WHY AN ESCALADE EXT?

The Escalade EXT has always been my favorite SUV since it was given an interior touchup in 2003. That is one of the reasons, I absolutely had to purchase one when I was able to stomach the $54,000 price. After having put almost 70,000 miles on my truck, and surpassed the warranty, I was extremely anxious to jump into the next generation of Escalades. In fact, the dealer who sold me my EXT at Cadillac Lynbrook was equally anxious to separate me from my $65,000 so he could place me in the 2007 model. He had been so anxious, that he has given me extended solo test drives with his demo model Escalades and kept in constant contact with me about my order and purchase.

Those of you reading this review either already own the 1st generation EXT and wish to purchase the 2nd, or you are simply planning to purchase the new model and need a good reason why you should drop $60,000 on it, rather than just picking up the $40,000 2007 Chevy Avalanche which I reviewed here:
(http://www.epinions.com/content_241034301060 ).


STYLE

The 2007 Escalade EXT benefits greatly from the Escalade redesigned DNA that it shares with the SUV and the ESV. The interior has been upgraded in ways that will stun previous EXT owners. First of all, the interior of the EXT no longer looks cheap.
Even though I loved the previous Escalade, it shocked me how poor the interior was in comparison to the Lincoln Navigator's tightened, leather wrapped interior everything and its enormous brushed aluminum panels.
The Escalade by comparison looked like it was made of cheap plastic and poorly planned ad hoc devices.

Drexel Meyer, the design company behind Daimler Chrysler vehicles such as the 300c and Maybach now presents you with a glossy wood accent that surrounds hardened plastic buttons and L.E.D panels which has in turn been surrounded by a brushed aluminum panel that has been wrapped with a leather surface. Buttons on said panel are tightened up so that the space around each individual one is barely noticeable. The buttons even depress with a nice click that lets you know that serious craftsmanship went into them.

In our lineup, we have: a heated windshield washer fluid button; the switch to move the driver’s pedals forwards and aft; clearly defined buttons to either heat or cool the seats on either side; XM/radio/GPS Navigation controls and the dual zone climate knobs.
Feeling that the truck didn’t have enough chrome on the outside, the buttons for opening the ashtray/coin deposit and glove compartment are now chromed out.

Now for the exterior. Cadillac has tightened the seems around its new escalade so that now, the angles on the rear and face of the truck are no longer reminiscent of the F-117 stealth fighter. Instead, we now have a sleeker design that features all rounded edges which are littered with chrome where the designers felt it appropriate.
The front lighting of the escalade is a quadruple lamp assembly with a dual lamp fog light design nearer to the ground. It is unmistakably Escalade in the day and at night, and shines as brightly as the fires of hell.
The turning/yellow lamps wrap around the side of the fascia and look brilliant.

Similar to the Range Rover, there are two exhaust ports on either side of the hood which are also surrounded with chrome and probably placed there to be a clear reminder to other drivers that your Escalade is the 2007.
Unfortunately this addition makes no sense simply because the Escalades have a "stealth" design que which would never use ports designed this way. I think Cadillac should have either designed a sleeker looking port or left it out of the design entirey.

What also bothers me is that the 2007 EXT features a relatively unchanged rear section, which is the most important profile of this truck. The tail lamps are mostly vertical and rounded rather than triangular in the previous model so that they appear to resemble the SRX. Almost no effort has gone into the rear, unlike the SUV which features a chrome badge. I might have added led light panels into the sway bars for example.

Even the cargo bed remains the same. Cadillac made no effort here to include anything new. I would have been so pleased if GM had included a 12 Volt output in the bed for after market stereo equiptment, towing equiptment,etc, but alas nothing new - same as the Avalanche.


RIDING THE BLING

The Escalade EXT just like the SUV has a coil over shock design and a 5-link rear suspension that coupled with computer technology, allows the truck to give you a feeling as if you are ironing out the road. On unequal, rough, gravelly or damaged roads, the truck handles nicely allowing you to forget that you are driving on less than perfect material.

There is no noticeable difference in ride quality between the two vehicles.
What is noticeable however is that the rear tails C pillars, reffered to as “sway bars” which comprise the midgate panel are now closer to you. Its easier to see out the rear window, but highly difficult to guess what is directly behind you since the truck is 77 inches high and rides with a noticeable tilt downwards to give you a commanding view of the road. Fortunately, when you throw the EXT in reverse, the standard ultrasound sensors allow you to back into parking spaces without destroying other peoples bumpers.
Even with my 1st gen EXT, I found it nearly impossible to park looking out the rear window – rather, I used the side mirrors and the ultrasound.
Even more helpful is the new optional rear-view camera which gives you a panoramic distorted view of what is behind you. Everytime I put the truck in reverse, my heart leaps when I see the camera switch over to the rear. Coupled with the ultrasound, you’d be hard pressed to screw up a parallel park. The EXT I drove around in features the new GM 22” Cadillac rims. The ride was superb despite the absence of some tire because the technology behind the suspension is specially tuned to give you a good ride even in that wheel size.

The EXT, right now is missing the powerfold 2nd row seats that are available in the SUV.
I noticed that the panel on the roof area for the driver to push the button to engage the powerfold are missing, yet the spacing for them is still present. Most likely, GM will add the powerfold seats in the 2008 or 2009 EXT.
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.

As for the midgate, panel, there still is no power option available so you will still manually have to pull the backseats forward so that you can lower the midgate.
What would have been intelligent is if GM had included the power rear window option similar to that on the Hummer H2 SUT and then had a “global down” button for the driver to simultaneously put all the windows down.

For those of you interested in purchasing an EXT so you can tow your boats, planes, etc… The EXT has the same 6 speed engine that the SUV has. This engine however can only haul 7600 lbs - with a maximum load of 1226 pounds (which includes passenger and cargo). The 2007 Avalanche can tow 8000 pounds in the 4X4 or 8200 lbs in the 2WD.
I have NEVER seen anyone towing anything with an Escalade EXT, but I’m certain somewhere in America, it happens.



WHAT’S NOT SO HOT

If you read my review on the ESCALADE SUV, you’ll understand my problems with the new Escalade. http://www.epinions.com/content_241990143620
To make it short, the leg/hip/shoulder spacing has decreased, the lower roof is hell on taller drivers making it insufficient for drivers over 6ֹ and I had a number of unsatisfactory grades for some of the interior touches – not to mention- the fact that at times, I felt like I was going to fall out the window.

Most disappointing is the fact that the Escalade’s beast of an Engine, despite its VVT technology, only offers you 13 mpg City and 19 MPG highway. GM promised a year ago before the Escalade was unveiled that its new engines would get 20 MPG CITY minimum. Apparently those memos never reached the engineers. You start to wonder, why exactly do I need 403 Horses if I’m just doing city and highway driving, never tow anything and have no desire to race other drivers? I swear if GM offered this truck with a low grade 250 HP engine that got 25 MPG City, I would immediately opt for that instead.

Secondly there is the lack of preparedness for Ethanol Flex fuels. GM’s other major SUV’s feature E85 flex ability, why not the EXT?
Gasoline costs $3.20 here in NYC right now- this costs me about $100 a week in gas costs). Israel is bombarding Lebanon and ducking Hezbollah rockets as I’m writing this review. In my opinion, the price of fuel is not going down anytime soon so long as the strife exists in the middle east.
America needs Ethanol E85 right now, but, according to my dealer, E85 won’t be available until late next year, and even then, the first stations for it will be in Long Island. I find the Chevy Avalanches E85 preparedness to be inviting because, if things go well, E85 might end up costing half of what gasoline costs. The future is very uncertain though, but I say, “chance favors the prepared SUV”.

Pricing for the new EXT begins around $54,000. Most likely though the dealer you go to will have already ordered their EXT’s fully loaded with the 22” wheels, Navigation system, Moonroof and climate control package- which includes a heated steering wheel. This means you'll be seeing sticker prices around $65,000 for the loaded EXT for the first 2 or 3 years of its introduction.
Be certain, that you will be paying for the exclusivity of this vehicle. If I were you and your credit is good, I'd lease the vehicle in 2 year terms. After 4 or 5 years a newer Escalade will likely be released - instantaneously antiquating the rest.

The wait list for EXT’s is actually pretty long since you almost certainly have to leave a $1000 deposit so that you can secure your place in one. The truck is offered in some fabulous colors such as the $1000 White Diamond in all its opulence and the chameleon color Riptide Blue. Unfortunately if you go to a dealer right now, you will likely only find Black or White.
Other colors will require a order and a month wait time.

I find that options such as Navigation, and the rearview camera are an absolute must-have.
The available options will add at least $4000 to your purchase. So when you see the sticker price, it will likely be in the mid $60,000 range.

OVERALL

The Escalade EXT is in a class by itself. It’s arguably the best looking, sexiest, most luxurious Sport Utility Truck on the market. I’m not a fan of the Lincoln Mark LT and I don’t even want to think about the Honda Ridgeline which I feel is a shameful ripoff of American ingenuity. The only other option I’d consider is the Chevy Avalanche.
The Avalanche, offers more utility to a person who desires a truck like the EXT. With its E85 preparedness I see it selling very well in 2007 and 2008 and most likely winning truck of the year awards, again. The EXT however is for serious luxury desire. Its for people who cannot accept anything but the highest quality from what they buy. It is in that respect that I must own this model even though a small part of me says, ”dude, you’re spending wayyy too much.



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


My Reviews of GMT-900 trucks:

ESCALADE: http://www.epinions.com/content_241990143620

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

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


Amount Paid (US$): 65,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2008