All Caddy no lack

[91 s-10baja]

All Caddy no lack
Luxurious Escalade a head turner
Fri Sep 1 2006
By Angela Forgeron

WITHOUT a doubt, when the Cadillac Escalade rolled into the campground -- the sandy area for those spending the weekend in a tent, not for those in a shiny new camper trailer -- it looked like vehicle overkill among all the minivans and pickups.
It was certainly the envy of the weekend, both for me -- considering my preference for hotel rooms rather than a nylon roof -- and for the bored fathers and husbands, perched in their camp chairs, who perked up at the sight of the big Caddy rolling through the campground.
Not surprisingly, the Escalade, with its aggressive "I dare you!" stance, meaty 22-inch wheels, gaping side air vents, bold grille and gleaming chrome accessorizing its Black Raven paint job, didn't get one glance from women during my week in it. If automakers want to test captive-male focus groups, they should roll their new wares through campgrounds.
My boyfriend and I headed out on a traffic-gridlocked long weekend, the Escalade loaded up with a heap of camping gear housed in the second row of seats and cargo area. Friends followed in another car. Later, we realized we could have carried them and their gear as well. It's a big SUV, and it can be packed to the brim -- especially after removing the third-row seats, which are easy to pop out and reinstall.
Once through the traffic, we cruised along country roads. Detours didn't bother us -- instead, we flipped through the XM satellite radio's channels and, when the talk on the comedy channel wasn't funny, we popped in an MP3 disc with 200 songs. The next day, I headed to a nearby town with three of the guys. Horror of horrors, what did they request? The Dixie Chicks! Not exactly the gangsta rap one would expect to be pumping through the superb Bose audio system.
Inside, the Escalade's statement of luxury and power is as bold as its exterior. From the driver's seat, the instrument panel is brilliant -- royal blue needles float along the gauges. The fit and finish is impeccable, from the sewn seams on the supple leather seats to the Art Deco-inspired analogue clock atop the centre stack. Some high-end vehicles favour minimalism; Cadillac adorns its SUV with an abundance of decadent wood trim and aluminum that's elegant and sophisticated. The tiltable navigation screen, which doubles as the uber-helpful backup camera display, has been upgraded with possibly the best graphics of any nav system.

The big Caddy is powered by a new 6.2-litre Vortec V8. And, although the Escalade shares its basic architecture with the equally new Tahoe and Yukon, it gets an exclusive six-speed automatic transmission.
Tap your foot on the pedal for smooth, continuous power or lay your foot into the gas and get an explosion of torque (417 pound-foot) and power (403 horses). If you're considering an Escalade, the price of gas is surely not a problem. (The tester averaged 18.4 litres per 100 kilometres during the week, drinking regular, not premium octane. Hurray!)
When we pulled the Escalade up to the boat launch, all eyes were glued on what would be rolling behind. Was it a high-powered cigarette boat a la Miami Vice? Nope, instead we hauled a rickety, 1950s-vintage, 14-foot-long hull with a dilapidated motor. The Cadillac pulled it with such ease we forgot we were towing anything at all.
We were in and out of the cargo area all weekend, grabbing clothes, food, 600-thread-count sheets -- the gate glided up and down with the push of a button. The rear-seat entertainment centre, with wireless headphones, came in handy to catch a flick on one particularly damp evening.
Sport-utility vehicles earn their name because of their awesome utility and the ability to take owners anywhere. Along the way, though, they morphed into suburban status symbols to drive to the shopping mall. The Escalade might be an extravagant ride, but it is a trooper when called on for a getaway to a tent or a cottage.
If first impressions are everything, the Cadillac made the grade -- a simple two thumbs-up from campers as the sport-ute rolled by. The Escalade was on view and it loved the attention. And, later, when the Caddy made a pass through Toronto's posh Yorkville, its presence was noticed.
Simply put, everything feels just right when you're behind the wheel.
--CanWest News Service
The Specs

Engine: 6.2L OHV V8.
Power: 403 hp 5,700 rpm.
Torque: 417 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS.
Tires: P285/45R22. Price: base/as tested $75,595/$89,810
Destination charge: $1,350
Fuel economy L/100 km: 17.7 city, 10.8 hwy (Transport Canada estimates.) Average 18.4 litres per 100 km (observed).
Options: Second-row power, fold and tumble seats ($515), sunroof ($2,065), heated steering wheel ($180), cooled front seats ($625), 22-inch wheel package ($2,995), Intellibeam headlights ($215), DVD navigation system with voice recognition ($3,640), rear-seat entertainment centre ($2,295), rear-view camera system ($235)

The Bottom Line

Price: $75,595, base; $89,810 as tested.
Highs: Superb interior fit and finish, aggressive design. Lows: Drinks regular gas (good), drinks 18.4 litres of it every 100 km (bad), price. The Verdict: If you've got the cash, the 'Slade's got the goods.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/aut...-4235118c.html

[DuSpinnst]

Can't really get any more positive than that.

[ChevyLaxMan]

The Sclade's got it all.

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by ChevyLaxMan

The Sclade's got it all.

it better with a 75 grand base price!!!!!

[jlt0x]

Damn!!! That's one expensive ride. I did not realize the new Escalade cost so much. why? How much is the GMC Yukon Denali? Geez....

[Ultra Magnus]

Those are Canadian prices!

[91 s-10baja]

...I just got my Oct 07 Car and driver and the Slade came in fourth out of five in a comparison?

[acbsparty]

These prices are Canadian. The AWD version in the US starts at $57,490.

[civilzues]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

...I just got my Oct 07 Car and driver and the Slade came in fourth out of five in a comparison?

who were the others?

[91 s-10baja]

Originally Posted by civilzues

who were the others?

Fifth= New Navigator
Fourth= Escalade
Third = MB GL
Second = Infiniti QX56
First = Audi Q7

Don't quote me on that order, I don't have it in front of me at work!

[1G6]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

Fifth= New Navigator
Fourth= Escalade
Third = MB GL
Second = Infiniti QX56
First = Audi Q7

Don't quote me on that order, I don't have it in front of me at work!

As an ex-subscriber to that crap, I send my condolences. Do yourself a favor and cancel.

[Quickening]

Yesterday while I was at teh Saab dealership getting something fixed on my car (security error) I saw an Escalade up close. Its a Saab, Cadillac, Hummer dealership thats just finished being completly redone and is awesome! Anyways, I was just noticing a lot of nice nice details, but something poped in my head. You know on the new Holden cars, I won't remember the name because the naming system is probably the most complicated thing I've ever seen, but one version had a LED lights on the chrome side vent. The Escalade needs that also.

[superstreet]

Originally Posted by Quickening

Yesterday while I was at teh Saab dealership getting something fixed on my car (security error) I saw an Escalade up close. Its a Saab, Cadillac, Hummer dealership thats just finished being completly redone and is awesome! Anyways, I was just noticing a lot of nice nice details, but something poped in my head. You know on the new Holden cars, I won't remember the name because the naming system is probably the most complicated thing I've ever seen, but one version had a LED lights on the chrome side vent. The Escalade needs that also.

i love the escalade!!!

[GM_Guy81]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

Fifth= New Navigator
Fourth= Escalade
Third = MB GL
Second = Infiniti QX56
First = Audi Q7

Don't quote me on that order, I don't have it in front of me at work!

The Audi I can accept, but the fact that the QX45 is #2 shows what a travesty that magazine is.

[yukonho]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

Fifth= New Navigator
Fourth= Escalade
Third = MB GL
Second = Infiniti QX56
First = Audi Q7

Don't quote me on that order, I don't have it in front of me at work!

Actually the order is:
5. Navigator
4. Escalade
3. QX56
2. Audi Q7
1. MB GL 450