The ESV was designed for people looking to perfectly blend utility and luxury.
The first generation of Escalade was introduced back in 1999. Considering the existence of the Tahoe, the idea didn’t sound very promising, as the Escalade was basically a reworked Tahoe with lots of leather on the inside wood accents inside the cabin.
However, the refreshed 2002 model suffered many changes and quickly became one of the most appreciated SUVs on the market.
For 2006, the ESV came in a single trim level that offered everything a luxury sport-utility should give to its buyers.
The standard features included leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, OnStar communication system, a premium Bose audio system, HID headlights and many others.
Standalone options available consisted of a DVD entertainment system for the rear passengers, a 2nd row bench that allowed the ESC to accommodate up to 8 people, a sunroof and chromed alloys.
A Platinum edition was offered for those looking for a more distinctive ESV and features included wood and chrome trim, a navigation system, e chrome grille, 20-inch chrome alloys and a dual-screen DVD system.
Safety wise, the ESV featured stability control, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, side and front airbags and optional tire-pressure monitoring system, rear parking sensors. Frontal impact tests gave the Escalade 5 stars for driver protection and three for the front passenger.