Introduced for the first time in 1999, the Escalade was not very promising. While great luxury was offered, the Escalate was not that different from the Chevy Tahoe.
With its second generation launched in 2002, the Escalade became one of the most popular SUVs on the market.
If in the past, the engine mounted on the Escalate was a bit underpowered, the new 2006 generation surprised the public with a 345 hp V8 powerplant that satisfied the needs of power-hungry customers.
The Escalade offered seating for 7 and that should be of no surprise as it was a full-size luxury SUV.
A single trim level was available and the standard features included a tori-zone climate control, leather upholstery, a Bose audio system and others. Standalone options included bigger 20-inch chrome wheels and a second-row bench instead of the bucket seats to increase its versatility by accommodating 8 passengers.
Both two-wheel-drive and a four-wheel-drive systems were available, coming with the standard 6.0-liter V8 we already mentioned.
Safety wise, standard stability control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes and side airbags were included. Tested for frontal impacts, the Escalade managed to score 4 stars out of 5.
Inside the Escalade’s cabin, the driver and passengers would’ve bathed into luxury with the multitude of soft leather surfaces along with shiny wood accents.