If you thought the age of America’s only answer to innovation was to simply stick a larger engine in a car was over, you’re wrong. Just when you thought things couldn’t get crazier or larger… somehow, they still do. The new Cadillac Escalade V is bigger and bolder than the regular Escalade as if it wasn’t big enough. Cadillac adds its third high-performance V variant to its lineup alongside the CT5-V and the CT4-V models released in previous years. The first SUV to show off the V badge is an iconic one with the Escalade being the United States’ premier luxury SUV for over twenty years.
If the Escalade V was a character in an old 90’s sitcom, it’d be the bully pressing the protagonist for his lunch money every day. Brawny and muscular, this bully intends to go home with the $5 your mom gave you to buy a sandwich and some milk in the lunch line. Cadillac tacked on a supercharger to the 6.2 L V8 on the AWD platform that comes in the base Escalade models essentially making the engine identical to the V8 that comes in the CT5-V Blackwing, a vehicle which we rave about. The engine however has an even larger supercharger than the CT5-V which allows it to harness even more power from its already monstrosity of an engine. 60 MPH happens in just under 4.4 seconds— an absurd number for an absurd car. The drag strip shredding time is powered by the 682 horsepower that the Escalade-V spews out along with the 653 lb-ft of torque that aids the launch.
80% of that 653 lb-ft of torque (that’s 522.4 for all you non-nerds out there) is available under 2,000 RPMs. Bastioned by the supercharger that’s some serious initial power off the line. A simile to a rocket ship wouldn’t do the Escalade nearly enough justice due to the shear experience of being thrown back in our seats when we stomped on the accelerator. Choosing to go with the extended wheelbase version, yes, it can get even bigger, adds about a .1 of a second to the 0-60 and to its 1/4 mile time of 12.4 seconds credited to the normal wheelbase version. To stop this tank of a vehicle Cadillac has fitted six-piston Brembo brakes to the front two wheels.
While the drag strip may seem like an unordinary location to take the Escalade, let us suggest what it’s actually meant for: soccer practice. While picking up little Timmy from his rec league soccer game you’ll be sure to cause a fuss among the parents in the bleachers as you interrupt the match with loud rumble and bumble coming out of the Escalade’s quad exhaust pipe. Even at a standstill it feels like sitting in Dom’s Challenger straight of Fast and the Furious. Insulated from everything high up in the Escalade’s luxurious cabin, you know exactly what you’re sitting in and the potential the vehicle at your helm has and that’s what’s most exciting about this car.
Sitting inside it also allows you to access the array of features that Cadillac offers on its flagship full-size SUV. Including SuperCruise— Cadillac’s driver aid system, or as we like to call it: a better Tesla AutoPilot. Also included is the Escalade’s revered 38-inch OLED display stretching across half the cabin. One of our favorite technology features of the past couple of years, the screen is fully customizable and intuitively designed, making for one of the most practical innovations in a luxury car in recent years.
Don’t expect to take the Escalade on Circuit America or even your local county backroad. While the Magnetic Ride Control helps glide over potholes and other nuisances in the road, it lacks a role in the handling department. While the Escalade-V is lower by .8 inches in Sport mode than the regular Escalade and possesses a sport-calibrated suspension it’s not exactly thirsty for all the corners in the world. Body roll still feels loose, and the steering feels overassisted. Taking corners even at a reasonable pace feels like the roof is going to end up hitting the asphalt by way of tipping over. A good rule of thumb: if it’s as big as a tractor trailer, it probably is going to handle like a tractor trailer.
Your insurance company wouldn’t be your best friend in that situation either seeing as they would have to cover a car at a starting price point of $149,990. A shockingly high price for now a new category of SUV has been created— the “super-SUV”. I personally cannot justify a vehicle like this at that level. However, we all know exactly who’s buying these. Beverly Hills moms on their way to Equinox for their 10:30 AM spin cycle class on a Tuesday. The Escalade has been so deeply rooted in American culture that these will sell out just because of its status within not just the car community, but the country as a whole. As one of the crown jewels of American SUVs its presence and looks can be directly correlated to its impressive sales figures via the regular Escalade. Cadillac says 60% of Escalade buyers don’t bother to shop around other SUVs so it’s safe to assume that people are willing to cough up big money for a big car.
Other vehicles within the Escalade’s realm have better numbers on paper such as the Mercedes AMG GLS63, BMW Alpina XB7, and the Tesla Model X Plaid. All three of the formers are leaner, speedier, and cheaper than the Caddy, making it a hard sell to everyone except the Escalade faithful.
While the exterior doesn’t get a full V-esque upgrade we saw with the Blackwing duo, the Escalade-V will receive painted brake calipers, the aforementioned quad exhaust, new wheels, and a slight update to the front fascia. The Escalade opts not to stand out versus its conventional styling on the regular models. Which takes a sharp contrast from other “super-SUVs” on the road today which make sure you know exactly what you’re looking at. After all, why change a timeless classic when the name does all the talking you need?
