The 2015 Escalade is the finest product made by Cadillac, and leads the fleet in comfort and luxury. Escalade is finely designed with an artistic flair and a penchant for open road exuberance. Outside, it is a sculpture designed by artisans who have displayed great craftsmanship.
Cadillac designers searched the world over to find the finest materials required to develop the finest of interiors. Dramatic layering of fabrics and textures were specifically chosen to complement each other. Hand-wrapped and cross-stitched heated steering wheel dressed in leather adds an elegant air. Comfortable and supportive leather seating further conveys that sophistication. The center console, armrest, and instrument panel are taut, cut and sewn to perfection.
A Cadillac engineer stated it pretty well when he said, “The truest luxury car can only be achieved when we find the smallest details and give them our highest level of attention.”
Heated and cooled front seats that are perforated, and Mulan leather driver and front-passenger seat backs and cushions are developed as a prelude to elegance.
Authentic wood throughout the interior inspires one to select the features they want the genuine wood to complement. And there is much to choose from. My Escalade had Jet Black Mulan paired with Santos Palisander that seemed to grow richer with driving time.
Acoustic front glass, triple-sealed doors, and the use of Bose Active Noise Cancellation created a nice, quiet, secure-feeling atmosphere. The Bose technology actively monitors and measures undesirable cabin noise and sends cancelling sound waves through the speakers to reduce undesired sounds such as powertrain noise.
Escalade has a Head-Up Display that offered a full-color interface projecting convenient info such as speed, engine rpm, and navigation on the windshield.
All important information was placed in your natural line of sight. The 4-way reconfigurable display allows the driver to customize the 12.3-inch LCD gauge display. The 16-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound system features Advanced Staging Technology, which creates a wider soundstage. The Cadillac CUE communicates with the user through an intuitive screen that functions like a tablet with touch features and voice recognition.
Standard navigation constantly updates images on the CUE touch screen, sometimes at such a rate that it became impossible for me to digest mentally.
The rear-seat entertainment system (which grandchildren will adore) features a large 9-inch screen, along with first-rate Blu-ray playback. Add MP3 playback, two sets of wireless headphones, and the result is hours of enjoyment for those in the backseat.
All GM products come with OnStar, which includes one year of the Direction and Connection Plan.
Escalade has power-folding third-row seats that fold flat in mere seconds. The second-row seats are heated with a power release fold that allows them to tumble.
There is space for everything in Escalade. There is 15.2 cu. ft. behind the third row (39.3 cu. ft. for the larger ESV), and when the third-row seats fold flat, you have 76.7 cu. ft. of cargo space behind the second row as well as additional room under the floor. The center console houses multiple USB ports and a layered soft-touch tray to properly accommodate your smartphone, and there is enough room even for a small laptop.
Outside, you have intelligent LED headlamps. Active grille shutters automatically close at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics. There are power retractable assist steps with LED perimeter lighting that illuminate the surrounding area, providing extra convenience and comfort for Escalade occupants.
The beast inside the beauty is a 6.2 L V8 engine that delivers 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The “spark ignition direct injection” system injects gasoline directly into the combustion chamber without mixing it with air first, enabling an improvement in horsepower and torque. The Escalade gets an EPA fuel average of 21 mpg highway.
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $84,070.
Other Benefits:
4-year/50,000-mile Bumper to Bumper Warranty
6-year/70,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty
4-year/50,000-mile Premium Car Maintenance
6-year/70,000-mile Courtesy Transportation
6-year/70,000-mile Roadside Assistance
Additional Safety-Security Features:
Tire pressure monitor system
Surround Vision
Theft-deterrent package
Side Blind Zone Alert
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or [email protected]
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