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2002 Cadillac Escalade
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| Big, Bold, Better? |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:09:48 |
| Rating |
 118 ( -14 -11.86% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
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Description:
2002 Cadillac Escalade
Big, Bold, Better?
Writer's Notes
2002 Cadillac Escalade
MSRP Range: $47,290 - $49,290
New for 2002
345 hp Vortec 6000 engine (AWD model)
Stabilitrak (AWD)
Road Sensing Suspension System
4L60-E HD transmission (AWD model)
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
OnStar personal calling and Virtual Advisor services
Best-in-class climate control
Optional sunroof
II-Speaker Bose Acoustimass audio system
Standard third-row, eight-passenger seating with best-in-class comfort
Redesigned instrument panel and extended floor console
Single load six-disc CD changer in dash
One piece lightweight liftgate
Larger, redesigned seven spoke wheels
Larger, heated, memory, fold-away rearview mirrors
The Escalade has a sharp new style and a solid base of quality from the engine up.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
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Let's face it: we're a Bubba Nation. From Manhattan to Disneyland and all the burgers in between, we dig large --- televisions, houses, you name it and we'll up-size it. This American fascination with Big is quite irksome for many of the punier nations --- especially when it comes to the cars we drive. While our little Euro friends zip around in Minis, we hog the road with land boats.
And there is no land boat quite like the Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade is All-American, from the gigantic emblem to the cavernous and luxurious interior. Like all good Patriots, the Escalade makes a statement on the road, one that shouts for attention in a most extravagant way: If you've got the bucks, the Escalade has the build.
And who better to build America's car than Cadillac? Recent years notwithstanding, Cadillac has a rich history of large cars that made big dents in the asphalt. The Escalade brings the boldness back to the old American Luxury Car, and not a moment too soon --- one more Catera, or heaven forbid, Cimarron -- and Cadillac might be in serious trouble.
Yea, it takes something big to wash the taste of Cimarron out of an upscale buyer's mouth, and the Escalade may just have enough flavor to make people forgive, forget and get behind the wheel -- or make them snigger and walk away.
Going by appearances, General Motors did not go for the safe margin when redesigning the Escalade. The hard-edged, futuristic look is a daring and welcome step forward. So score one for the General. The Escalade is new money. It's country estate with a touch of rodeo, fine dining without the tie. It is the luxury SUV for people with a few hard corners left in 'em.
Driving and Safety
About those corners --- the Escalade doesn't do too badly when it comes to cornering and curving. For what it is --- an almost 6000 lb. beast --- it takes freeway on-ramps and country roads without untoward swaying or leaning. That's mainly thanks to new 17-inch wheels, an all-wheel drive system that applies energy to wheels in order to improve stability and extra-big Bilstein shocks.
Extra-big. Everything is oversize on the Escalade, especially the engine. With Cadillac's Vortec 6000, the AWD Escalade generates 345 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 380 lb.-ft. of torque --- according to GM, the most in it's collection of SUVs. The rear-wheel drive Escalade has to make due with the Vortec 5300 V8, with 285 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. torque. According to GM, the 5300 delivers 90 percent of its peak torque between 1600 to 5000 rpm. "Escalade's dual powertrain strategy, coupled with sophisticated chassis control technologies, like StabiliTrak, offers a package that parallels the acclaimed Northstar system found in the Cadillac DeVille and Seville," said Susan Docherty, Cadillac Escalade brand manager.
On the road, the Escalade doesn't strain to do anything, but also doesn't make you sit back in awe. For a large SUV, it's quick off the line, but not jaw-drop quick. The feeling is one of awesome power and drive just-barely-out-of-reach on city roads. That's probably on purpose --- the transmission is designed for smooth shifting and power pulling, not quick acceleration. During a typical work-week commute, the absence of a nimble response can be a drawback. It's just not the kind of vehicle that spends much time on its toes --- though it handles lane changes and unpredictable traffic patterns easily. For a large vehicle, there's plenty of visibility and even a sensor that tells you if you're going to back over another car.
Perhaps where the Escalade excels most is in pulling stuff and hauling people. Tie a boat to the thing, pack in a bunch of kids and revel in the Clydesdale-like power. This thing could yank a bridge all the way to Lake Havasu.
"The Escalade has been a catalyst in attracting a new and important customer to Cadillac showrooms," said Michael J. O'Malley, Cadillac general manager. "The 2002 Escalade, with its distinct design and innovative technologies, signifies a direction for Cadillac's portfolio that will further broaden Cadillac's appeal."
Comfort and Convenience
But who'd want to put a bridge in the desert? There are plenty of other big things to haul, so if you're going to -- and all real Americans should --- you may as well do it in total leather-shrouded comfort. That's the Escalade. So comfortable and insulated, it's a bit like virtual 3-D driving. You know you're on the road because you see it...but it just doesn't feel like you're driving. Road noise that slips through the windows is drowned out by the stereo system, and the ride flattens bumps and fills potholes. Drivers who like to feel the road through the steering might be disappointed, but those who want easy finger-tip steering --- which is most luxury vehicle buyers --- will be very pleased.
They will also be pleased with the Escalade's interior appointments --- as long as they sit in the first two rows. Like most large SUVs, it's a front-to-back vehicle: the front is the ultimate in comfort and convenience, with heated 10-way power seating, memory for each driver and side seat adjustments. There is plenty of cargo room, an on-board message computer with up to 19 features, a CD rack and Big Gulp friendly cup holders. The large center console is thoughtfully designed, with a top compartment for items you need to get to and a large lower storage compartment. The soft leather seating is delightful. Most impressive, however, is the craftsmanship put into the instrument display. Set in wood trim, the instrument panel is a collection of intersecting circles with a retro-sporty feel. This, along with the hard-edged exterior look, is the signature of the Escalade.
The second row is also nicely put-together, with heated seats, climate and audio controls. The center folds down to reveal a large compartment/table. Installing and removing a child's seat is quick and convenient, though the center console is rendered useless with the addition of a child's seat. Getting in and out of the first and second row is easy, and the exterior step is a useful addition. Things get a little cramped in the third row, enough so that it's hard to see 8 adults sitting comfortably. It's probably more useful to remove the third row and use the back as an extra large (108.2 cubic feet)cargo area.
Overall
No matter how you use it, the Cadillac Escalade is a lumbering multi-purpose giant that will accommodate just about anything you throw at it. With sharp and aggressive styling, a great engine and solid handling character, the Escalade is poised to take a dominating position in the luxury SUV market.
--Story by Brian Chee |
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