2020 Cadillac Escalade Review

　　

2020 Cadillac Escalade Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　If you're in the market for a large luxury SUV, the 2020 Cadillac Escalade is likely on your short list. Few other luxury SUVs have as much roadside presence or established history. Thanks to its truck-based origins, the Escalade combines a burly V8 engine with a towing capacity that maxes out at a stout 8,300 pounds. You also get an impressively quiet cabin, three rows of seating, and plenty of features. But this big SUV does come up short in a few areas.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Cadillac Escalade 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$262/mo  for Escalade Base

　　Escalade Base

　　4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $75,195 MSRP4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $78,195 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $80,795 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $83,795 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $85,195 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $88,195 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $92,295 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $95,295 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Much of it comes down to those truck-based origins. The Escalade's ride quality and handling capabilities aren't as refined as what you get from nearly all other luxury SUVs. We're also no fans of the Escalade's cargo space, which is small and hard to load with heavy or bulky items.

　　The Escalade is only five years into its current generation, but its age is definitely showing. Spy shots of a new Escalade redesign are circulating, which may help you decide whether to wait for the next-gen Escalade or shop the competition. In the meantime, we suggest checking out the Lincoln Navigator and the Mercedes-Benz GLS since both are more appealing SUVs overall.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Escalade drive? The big V8 is one of the Escalade's greatest assets. The 6.2-liter V8 engine is responsive and torquey and sounds good as the revs rise. It does 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds, remarkable for such a large vehicle. The brakes return expected results, stopping the Escalade from 60 mph in 140 feet, with an appropriately soft pedal and long travel.

　　We're less enamored with the Escalade when deviating from the straight-ahead. The steering's on-center feel is vague, and the slow ratio means you'll be sawing away at the wheel more than you might expect. Handling is understandably cumbersome, even when you switch the suspension to its Sport mode.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Escalade? Ride comfort was once a Cadillac strength, but it suffers noticeably here. The adjustable suspension dampers work well on smooth rolling roads. But they get overwhelmed on a quick succession of bumps and are ineffective against square-edge bumps, such as the choppy conditions found on concrete highways. You can occasionally feel the solid axle jiggling around on certain bumpy roads.

　　The front seats are generously padded but lack lateral support, which means you might find yourself shifting around to straighten up. For the most part, the interior is quiet and vibration-free. But road noise sneaks in when driving on coarse road surfaces.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? With large door apertures and wide, auto-retracting steps, getting in and out of the Escalade is like climbing two steps of tall stairs. The inside of the Escalade is generous, with ample leg-, headroom and shoulder room for first- and second-row passengers. Third-row passengers, however, will feel the pinch.

　　The Escalade is well-built, and parts-sharing of switches and touch points from the Suburban is the only real sore point. The materials used are noticeably better on the front seats versus the second and third rows. And the hard plastic used in some areas of the interior feels cheap.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The audio system sounds crisp, but the navigation system feels a generation behind. You'll have smoother functionality via smartphone mirroring. Also, the buttons around the display are laggy and lack the haptic feedback of the lower buttons. The glossy infotainment stack shows fingerprints and glare.

　　The Escalade's advanced driver safety aids generally work well. But lane departure warning comes on later than expected, and auto parking requires a lot of room.

　　

Storage

6.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Utility is the realm of the full-size SUV, but the Escalade is underwhelming. Behind the third row is 15.2 cubic feet of cargo space, just about the least spacious in the category. Fold down the seats for 94.2 cubic feet. The high load floor limits cargo height, and loading bulky and heavy items is difficult, requiring a deep reach-over. Got kids? Because the second row can't slide, installing a seat in that row will prevent entry to the third row from that side.

　　Two-wheel-drive models can tow 8,300 pounds, and four-wheel-drive models can tow 8,100 pounds. Tow mode holds gears longer and keeps revs higher for better acceleration and more engine braking. An adjustable suspension keeps the body level for steady handling. But there's no trailer brake controller.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the 4WD Escalade at 17 mpg combined (14 city/21 highway). We achieved an average of 17.6 mpg in our testing.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Escalade a good value? This Caddy is a costly SUV that matches its competitors in some areas and falls short in others. Its powertrain is a highlight, but the ride quality, interior quality and infotainment system leave us cold.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　There's a truck under this big SUV. A polished truck, sure, but there's no hiding the solid rear-axle design, huge wheels and road-crushing mass. There's certainly something entertaining about piloting a massive SUV slathered in chrome, but it's not really fun to drive. But outrageous? You bet.

　　

Which Escalade does zzdcar recommend?

All Escalade models benefit from a long list of standard features, so that leaves the choice to what creature comforts appeal to you most. We suggest checking out the Premium Luxury trim that comes with adaptive cruise control, forward and reverse automatic braking, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

　　

2020 Cadillac Escalade models

The 2020 Cadillac Escalade is a full-size, body-on-frame luxury SUV available in four trim levels: base, Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum. The base trim comes with a dizzying array of equipment, but the Premium Luxury and the Platinum take this big, plush American machine to yet another level. All Escalade models are equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine (420 horsepower, 460 lb-ft of torque) and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is optional.

　　The base trim is generously appointed inside and out. Standard equipment highlights include 20-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, LED headlights, automatic parallel and perpendicular parking assist, a hands-free liftgate, three-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, and power-folding split third-row seats. Standard electronic features include an 8-inch touchscreen, a surround-view parking camera system, a navigation system, and a Bose 16-speaker audio system.

　　For a few more driver aids and a bit more plush equipment, you can step up to the Luxury trim. It adds a sunroof, power-folding second-row seats, a head-up display, a camera-based rearview mirror system, and the Driver Awareness package that bundles a variety of driver safety aids.

　　Our recommended trim, the Premium Luxury, adds adaptive cruise control, a rear entertainment system with a Blu-ray player and an overhead-mounted display, and a more advanced collision mitigation system with both forward and reverse automatic braking.

　　The most expensive and most lavishly appointed Escalade is the Platinum trim level. It certainly possesses all the bells and whistles, but you may not need all the extras it provides. The Platinum adds power-retracting side steps, upgraded power front seats with massaging function, upgraded leather upholstery, and a cooled front-seat center console.

　　

2020 Escalade Highlights

Trim: BaseLuxuryPremium LuxuryPlatinumBase

　　

Base MSRP	$75,195
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$262/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles