Over the last few decades, it has been painful to watch Cadillac tackle its line of cars in an attempt to outperform German carmakers. It is as if they are embarrassed because of their own incredibly rich and historical heritage, one that goes back to the very beginnings of the industry.
Customers from Cadillac really want generous size, commanding performance, exceptional comfort, and convenience, wrapped in luxurious clothes that are not afraid of what they are. In the last decade, only the Cadillac Escalade has provided that true Cadillac essence.
Perhaps that’s why Cadillac’s most expensive vehicle is second only to the KST5 crossover in terms of sales, although so far the Escalade seemed a bit more than a GMC with a stance problem.
Fortunately, that has changed with the introduction of the redesigned fifth-generation Escalade in 2021. Masterfully executed and full of the latest technology, it is the first real Cadillac in the last few decades. And for the first time, the essence of the Escalade really makes it a Cadillac.
Calling it a terrifying presence is an understatement given its huge mass and 22-inch wheels. Still, its style is a sublime update of the familiar form of the Escalade, a style inspired by the Escala concept car, a sedan originally intended for production.
Flexibility is there but delivered in a more refined way
Yes, Cadillac’s vertical lighting is – thankfully – still evident, and the test vehicle was trained in Cadillac’s new Sports equipment, which has black trim on the outside; Luxury, premium luxury, and platinum models carry slightly different details.
But the interior turned out to be the biggest surprise. Here, GM’s accountants waved their knives excessively, with economical efficiency.
But the 2021 Escalade cabin is the highest-quality Cadillac interior seen in decades, anchored by the stunning, curved 38-inch OLED display that extends across most dashboards, inspired by a design choice that avoids the lazy solution offered by other carmakers with a rectangular screen. glued to the instrument panel with all thoughts of a post-it note.
The center of the screen, a 15.9-inch curved cluster, offers a number of display options, including augmented reality, which can be overlaid with instructions from the navigation system or Night Vision display, controls for which can be found on the left side of the touch screen.
Initially, the Escalade will ship with a 6.2-liter V-8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pounds of torque; an optional 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pounds of torque will come later. Both engines are mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission.
Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is a $ 3,000 option. Cadillac’s Super Cruise is available, which uses LiDAR map data, GPS, driver attention technology, and a host of cameras and radar sensors to make it easier to drive hands-free and change lanes on highways.
