CADDY SHAQ
2015 Cadillac Escalade Premium

The Shaquille O’Neal of SUVs By Harold Osmer Being a car guy, as in I drive a car every day, I hadn’t fully appreciated why someone would want to drive a big-ass SUV on daily errands. Getting up close and personal with the 2015 Cadillac Escalade changed all that. Ride height, volume, and sheer mass take a few miles to adjust to. Visibility is excellent via wide windows, large side mirrors, and backing assist rear view camera system. Electric steering provides smooth and precise response at every turn. Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, and Driver Assist Package systems alerts come either through audible tones or vibrations sent up through the driver’s seat. This end result is a vehicle that is comfortable to drive, maneuvers well, and can be parked with ease.

Escalades are numerous on my end of the world. Their drivers are loyal and immediately recognized the fourth generation 2015 model. Exterior styling changes include tall taillights, a slightly more square shape, and an extra 1.5 inches in length. It doesn’t all sound like much, but if you get a 2015 parked next to a vintage Escalade, the differences are apparent. GM’s 6.2L V8 produces an ample 420hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. Coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission, Escalade readily gets up and goes. Selecting between Tour and Sport modes produces little change in attitude. While it will never be mistaken for a sports car, you could easily pull two of them on a trailer. The big V8 drops down to four cylinders under light loading in an effort to extend fuel range. Cadillac is deservedly proud of Escalade’s interior appointments. Tactile surfaces of real wood, metal, and leather are installed with very tight tolerances. Second and third row passengers enjoy the same level of luxury as found up front, albeit with a bit less legroom. Rear seats fold at the touch of a button, revealing 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space.

Previous versions had a fully removable third row seat. Thieves removed many of these (possibly to sell them to the other Escalade owners who were missing theirs?). As such, our third row came securely bolted to the floor. Controls and switches are clearly marked and placed where they should be. The driver’s manual helps explain the myriad personalization options available through easy to maneuver menus. One piece we’d like to see go away is the fingerprint-gathering touch screen entertainment and control center. Basic knobs and switches remain our preference. Cadillac User Experience (CUE) features navigation, radio, and vehicle settings on a full color display. Business associates, tech-geeks, or your kids can stay connected to the outside world by way of five USB ports, five 12-volt outlets, a 110-volt outlet, and rear zone DVD entertainment. It’s all standard equipment with the Premium edition. Escalade is top of the line for the SUV world. We now consider ourselves enlightened as to the allure of an Escalade. By test’s end, we not only understood the game at hand, we want one.

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2015 Cadillac Escalade Premium Price: Base $82,795; As tested $87,985 Options: Kona brown leather with Jet Black interior accents ($2,000) Assist steps, power retractable ($1,695) 22” Dual 7-spoke Ultra-bright finish Aluminum Wheels ($500) EPA mileage estimates City/ Highway: 14/21

Engine type: 6.2L V8, Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing Horsepower: 420 @ 5600 rpm Torque: 460 lb.-ft @ 4100 rpm Towing Capacity: 8100 pounds Performance: 0-60 mph 5.9 seconds Drive configuration: Four Wheel Drive, Locking Rear Differential Transmission type: 6-Speed Automatic Suspension: Suspension Package, Magnetic Ride Control Stabilitrac Traction Control Selectable Sport/Tour Mode Wheels and tires: 22-inch Dual 7-spoke Ultra-bright Aluminum Wheels Brakes: 4-Wheel ABS, VAC Power, 17” disc Adaptive Cruise Control and Automatic Collision Preparation Overall length/wheelbase: 203.9 inches/116 inches Overall width: 80.5 inches Overall height: 74.40 inches Ground Clearance: 7.9 inches Weight: 5840 pounds Warranty: 4 Years/50,000 miles Bumper to Bumper 6 Year/70,000 miles Powertrain 4 Years/50,000 miles Premium Care Maintenance 6 Years/70,000 miles Roadside Assistance For more information about Cadillac products, go to cadillac.com