2015 Cadillac Escalade: More Is More

Sometimes you have to dial things back to reach the next evolutionary level.  The 2015 Cadillac Escalade proves that while more is more, excess is never sexy, as this redesigned full-size luxury SUV turns its back on the brashness that has long been its calling card and instead comes across as bold and detailed, a chiselled body builder subbing in for last year's strongman in a tuxedo.  It's a well-conceived effort that effectively rides the coat-tails of its equally-new platform-mates, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, but careful attention to the Escalade's finer points allows it to rise above its roots and claim a unique place in GM's sport-utility pantheon.

If Looks Could Kill

The Cadillac Escalade's step back from the chrome brink of stylistic over-enthusiasm is well documented by the clean lines of the 2015 model.  Yes, there's still an enormous polished grilled mounted on the truck's near-perpendicular front fascia, bisected by a body-color bumper before continuing above the air dam, but it's framed by a pair of beautifully turned-out headlights and equally-jewelled daytime running lights.  The Escalade's slab sides are further adorned by brightwork handles illuminated by LEDs at night, along with a classy chrome trim around the windows and at the quarter mark on the doors.  At the rear of the SUV, the taillights continue the Cadillac's carefully-planned lighting scheme, with the almost straight-up-and-down tailgate sufficiently imposing when approaching from behind.

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A Whole New World

Where the 2015 Cadillac Escalade has made its greatest strides is in its cabin, which finally feels like it's worthy of the $80-90k price tag associated with this people mover.  Gone is the harder plastic of yesteryear - even in places where you might not encounter it with bare hands - and in its place are reams of Alcantara and leather, along with high quality wood trim and genuine metal accents on the dash and steering wheel.  The tiny gap between the interior of the Yukon Denali and the Escalade is now a chasm, and that's hugely important for an SUV like this one that trades in the rarefied air also occupied by models like the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and the Land Rover Range Rover.  The vehicle's extensively-configurable digital dash made up for some of the shortcomings associated with the CUE touchscreen and capacitive touch interface mounted on the center stack, which wasn’t always as responsive or as intuitive as I would have liked it to be.

Hectares Of Real Estate

The Cadillac Escalade isn't just enormous on the outside, but it puts its pushed-out, right-angle dimensions to good use on the inside as well.  I drove a standard wheelbase edition of the Escalade, which can seat up to eight occupants across three rows, and there was great passenger room in the second set of accommodations (dual buckets in my tester) and a passable amount out back.  I was most impressed with the SUV's cargo capacity, which saw me hauling five feet of bathroom cabinets home after folding the final two rows flat using the buttons near the hatch opening.  The Cadillac is eminently practical in addition to being super plush, and if you're looking for even more interior volume you can order the Escalade ESV with its extended wheelbase and additional storage space.

Power, Smoothness, And Some Control

When an SUV weighs nearly three tons, it's important to give it the kind of mechanical package that can easily overcome its inertia.  The 2015 Cadillac Escalade certainly isn't hurting for power, what with its standard 6.2-litre V8 good for 420 horses and 460 lb-ft of torque, and although it's matched with a six-speed automatic in a segment where seven to eight speeds is now the standard, Cadillac has done a very good job tuning the shift points so as to be mostly imperceptible (there's also an eight-speed autobox coming soon for the 2016 model year).

Four-wheel drive is standard with the Escalade, and while lacks a low-range setting it definitely helps the SUV manage its engine output even on dry pavement, because otherwise you can brake-stand this beast and spin the rear tires all day long if you want to.  An even greater contributor to the vehicle's on-road capabilities is its included magnetic ride control system, which automatically adjusts to driving conditions in order to perfectly balance control and comfort.  There's a Sport and a Tour setting for the Escalade's suspension, and while the more aggressive of the two makes for marginally less body roll, I preferred to leave the truck in Tour and enjoy the incongruity of pillowy poise from such a heavy, body-on-frame monster.

A Worthy Update

There had been some talk that the Cadillac Escalade would see its pickup-based platform replaced by a more eco-friendly crossover design, but I'm happy to report that the decision not to go down that particular road has borne delicious luxury fruit from the now-New York-based brand.  The Escalade offers something few, if any, of its competitors can claim, as rivals like the Infiniti QX80 have managed to caricature rather than copy its size and presence.  It's a uniquely American premium SUV, and one that has managed to remain true to itself by focusing on what it does well instead of compromising its talents by pursuing someone else's definition of success.