CARandDRIVER saidThe Cadillac Escalade enjoys king-of-the-road status as the ultimate American full-size luxury SUV. Big, bold, and brazen, the Cadillac Escalade is all about presence. Despite sharing similar underpinnings with the downmarket Yukon and Suburban, Caddy's supersized flagship plays in the full-size luxury SUV big leagues and lays the opulence on thick. All three of the Escalade's rows are decked out in top-notch materials, and its tech-laden forward cabin serves as a cushy command post.. There is no getting around the fact that the Escalade is a hefty beast. But formidable handling, a glassy-smooth ride, and the choice of two muscular V-8 powertrains make it feel more capable than other high-dollar rivals such as the Lexus LX600 and Lincoln Navigator. Every Escalade starts of with 22-inch wheels, Hands-free liftgate, Adaptive headlights, Synthetic leather upholstery, Heated front and rear outboard seats, a Heated steering wheel, the 55-inch integrated digital instrument and infotainment display, Google Built-In infotainment, voice assistant system and navigation, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and a Wireless charging pad. As luxe as the Escalade is, there is little point in trying to rationalize the purchase by saving a few dollars here and there. We say go for the Platinum Luxury trim that includes the adaptive suspension with air springs, the premium 38-speaker AKG audio system, semi-aniline leather, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with massage, and the new power door function that opens and closes all four doors via a touch of the handle or console-mounted button. The Sport and Platinum Sport trims generally mirror the Luxury and Platinum Luxury, respectively, in features and options. Styling and aesthetic touches such as unique wheels and gloss black trim largely distinguish the Sport trims from their Luxury counterparts.
