WHY AN ESCALADE?

The 2007 Cadillac ESCALADE SUV is the 3rd generation of the Escalade, which is arguably the finest full sized, luxury SUV. The Escalade features a whopping 403 horsepower in its new VVT 6.2 Liter, pushrod engine linked to its 6 speed hydra-matic transmission. Along with a redesigned exterior fascia, the Escalade features a number of luxury components almost certainly guaranteed to make it a highly coveted vehicle among entertainers, aficionados and generally, those who can afford it.


STYLE

The Exterior styling of the 2007 Escalade is glamorous and elegant. It doesn't have the same rough edges that the 2002 model brought to the table - styled like a F117 stealth fighter- but, it does have a streamlined look that is in a word...HUGE. Standing near the hood of this monster, is like standing near a Mack truck. It is a massive behemoth structure sitting on its optional 22’s, with front lighting that is nothing short of “disco ballish”. The grill is a “chromed out” egg-crate style that seems to politely tell drivers in front of you that look in their rearview mirrors, "get the f### out of my way". There is also a redesigned chrome plated running board as well as chrome plated side-rocker boarders under the windows.
The rear styling is equally chrome littered. There is a huge metal badge with the Cadillac insignia that was probably designed to set your ride apart from the sea of now-affordable $35,000 Escalades from the 2002 year onwards to 2006. The tail lights are bright blood-red L.E.D lights that scream "expensive". The light covers are so unique that from a distance, you will notice them. Eventually they will become unmistakably “Escalade”.

Just in case you felt the need for more distinguishing looks, Cadillac has cut Range Rover styled ports into the sides of the hood and surrounded them with thin chrome lines.


The interior is a mixed bag of tech demonstrations, wood simulating panels, brushed aluminum and yet, even more chrome. My first impression of the new interior was how much it resembled Cadillac’s STS with all the instrumentation centerlined so the passenger and driver can ejoy looking at them – realizing that paying big bucks for something yields eye candy. If you take a look in the Maybach, it is easy to see the influence of Drexl Meyer, the interior designers of both vehicles.

You have an outrageously large touchscreen 8" DVD Navigation monitor which not only shows you radio station info and Navigation mapping... but when you put the car in reverse, it switches to an optional tail camera to show you what is behind the truck and how close you are to the next parked car. The seats are premium full-power accessory leather captains which are separated by a huge armrest and a sea of buttons that do just about everything. The Navigation screen has dedicated buttons just so you can adjust its tilt which I found very ingenious. Like the last Escalade, you can watch DVD movies in the navi, when the truck is in park. Since the Escalade comes with standard 5.1 sound, you will likely enjoy movies in the truck more than you would watching them on your regular television without a 5.1 setup.

There are Heated/Cooled seats that get hot or cold within 3 minutes. This is actually the first time I used cooled seats and I was surprised when my backside got the "icy" cool feeling. that should be very welcomed in the summertime. There is power heated windshield washer fluid device which heats the fluid to the nozzles so that you can quickly remove ice from the windshield in those winter months. The liftgate has a very convenient power button located on the underside of the door as well as on the driver console to make getting it closed quick and easy.

The new edition of wood grain panels are nicer than the previous Escalade’s; available in a burl pattern that is very nice. It’s nice to stare at when you marvel at all the innovations this car has to offer. Interestingly, I did notice at the dealership that the white interior unlike the ebony, was absolutely filthy. It occurred to me that if you opt for the white interior, you will most likely be getting the car shampooed every single other week to keep it clean. Obviously, when I purchase my vehicle, I’ll be opting for Ebony.
In the second row, you get optional power release tumble/fold seats which are released at the touch of a button so passengers can climb into the rear.

In case you are unaware how the powerfold seats work, the seats are designed to close themselves into a fold under spring tension. This action is automatic however. The only thing the button does is release the seat so that the spring tension can automatically throw them forward and fold them.

There are redundant buttons for the power release seats and one of them is located conveniently for the driver to reach next to the moonroof. If someone is trying to get into your Escalade on the passenger side, all you need do is touch the button and the seat auto folds for them. It’s a very subtle touch that will be appreciated by its owners and occupants.


RIDING IN ABSOLUTE BLING

The 2007 Escalade, like all the other trucks riding GM’s new GMT-900 truck frame benefits from a coil over shock design and a stiffer frame than the previous escalade. The Escalade does not feature the American Axle made “I-ride” suspension it was rumored to have back when its development was hush hush. Instead, GM opted for a 5 –link rear suspension. What GM has done was to use computer technology such as its Stabilitrack system and road sensors to automatically level the car as it moves along. This translates into a feeling in the interior that you are ironing out the pavement, regardless its imperfections. I drove 2 different Escalade models (one with the Cadillac optional 22’s and the other with Cadillac standard 18’s). I did not notice the difference even when riding over bumps. And graveled road. What I did notice however, is that you will hear excessive wind noise when you pass 65 MPH in the closed cabin.


For those of you who felt the 2nd generation Escalade’s ride performance was too punishing, you’ll be happy to know that there is far less “up-down” motion in the new Escalade and when you round corners, there is almost negligible body roll. Driving this truck feels as soft and gentle as a luxury car ought to feel.

Under the Escalade’s enormous hood, you will find the 4th generation Vortec V8 which delivers 403 horsepower at 5700 rpm. I am happy to report that the Acceleration on this Escalade totally rivals every other SUV you’re likely to come across on the road with the exception of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. If you hit the pedal with a lead foot, the Escalade’s steering wheel will almost jump out of your hands with a loud ROAR that will resonate throughout the cabin.

The gear shift lever features a push button manual shift device similar to the sport shift’s found in newer luxury sports cars. I honestly have no idea how to use manual shifts and I just let the automatic systems handle this for me. For those of you who do understand and use manual shift paddles, you may like this feature. I do think however, it might have been smarter to place these buttons on the wheel after having seen them in the 7-series BMW. Of course, you have to wonder what the point of manu-matic is on a truck this size anyway!?!

Escalade’s Variable Valve Technology is designed to deactivate valves when the car does not need the extra horsepower. This is mostly what makes the comparatively heavier 2007 Escalade achieve better fuel economy on the highway than its predecessor. One of the most vivid memories I have of driving it, is that if you are driving at low speeds for an extended period of time, and then suddenly press down the pedal to accelerate, you will notice that there is a very noticeable delay in the acceleration. As if the car needs a split second to catch up with your inputs.





DISSAPOINTMENTS


Unfortunately, Cadillac neglected to include some very important luxury features for the driver, which brings up some very disturbing questions as to what could have been going on when the designer’s of the GMT-900 trucks were at their drawing boards.

For example, why does a truck this large lack a driver-entry assist handle? (that even a $39,000 Ford Expedition has).

Why hasn't GM included a power telescoping steering wheel column instead of a manual one that can only pivot up and down? I was disappointed by the fact the steering wheel was so far forward and couldn't adjust to my unique size. Even my friend's Chrysler 300c had that feature. If you're paying $75,000 for a SUV you'd think it would have features that even $30,000 cars have right?
The steering wheel problem exists in every single one of GM’s new trucks. However, this wasn’t a problem in the previous generation of GM SUV’s because the roof height and seating was more forgiving and allowed you to forget how far you had to reach forward for the wheel.

As far as seating comfort goes, for drives less than 2 hours, You'll be comfortable enough. However, this is definately not the driver's vehicle to drive up and down the I95 with. I would have liked to have seen seats with power luxury items such as back massage vibrators such as in the Mercedes Benz S550. Its simple enough to install and to me, it would justify having to spend over $70,000 on an SUV. The lack of positions of the steering wheel only exacerbate the comfort shortcomings.

Why does an Escalade, a top of the line luxury vehicle, still feature an antennae rather than the hidden strips that receive AM/FM in Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles in production for the past 10 years?

Why does the trunk space behind the 3rd row, continue to not feature a rollup cover so that passers and onlookers won’t try to break into our expensive rides?

Why Can't Escalade owners get a Heads Up Display like that in the STS and the XLR? Its a "Cadillac" so I demand every bell and whistle.

Whose idea was it to include an overly stylized, difficult to read clock? Its actually kind of funny. I was driving in a Nissan Armada the other day and I had a hard time finding the clock because it was mixed into the LED that features the radio readouts. I wished, that the clock was in the top most centerline of the console. Escalade has a clock in this position like I wanted, but, guess what? The clock is a rectangle. Why couldn’t GM have just said: most clocks are circular, lets include a circular clock!


Why does the 07 Escalade feature a keyhole in the steering column, when it doesn’t even have a steering column lock? One of the more interesting details I’ve noted in my Boss’s Audi A8 was the key being inserted straight into the driver console rather than the wheel. I figured it was a luxury feature that the Lade’ should have.




SURE its got BLING!, but, where is the BIG?


Unfortunately, the new Escalade which claims to be so large is also tight. I'm a pretty tall guy (about 6'7) so what I call small, a 6 foot person might call spacious but, compared to the older Escalade, this is still far smaller. I noticed much more leg and hip space in the 2nd generation Escalade than the 2007 - as well as a more forgiving steering wheel size.

I also believe that the seating track for the 1st and 2nd rows are about 4 inches too far forward of where they should be. The driver's position is cramped for taller drivers and unless you alter the seating track, you'll feel like your boxed in. The 2nd row has pitiful leg space compared to older full-size SUV models such as the Expedition, Navigator, Nissan Armada and a little less than the previous Escalade. The 3rd row is as small and uncomfortable as an economy passenger car.

The roof is also much lower than it was in the older Escalade. Unlike the similarly priced Range Rover and Navigator, head space is terrible for taller people in the new Lac'. The tendency of taller, larger guys is to tilt the seat back trying to get as much leg space as possible. When I did this, I noticed that the window cut was so low, I felt like I was going to fall out. The power driver seat is simply not adjustable enough and there is coincidentally not enough space behind it for the passenger when the seat is leaned.

Another annoying fact is that the bulky powerfold 2nd row seats cannot fold forward completely if the front seats are leaned back between 90 and 45 degrees.
2nd Row seating space is good enough for the kids, but for adult sized passengers its a pain.

Say you decide to stop at Walmart to do some shopping. You’re going to come back to the truck and put things in the rear cargo area right? Well, you will probably find that there isn’t much space between the 3rd row seat and the hatchback, similar to the previous Escalade. The 3rd row seat does fold down forward with the pull of a lever and a little effort, however, the seat doesn’t not fold flat. You can remove the 3rd row if you so choose, but be warned, its very heavy and requires two adults. The only time you actually get good 3rd row & cargo space is if you pay Cadillac an extra $9000 for the Caddilac ESV which has about 20 inches more space in between the 3rd row and hatchback.


PRICING

The level of bling proposed to you by Cadillac DOES NOT COME CHEAP. The dealer quoted me a price of $69,000 fully loaded - that is before you factor in around $4000 for taxes, and dealer fees. Of course, this is similar to the pricing of the NAVIGATOR ULTIMATE which came out in 2003 for $70,700 and today would cost less than $45,000. You're basically looking at a price tag of $75,000 to get behind the wheel of the 2007 ESCALADE with all its major options. I would say that having the moonroof, and the Navigation system are a must for those of us who can afford them. This will bring that $69,000 to $73,000. The 22” inch wheels in my opinion are ok, but they are nothing fantastic. Sure, it is good to get custom wheels that are dealer installed so you will have maintenance on them as well as the tire pressure sensors working perfectly out of the shop, but, the Cadillac 22’s being sold with this car, to me, appear bland.
I must say however, I am happy GM is paying attention to its user base who wants a set of large wheels on their new Lade’s. Maybe someday, GM will follow my advice in a letter I sent them and include a direct access power line in the trunk so us audio buffs can immediately add subwoofers and amplifiers without having to rewire the whole car.

Fuel prices and maintenance can make a $70,000 vehicle cost far more. GM keeps boasting that the NEW Escalade achieves 19 MPG Highway yet they neglect to mention it only gets 13 mpg City. Until they make a full sized SUV engine that gets 20 MPG City/40 Highway, I'm not impressed. The problem is that most of your driving is likely to be done in city streets or in moderate traffic. Sure the Escalade will perform better on the Highway at 55 MPH but, don't think this thing is going to save you any money. The VVT technology only kicks down when it is not needed. If you happen to be racing to get somewhere, your fuel economy dips way down.
The Escalade's engine is also unable to use Ethanol Flex fuels like its paternal twin the YUKON DENALI 07 which will only increase your woes if gasoline prices continue the way they are and E85 fuel becomes cheaper in the future.


DO I RECOMMEND THE ESCALADE TO YOU?


You could buy the 2007 Escalade for around $70,000 or more or you could go purchase a 2006 model for around $40,000. Take one look in both vehicles and you’ll automatically recognize that the 2007 is the better Escalade though not neccessarily the better value.
Its interior and exterior are flashy and set a style of their own that no other vehicle imitates.
It truly hurts me to say this, but I personally do not recommend the 2007 Escalade to the average driver.
If you go to Cadillac, test drive this car and enjoy it, then fine, its for you. If you don’t think spending $75,000 on a SUV - and then spending over $10,000 a year for maintenance, insurance and fuel costs is a problem, then fine, its ok...for you.

To be perfectly honest and thoughtful, I suggest you test drive the GMC YUKON DENALI 2007, TAHOE 2007 or the CHEVY SUBURBAN 2007 before you step into an ESCALADE. I was stunned by how beautiful and similar the Yukon Denali was to the Escalade. The seat quality, the panel design, and almost everything else about the GMC and Chevy trucks has been brought to luxury quality. More importantly, the Yukon Denali not only costs around $30,000 less than the Escalade, it even comes ready to accept E85 Ethanol Flex fuel.

I wrote a comment on my review of the Yukon Denali 2007 that has resonated with me, even in the face of my upcoming purchase of the 2007 Escalade EXT:

Sure the Escalade has far more exterior bling and literally screams "RICH" but the Denali is a sensible truck for a time when drivers MUST be sensible. Gas is still $3.00 a gallon in 2006 so you’re better off saving the extra cash.

It occurs to me that When I purchased an Escalade, I was buying into an image. The Escalade is for all intents and purposes, the best luxury SUV there is when I compare it with the Navigator, Cayenne, Range Rover and InfinitiQX56. When I go places, I feel that I want to project the image that things are going so well at my job that I can afford this. Basically, I’m admitting the vanity of my ego without saying a word. Vanity is what the entire luxury automobile industry plays on and it certainly works. After all, Hummer did sell plenty of H2’s didn’t they?


2008 CADILLAC CTS http://www.epinions.com/content_401977282180


MY TRUCK - 2007 ESCALADE EXT-http://www.epinions.com/content_242008362628

YUKON DENALI: http://www.epinions.com/content_242261134980

AVALANCHE: http://www.epinions.com/content_241034301060





FORD, LINCOLN and MERCURY SUV's

LINCOLN NAVIGATOR 2007 http://www.epinions.com/content_258470416004

Amount Paid (US$): 79,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2008