 liters. The power of the unit is 403 hp with a torque of 565 Nm, which is achieved at 440 rpm. With such indicators, a three-ton car accelerates to a hundred in just 7.5 seconds. The acceleration of the monster is accompanied by an indescribable deep and low sound of the engine and exhaust.

Making a big car fast is a simple matter: you need a powerful engine with a fuel consumption of about 30 liters per hundred according to the on-board computer. But how does the giant behave in maneuvers? This is where the most interesting part begins. It is not for nothing that most owners drive the Escalade slowly. Firstly, they demonstrate their importance, secondly, they save fuel, and thirdly, they ensure their own safety. Already by the appearance of the huge Cadillac, one can guess its clumsiness. No, it has enough maneuverability: it turns around in a spot with a diameter of 12 meters with a length of 5144 mm. But having gained speed, the Escalade begins to roll noticeably, and the soft and comfortable suspension is to blame. During lane changes, a strong unloading of one of the front wheels is observed, up to the activation of the stabilization system. This behavior is partly explained by the weight distribution towards the rear axle — 49.9% to 50.1%.

The speed on a slow lane change due to rolls drops by about 20 km/h, and a long lane change is possible at a speed of 125 km/h. The results are not outstanding, but the indicators do not change much — both in loaded and unloaded states.

As for handling, namely the informativeness of the steering wheel, it is simply absent. The steering wheel remains light in any driving mode: both in the parking lot and on the highway. The positive point is that under prolonged alternating loads, it does not bite. But the central position must be constantly monitored.

Another weak point of the Escalade is the brakes. At first, they inspire confidence, stopping a heavy car in 39 meters from 100 km/h, although this is accompanied by a strong nose dive. But the figure of 39 does not last long. The brakes quickly overheat, and the stopping distance increases. On the tenth braking, it was already 43 meters. Cooling the system takes a long time.

As for comfort, this is the strongest side of the Escalade. It is very quiet inside. You have to raise your voice only so that the interlocutor can hear the speaker in the huge cabin.

Summing up, it should be noted that the Cadillac Escalade is very reminiscent of a huge iceberg, which fate has given a long and leisurely life. It is not created for daily hustle and frequent short trips. If this type of character suits you, take it — you will not regret it!



Like - dislike

The massive FIFTH DOOR opens not only manually but also automatically. Convenient

The GPS SENSOR accurately determined the error of the Escalade speedometer — by 10 km/h in the minus. Accurate

Rear passengers will not be bored, a DVD DISPLAY is provided for them. Fun




Advantages and disadvantages

Body

+ brutal design
– low front bumper



Ride comfort

+ spacious cabin and trunk
+ comfortable suspension



Powertrain

+ torquey engine
– high fuel consumption



Handling properties

+ comfortable and elastic suspension
– large rolls on corners and during braking

 

Safety

+ airbags, active and passive safety systems

Environmental friendliness

+ compliance with toxicity standards






Manufacturer's data

Power, hp (kW) - 403 (300.5)
Acceleration to 100 km/h, s - 6.8
Maximum speed, km/h - 170


Technical data


Engine

Vortec 6.2L V8 SFI with variable valve timing. Gasoline AI-92.


Power

Power, hp (kW)/rpm 403 (300.5)/5700
Specific power, hp/l 93.7
Displacement, cm3 6199
Maximum torque, Nm/rpm 565.4/4300



Transmission

All-wheel drive, six-speed automatic transmission (model 6L80-E) with electronic control, overdrive function and a special mode for trailer towing.


Chassis

Front suspension — independent, on unequal-length arms, with shock absorber inside coil spring and anti-roll bar. Rear — multi-link system with five links and coil spring. Track width front — 1732 mm, rear — 1702 mm. Steering requires 3.2 turns from lock to lock. Brakes — disc on both axles. The test vehicle was shod with Bridgestone Dueler H/L P 265/65R18 112H tires.


Body

Station wagon with five doors and eight seats.
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm — 5144/2007/1887
Wheelbase, mm — 2946
Turning circle (right/left), m — 11.8/12.0
Fuel tank capacity, l — 98
Curb weight, kg — 2652
Weight distribution front/rear, % — 49.9/50.1
Trunk volume, l — 479/3084
GVWR, kg — 3221
Payload, kg — 569



Interior

Headroom front/rear, mm — 965/970
Interior width front/rear, mm — 1675/1670
Seat cushion depth front/rear, mm — 510/530
Steering wheel diameter, mm — 360



Fuel consumption

City cycle, l/100 km — 17.7
Highway, l/100 km — 10.8
Combined, l/100 km — 14.6



Emissions

Emission standard — Euro 4



Warranty

Warranty is valid for 3 years or up to 100,000 km.



Price

Starting price — $87,648 (701,177 UAH)
Price of the car in our trim — $96,148 (769,181 UAH)

Equipment

Standard features

Factory AM/FM stereo WX audio system with CD/DVD/MP3 support and two slots (lower one for 6-disc changer); Bose 5.1 Studio Surround Sound audio system with 10 speakers; dual-zone climate control; cruise control; rear-seat entertainment center; power-adjustable pedals; deluxe steering wheel; heated rear seats; rear parking sensors; front seats with 14-way power adjustment; separate heating for cushion and backrest of front seats; 50/50 split folding second-row seats with heating; PASS-Key III Plus immobilizer; power-folding and power-adjustable exterior mirrors with heating and auto-dimming on driver's side; tires: P265/65R18 112H all-season; power tailgate; air suspension with automatic ride height adjustment; engine pre-heater; StabiliTrack stability control; traction control (TRC).



Measurement results
Vehicle unladen/laden

Slalom 18 m, km/h 58.2/55.3
ISO handling test, km/h 125.3/12.8
VDA lane change test:
entry speed, km/h 69/68
exit speed, km/h 44/42
Exterior noise, dB(A)
During acceleration (from 50 km/h) 79
At steady speed (80 km/h) 76
Interior noise, dB(A)
D mode
at 50 km/h 54
at 80 km/h 60
at 100 km/h 66
at 120 km/h 67
at 130 km/h 70
at 140 km/h 73
at 160 km/h 76
at idle 44
maximum level in D 75

Speedometer error, km/h
reading actual speed
50 47
80 75
100 94
120 112
130 121
140 130
160 150
180 170
Braking distance, m
From 100 km/h (cold brakes, unladen) 39
Emergency braking from 140 km/h 78



Measured parameter

Acceleration dynamics, s
0 — 30 1.4
0 — 40 2.0
0 — 50 2.6
0 — 60 3.3
0 — 70 4.2
0 — 80 5.2
0 — 100 7.5
0 — 120 10.4
0 — 130 12.0
0 — 140 13.7
0 — 160 18.9
400 m 15.4 (147 km/h)
1000 m 28.4 (172 km/h)
Top speed 172 km/h




Our opinion

The Cadillac Escalade immediately catches the eye with its appearance. It looks powerful and at the same time noble, without excessive aggression. Design is its main trump card. Behind the wheel, it behaves like a classic representative of the American school: the steering wheel is weightless, the suspension is smooth, which causes noticeable body roll in corners. However, for such a car, this is not a critical drawback.