The Cadillac Escalade is big and powerful, capable of towing trailers of 7500 to 8300 pounds. In its most popular configuration, the Escalade seats seven.
Escalade comes in three body styles: Escalade, ESV, and EXT. The standard Escalade is a full-size sport utility sharing the same architecture and roughly the same dimensions as the Chevy Tahoe.
The ESV is a long-wheelbase version of the Escalade. Similar in size to the Chevy Suburban, the ESV is 20 inches longer than the regular Escalade. The Escalade EXT is a five-passenger luxury SUV with a short bed; it is Cadillac's version of the Chevy Avalanche and features the impressive Midgate that converts the rear seats into additional pickup space. On the road, all Escalades are smooth and stable. The Escalades deliver the comfort and amenities of a luxury sedan, including automatic climate control, heated leather seats, navigation, rearview camera, premium Bose audio, ultrasonic parking assist, and power-adjustable pedals. The Escalade Hybrid is notably easier on fuel than the standard Escalade, with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg City, 21 mpg Highway. Available only with the standard Escalade body style, the hybrid gas-electric powertrain shares technology with the Tahoe/Yukon two-mode hybrids.
The 2010 Cadillac Escalade gets a few upgrades.
According to reviewers from across the Web, the plush interior of the 2010 Cadillac Escalade is matched to a macho, flashy exterior that turns heads and makes for a winning combination.
The Escalade shares its platform and mechanical layout with the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs.
Despite sharing the same platform and mechanicals, the 2010 Cadillac Escalade is substantially different from either the Tahoe or the Yukon thanks to its unique style. The Escalade has been toned down from the first-generation model, but FamilyCar.com points out the Escalade’s “bigger grille, seven layers of chrome accents and just-for-show ‘vent ports’ on the front fenders gave the vehicle an even bolder look than its predecessor."
The 2010 Cadillac Escalade receives a number of notable upgrades. Handsome double-stitched leather upholstery and faux wood trim are complemented by an impressive list of upscale standard features.
The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class offers a more serious challenge to the big Caddy's category dominance, with its superior driving dynamics and a classy interior with a fold-flat third-row seat that's much more practical than the Escalade's old-school removable version.
For 2010, the full-size Cadillac Escalade SUV is offered in four different trim levels. Even entry-level models are very well-equipped, with 18-inch alloy wheels, an adaptive suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers, xenon headlamps, an auto-dimming driver-side mirror, a power liftgate, rear parking sensors and fixed running boards. Interior goodies include triple-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated 14-way power front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, power-adjustable pedals, remote start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone connectivity, OnStar, a Bose surround-sound audio system with a six-disc CD/DVD changer, and a navigation system with real-time traffic updates and a built-in rearview camera.
Inside you'll find heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-release feature for second-row seats and a blind-spot warning system. The Premium trim level adds power-retractable running boards and a rear-seat DVD video entertainment system with a ceiling-mounted screen. The short list of available options includes different styles of 22-inch alloy wheels, a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench seat and the rear-seat DVD video system with the overhead screen (Luxury model only).
EPA estimates stand at 14 mpg city/20 highway for the 2WD Escalade, slightly higher than the 2009 Escalade. Properly equipped, two-wheel-drive versions can tow a healthy 8,300 pounds.
Standard safety features on the Escalade include electronic stability control, antilock disc brakes, traction control, front side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags that cover all three rows and the OnStar telematics system. In government crash tests, last year's Escalade earned a top five-star rating for crash protection in frontal and side-impact protection.
Interior Design and Special Features
Adding the available second-row bench raises total seating capacity to eight.
If you choose to lose the third-row seat, however, you'll end up with a cavernous 60.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second-row seats. Fold those second-row seats down and the cargo capacity grows to an impressive 108.9 cubic feet.
Driving Impressions
On the road, the 2010 Cadillac Escalade delivers surprisingly good acceleration at all speeds thanks to that big 403-hp V8.