2015 Cadillac Escalade AWD More power, more mass, more money, and more compelling. Car & Driver
By: Tony Swan
August 2014
Cadillac has never shied away from size and mass. As early as 1930, there were Cadillacs that weighed more than three tons—and those were cars. Cadillac trucks wouldn’t be along for another seven decades. In the ’30s, Cadillac propelled its biggest classics-to-be with V-12 and even V-16 engines. You could time a zero-to-60-mph run with an alarm clock, but that was about as good as it got unless you wanted to pop for a Duesenberg.
Now Cadillac’s biggies are the Escalade and the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV. These body-on-frame trucks have entered their fourth generation of production since 1999. They share their foundations with the redesigned Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL. The new standard Escalade is 1.4 inches longer, 1.5 inches wider, and about 100 pounds heavier than last year’s example.
Interior with Jaguar-esque shifter would be that little bit closer to perfection. And those little bits matter in luxury cars. Wonder if and when GM will aim a Cadillac SUV straight at the big Ranger Rover. Tit for tat, I mean.
That was my understanding as well. I actually think its a mistake for the SUV's and their demographic, especially the Escalade. Considering the volume and margin, no reason to not have 4wd for the pick ups and AWD for the SUV's.
And less new than you are being told it is. Go back to 1999 and take the new sheetmetal and replace the old with this and change the interior. That is essentially all that is new about this thing. And it is wretchedly ugly in person. Saw one yesterday and I nearly hurled - it is tacky beyond being tacky.
I think 4 wheel drive is the way to go, saves some gas, not having to run AWD hardware all the time, and in places where some use their SUV's especially ones that two a boat or motorhomes or horses, 4 wheel drive is a God send. Its nice to be able to put an SUV In low and creep out of precarious situations.
Save the all wheel drive for the road-biased crossover products and minivans.
It's unfortunate that the new GM full sized SUVs combine the worst things about trucks (fuel economy, handling) with almost none of the benefits (towing, off roading, etc.). They have the Traverse and Acadia for that crowd. I don't see why their new SUVs must have only 7" of clearance and a 14 degree approach angle.
there are pros and cons of both 4wd and AWD. I agree that it is nice to have the low gear when needed, but I have only used low gears once in my entire life, and thats wen I really got stuck in about 5 ft of snow. I can tell you that the AWD system on my Silverado SS was far superior to my current 4WD set up when it come to driving on packed snow, ice, and rain. The AWD system also makes the vehcile feel safer and more grounded than a typical 4wd system.
I an very disappointed that they got rid of the AWD system in the Escalade and Denali. To me thats one of the reasons to buy a Yukon Denali over a regular Yukon. Same is true with the pickups
So do I. A IRS would help greatly along with a console gear shifter and interior second to none. While they are at it make it the first to get the 10 speed auto. For the price point I think it would warrant these differences.
Not trying to be an ass but if you couldn't find it you didn't look very hard. True 4wd comes with a two-speed transfer case. Low range, high range and neutral in between. Awd is a single speed case, there is no neutral (on the t-case). With AWD you cannot flat tow the vehicle.
Personally, I think only offering AWD in the previous generation was total BS. I'm glad they changed it. It's a truck, if I wanted a crossover milk-toast 4x4 then I'd buy a crossover. I have had multiple owners of the previous generation ask me about this specific issue, usually after they couldn't figure out why the hell there was no low range when they needed it. They ordered 4x4 and just assumed it had it.
It's now an issue with the tahoes and suburbans, unless you opt for the max trailering package you don't get a 2 speed case.
Probably the best interior shots in a long time with this beautiful car. Car and Driver has one of the best photography shots when it comes to their cars.
Forget about the Range Rover, the gl and so on.
Now this is the Caddy's main rival:
The brand new escalade is just a lil faster than the school bus, so i guess it must be a big win for the GM. Lol
I did google it and got 1096337 different answers.
Some relate it to locking diffs, others to truck vs car, others to transvers vs longitudinal engine orientation.
Then one article said there is no actual difference it depends on what companies want to call what. And since everybody here seemed in agreeable on the definition I was asking what the rene rally accepted answer here is.
Hell you can't even get good info at times as to if 4motion and Quattro are the same or different.
AWD is generally on all of the time, 4WD is driver select-able. Most current AWD systems have some sort of built in traction systems that attempt to route power to the wheels getting traction. It doesn't always work, with 4wd you generally just power all 4 wheels and hope one grabs.
The AWD in the Denali is great for the fact it's always on but the TCS system gets easily confused by some surfaces.
^ This. Generally, AWD (power directed to the wheels that have traction via) is better on the road and in/during inclement weather, whereas 4WD (all 4 wheels have power) is better when you are knee deep in muck or rock crawling. Most 4WD systems do let you switch to 2WD for dry pavement (saving fuel), whereas AWD is always on. Newer AWD systems are now starting to include TQ vectoring to aid in cornering. Both are good, just different.
Based on this I would rather have AWD for an Escalade/Denali, as it helps in launching if you hammer the throttle, and if GM would design something with TQ vectoring, it could help it handle better. People don't need to do anything - its just on and generally works, so its easier for the average Joe, some of whom may never have had a 4wd truck before or know how the 4WD setting work and what they mean. Plus how many people are really going to take an Escalade off roading, especially now that the clearance has been dropped down to 7in? You don't need a 2-speed transfer case in an Escalade.
My bad guys, extremely poor choice of words. I understand completely, believe me, I do. I totally agree with what you say and would be pissed if they changed it. It's definitely the large and in charge SUV. I'm not saying the Escalade needs to shrink. I'm saying there should be a second vehicle, that's styled the same, has the same features and accoutrements, that would be more the size of the RR and G-Wagon to better battle them on their own turf. Alpha based would be better to battle the Porsche, rumored Lambo and Bentley sport SUVs IMO.
I still want an explanation as to why the front emblem was placed where it was. Its not lined up between the top 2 bars in the grill, and it doesn't touch the bottom bar at all. It just seems oddly placed. You'd think that people who buy Escalades are particular or OCD about little things like this. Also, where is the exhaust? It is hidden or something. Should have an integrated dual exhaust that exits out the back and clearly visible like the last generation's latest model.
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