2008 Cadillac Escalade Review

Specifications

Breakfast was finished, introductions were made, and we were let loose. It was May, and that meant a GM media day where we were given a chance to sample some of the General’s leading products, from the funky Chevrolet HHR to the mammoth Sierra 3500 HD full-size pickup truck. There was a Hummer there, a brand-spanking new Cadillac CTS and… a Cadillac Escalade. It was white, had 22-inch chrome wheels and an exhaust pipe that looked like it could produce a sound that would rattle every window in a small town. Maybe even a medium-sized one.

Of course, I made a beeline for that baby, and throughout the day it was the one vehicle I just couldn’t get enough of. Don’t get me wrong; the Cobalt SS is great fun as are GM’s new Acadia, Outlook and Enclave crossovers, but on a grey, rainy day in Vancouver, nothing quite makes you feel welcome like the cozy confines of GM’s premium-brand SUV. I’ll start with the interior materials, because this is, after all, a Cadillac and now that I’ve sampled one I can tell you that if there’s one thing this company does right, it’s interiors. Supple leather adorns every surface that is frequented by stray elbows, knees and hands. This isn’t just some cheap cowhide used to turn an otherwise basic model into something more ‘luxurious’, but it’s of a premium grade featuring highlights like double-stitched French seams. Also nice are the heated seats—both your lower back and keester get the special treatment, ensuring that no exposed skin will ever fall victim to chilly leather. Floor mats are equally impressive—they’re nice and thick and help provide a cocoon-like feeling to the interior as a whole; ditto the leather-wrapped door pillars (yes, even the steeply-raked A-pillar), combination leather and wood steering wheel (never seen a mix of premium leather and burlwood on a wheel look this nice before, but hey, this is Cadillac) and giant center-console armrest that didn’t infringe on passenger comfort, but rather provided a desk-like surface on which to rest my notebook. Oh, and a good cover for the generous and intuitive two-tier center-console storage bin, as well.

For those that may find wood and leather a little short on the “cool” factor, the interior also features aluminum inserts on the dash, center console and steering wheel as well as a smattering of chrome—I’m particularly fond of the high gauge material surrounding the cupholders, both in front and back. It all culminates in Caddy’s trademark rectangular clock—it’s absolutely gorgeous and I’ll tell ya, it came in mighty handy during time-sensitive stints in this SUV. Right below the clock sits the optional voice activated and DVD-based navigation screen. The screen itself is clear, but the one knock I found regarding the interior is the slightly small and convoluted HVAC control buttons sitting just below. Thankfully, the most important controls are housed on the steering wheel spokes, so rarely did I have to fiddle with the center console mounted items. Also adding to the ‘bling’ (my word processor doesn’t recognize that word, but nevertheless, it holds great importance in this market) factor is the super-sharp gauge setup. The digits are clear, Cadillac’s selected font is both classic and techy at once, and a digital speedo is also featured. But for me, it’s those sharp blue needles that were the real attention grabbers, especially when they make their rounds upon engine startup. Right. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that beneath all that caddy flare, there’s a rip-roaring V8 just waiting to clear its throat.

The General has always been known for its big motors, and the 6.2-liter Vortec 6200 featured in the Escalade (and shared only with its GMC Sierra Denali cousin) doesn’t disappoint. Like that found in the Corvette ever since its inception, this is a pushrod design, the one twist being that it benefits from all-aluminum construction. Output is generous, as this sucker makes 403 horsepower and a chassis-twisting 417 lb-ft of torque. And by God, it rips. In this day in age, gas is a concern, but when you have this kind of power at your disposal, and this much comfort in which to cruise, you tend to forget all about that.

Our test route included some highway driving, and safe to say the ‘Lade was in its element despite the adverse weather conditions. High speed passing was effortless with bursts of acceleration accompanied by an exhaust growl that would be at home on a classic GM F-body muscle car. Yes, the Dolby/DTS equipped sound system is great, but really, when you’ve got a motor that sounds like this, and I’m not exaggerating, I found myself turning the volume down! Awesome. Also helping matters is the six-speed automatic transmission with overdrive on 6, but no manual mode is featured which I found a little disappointing considering one can be found on the Lexus LX 570, for example, and the General has a slick paddle-shifting manumatic system available on models from the Malibu to the Corvette, so it would have been nice at least as an option on the Caddy. But then, Cadillacs are all about cruising with ease and comfort, right?

Well, the suspension sure helps. The Escalade features StabiliTrak traction and stability control and electronically controlled shock absorbers that are adaptive to road conditions, resulting in a ride that is not only safe but supple when cruising and aggressive when the throttle is pressed (of course, the shocks stiffen with speed and the added stability can really be felt) or when the road is not peppered with mile markers and exit signs. What really impressed me, however, was how the truck disguised the weight of those big wheels and tires. At 22 inches they’re huge, and many cars with a similar setup would shake, rattle and roll over even the smallest road undulations, not to mention railway crossings. I love it; you get the aggressive rims to match the jeweled caddy grille without too much of a hit to comfort and performance.

And it’s practical as well. The 2nd row power captain chairs tumble with the press of a console-mounted button for more storage space, while 3rd row passengers get stadium seating that can be removed, resulting in a total cargo capacity of 108.9 cubic feet. Rear seat passengers also get their own climate controls, and, of course, a rear seat entertainment system is offered for $1,295, providing an 8-inch screen and dual infrared wireless headphones. DVDs can be played up front as well, but only when stationary.

The rest of the features list is extensive, from auto-dimming high beams that sense oncoming traffic to a heated steering wheel to go with the dual-stage seats—you are coddled in the ‘Lade, but never to the point of boredom. I will not forget my time in the car, and I am beginning to understand how Caddy’s truck is about much more than merely looking good on rap videos or in the hands of movie stars. It’s a thoroughly engineered motoring masterpiece, and proof positive of Cadillac’s rising fortunes.