2021 Cadillac Escalade Review
Cadillac loaned us the new 2021 Cadillac Escalade for a quick drive before it launches this summer (2021) to the public
2021 Cadillac Escalade Quick Drive:
The Great:
The, as named by me, ‘Secret Service’ appearance package just oozes menace. It’s sharp lines convey the following message on the road: ‘GTFO my way’. It’s a rolling testament to what makes full size luxury SUVs so popular…their undeniable presence.
Super Cruise! It’s not just another name for Active Cruise Control. It’s an evolution (if not revolution) of that system that provides complete hands off driving capability! By jam packing the Escalade with radars, sensors, cameras, LIDAR and many items from the NSA’s wet dream list…the Escalade that carve a seamless, efficient and magical path through the road. To aide all of those sensors, the Escalade also has hundreds of thousands of highway miles mapped out to create a driving experience like no other.
The infotainment system is just plain brilliant if not almost class leading to use, look at it and be mesmerized by. It’s jammed packed with features such as augmented reality, night vision, 360 cameras and the lot but the most impressive part is…it’s easy to use! There are no dangerous touchpads, cursors or hilarious looking gestures to use. Just poke the screen or use the MMI scroll wheel.
The Good:
The drivetrain and suspension tuning is one of the hallmarks of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Making 420 HP from it’s 6.2 Liter V8 and blasting to 60 in 6.1 seconds, the Escalade is never lacking for anything. Inundated in a sea of turbos and multi-cam complexities…the glorious ‘small-block’ continues to prove that it will go down as one of the best engines ever made. Along with MagRide, the Escalade continues its legacy of a formidable driving experience.
The Bad:
The brakes, while effective, in stopping the 5800 pound Escalade… has the feel of stepping on a soggy piece of wood. It’s not reassuring in the least.
The Ugly:
40% of the gauges are blocked by the steering wheel
The fake wood veneer that runs the length of the massive dashboard looks and feels cheap.
The scroll wheel has way too much play in it for this price point and category.
The Overall:
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade with Supercruise proves that it is the flagship of the brand and has enough to compete with the best full size Luxury SUVs on the road today.