Redesigned Escalade offers a refined ride
2007 Cadillac Escalade AWD SUV
Published: Jul 3, 2006
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THE RIDE: Four-door, up to eight-passenger 2007 Cadillac Escalade AWD SUV.
DOWN THE ROAD: Rap singers, football players and movie stars, they all are in love with this full-size, luxury Caddy for its sleek and athletic look. Redesigned for 2007, the Escalade is an improvement over its predecessor in almost every respect — interior space, luxury amenities and of course, attractive exterior styling. And the ride in the fully boxed frame is firm but smooth. As the folks at Cadillac like to say, the icon has been reborn. Indeed.
TECH & PERFORMANCE: Available as a two-wheel or all-wheel drive, the all-new 6.2-liter V-8 engine boasts 403 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 417 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. The 6-speed automatic transmission offers the driver the option of shifting gears manually. Handling is precise and road noise is kept to a minimum, thanks to a five-link rear suspension, which incorporates stiffer frame mounts and variable-rate springs. The hydraulic power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering gives the Escalade a turning circle of 39.04 feet. A road-sensing suspension enables the vehicle to be raised or lowered to accommodate a heavy payload. And of course, the SUV has a towing capacity of 7,400 pounds. So, get that boat out of the garage and sail away.
LOOK & FEEL: Cadillac will be the first to proudly say it: The front fascia of the redesigned Escalade has been inspired by the Sixteen concept car. Take the egg-crate grille with chrome accents, which houses the wreath-and-crest insignia in the center. Then there are the vertical tri-element headlights and horizontal fog lamps or the raking windshield. With its two-tone, cocoa-on-cashmere interior, the cabin looks classy and elegant. Nuance leather covers the seats and door trim. As you sit holding the four-spoke steering wheel decked in wood trim, your eyes fall on the instrument panel, which shows off white needles and blue light inlays with lit white-LED backlights. The second-row seat power release gives passengers in the third-row seat easy ingress and egress. Storage areas are a dime a dozen, including an impressive 17-liter center console covered with leather.
SAFETY FIRST: Dual front and side airbags and side curtain for all seats are standard. So are traction control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, tire pressure monitoring system, rear-obstacle system, StabiliTrak control and front-seat pretensioners.
OUT THE DOOR: $56,405, plus tax, tag, delivery and destination charges. The 18-inch chrome aluminum wheels are available for an extra $795.
BY THE NUMBERS: Tires, P265/65R18; wheelbase, 116 inches; length, 202.5 inches; weight, 5,818 pounds; fuel capacity, 26 gallons; highway 19 mpg; city 13 mpg.
WHY DIG IT: The redesigned Escalade assures Cadillac that its resurgence is on track. This full-size luxury SUV has got it all: powerful performance, great styling, numerous luxury and safety features and a refined ride. Whoever said that only rap singers, football players and movie stars can have all the fun?
