The all-new for 2007 Cadillac Escalade is a very impressive vehicle;
it drives like a much smaller vehicle while accommodating consumers
looking for roomy luxury. The Escalade offers the segment's most
powerful V8, meaning it has plenty of towing and hauling capacity,
as well as acceleration. The Cadillac Escalade may have a strong
thirst for gasoline, but it serves its purpose in pure style,
comfort, and ease. It boasts a smooth-riding new chassis, more
power, more luxury features. The styling is bold and gives the
Escalade a strong road presence. The 2007 Cadillac Escalade is
offered in three distinct models; the standard Escalade is a
full-size sport utility sharing the same architecture as the Chevy
Tahoe. The Escalade ESV is the Suburban-sized model, sharing the
latter's architecture. Finally, the Escalade EXT is a sport
utility/pickup combination that quickly converts from a pickup with
an enclosable eight-foot bed to a five-passenger luxury vehicle.
Escalade Power and Drive
All three Escalade models feature a high-performance, 403-hp
6.2-liter V8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that
includes manual shift control (a rarity in this class). Acceleration
is astonishing for such a tall, heavy vehicle. The standard Escalade
comes with rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive while the
ESV and EXT come only with all-wheel drive. On the road, all three
Escalades are smooth and stable, nicer in ride than base Tahoe or
Suburban models but taut and well-controlled for surprisingly good
handling. On the road, the nimbleness of the Cadillac Escalade is a
pleasant surprise. The steering is light and reasonably precise. In
spite of having a live-axle suspension, the Escalade manages bumps
beautifully, thanks to the road-sensing Autoride suspension. The
Stabilitrak electronic stability control system manages wheel slip
by applying the brakes at the slipping wheel without interrupting
power deliver to the wheels with grip. Stabilitrak also helps
maintain stability in corners by braking individual wheels when the
vehicle's path doesn't match the driver's intentions.
2007 Escalade Lineup
Standard features include leather upholstery, leather-wrapped
steering wheel with genuine wood trim, aluminum and faux wood
interior trim, Bose 5.1 Digital Surround Sound audio with
AM/FM/6CD/SAT, power adjustable pedals, power windows, power locks,
fog lamps, remote vehicle starting, rear climate control,
six-passenger seating configuration, third-row bench seat, heated
first and second row seats, XM Satellite Radio, Ultrasonic rear park
assist and heated windshield washer fluid.
Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT feature all of the above and come
standard with the all-wheel drive. ESV features an additional 14
inches of wheelbase and 19.5 inches of additional length, greatly
enhancing third-row seat legroom and rear cargo space. The Escalade
EXT deletes the third-row seat in favor of a lined, lockable and
enclosable pickup bed with manually folding midgate and removable
rear window. All models also come with the Generation 6 OnStar
system. The system includes the General Motors Advanced Automatic
Crash Notification system, making crash data available to emergency
services to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving
personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster.
Design of the Cadillac Escalade
The grille of the 2007 Escalade is flanked by three-element,
vertical headlamps that tie the vehicle more closely than ever to
the rest of Cadillac's lineup. Both of those elements are set into a
one-piece fascia that eliminates the unsightly gap between the
grille and the bumper, conveying a sense of integrity and quality.
Similarly, the side-view styling is smoothly contoured, with no
clunky side cladding as found on other luxury SUVs. The rear view
features the nicest modern interpretation of Cadillac's classic
skinny taillights, which recall the dramatic tailfins of Cadillacs
of the '60s and '70s, but are now rendered in crisp LED strips. A
high-mounted, horizontal brake light with LED illumination crosses
the top. But the dominant feature of the Escalade's tail is the
enormous badge set within a chunky block of chrome trim. A
surprisingly low bumper height both reduces the trucky look while
providing easier access to the cargo area; from the ground to the
cargo floor is a respectable 32.3 inches. The standard Class III tow
hitch is covered by a trim panel that is removable when not need,
and which easily can be refitted once a trailer is detached.
2007 Escalade Cabin
The interior is also remarkably quiet, enhancing the ability to hold
hushed conversation as well as hear the surround sound system
without extraneous noise. Even more remarkable is the plush ride.
The 2007 Escalade comes standard with seven-passenger seating, with
second-row bucket seats separated by a center console, and a
three-passenger, third-row bench behind it. A second-row bench seat
is available as a no-cost option. Escalade ESV adds nearly 10 inches
of additional legroom for the third row. Though step-in is somewhat
high, which is to be expected for a full-size SUV, the driving
position is excellent. The front of the cabin offers a feeling of
openness, with excellent outward vision to the front and side. The
Escalade's white-on-black, backlit gauges are clear and bright,
featuring an information display that cycles through several menus
via buttons on the steering wheel. The stalk controls for the turn
signals and wipers have the supple, expensive feel worthy of the
Cadillac name, as do the buttons and knobs on the radio and climate
controls. The front bucket seats are quite nice: comfortable and
supportive with power adjustment in many directions. Leather
upholstery is standard on all models, which also covers the
four-spoke steering wheel with redundant controls for the audio
system and cruise control. The Escalade's huge cabin benefits from
triple-zone.
Conclusions
Built on GM's robust new full-size truck platform, the Escalade, ESV
and EXT make excellent tow vehicles. At the same time, they're roomy
and luxuriously appointed, letting them haul family or friends or
business associates in real comfort. The 6.2-liter V8 supplies
serious power for surprisingly quick acceleration, along with strong
torque for towing. The 2007 Escalade draws attention, its big and
beautiful, and for those whose main concern is not about fuel
efficiency, the Escalade serves as the perfect full size vehicle.
Visit Edmunds.com for more pricing and detailed information about
the
2007 Cadillac Escalade. Safety features on all Escalade models include anti-lock four-wheel
disc brakes and an electronic stability control system called Stabilitrak with rollover sensing. Passive safety features include
front seat belts with pretensioners and load-limiters, dual front
air bags and side curtain air bags that span all three rows of
seats. Tire pressure monitors are also standard.