2014 Cadillac Escalade review

The Cadillac Escalade is a legend in multiple segments: as a celebrity limousine, a wealthy outdoorsman’s shuttle and do-it-all hauler for large families. These core attributes continue for the new model year with detail revisions to the LED lights front and back and two new grille designs in the higher-dollar models.

The Cadillac’s exterior style and enhanced image is the main justification for its prices at the very top of the GM SUV line that also includes the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC Yukon. The Escalade also has unique interior trims, much better noise/vibration/harshness ratings and top-level performance to match its flashy chrome exterior.

The Cadillac brings serious levels of style, luxury and power with a better drivetrain than its cheaper siblings, standard air suspension with electronically adjustable dampers and even magnetic ride control on the top Platinum model.

So the Escalade is a shortcut to get the most loaded truck possible. Making most options standard at the Cadillac’s $65,000 base price also ratchets up the competition to the seven-passenger Range Rover Sport, the Infiniti QX56 and the aging Lincoln Navigator.

Does the flagship Cadillac SUV still capture buyer wants and needs in the final years before its replacement in 2015?

Click past the jump for the full review of the 2014 Escalade and 2014 Escalade ESV with photo comparisons of the three available grille finishes.

Exterior
9.

The Escalade ESV "extended" shares all styling with the normal model aside from a length stretch and rear doors that do not have a cutout for the wheel arch. The ESV is more imposing with less top-heaviness about the design and generally is priced only $2,500 more than the shorter Caddy.

The Escalade’s top two trims in both lengths (Premium and Platinum) have a new grille design that is sharper and more defined than the base model’s grille. The lower two trims stick with the bumper/grille combo with individual egg-crate grille that looks less current.

The Escalade Premium and Platinum run the latest wreath and crest design with intricate 3D slats, vertical chrome trims and upward-flowing horizontal creases from the central badge. This new design is marked out by sharper edges and matching grille detailing in the lower bumper.

It looks especially dramatic in body color Premium trim, as the Platinum has used this fancier grille in chrome since 2012. The 2014 models with the up-level grille also get a completely new bumper with deeper central sculpting and sharper corner designs. The top two models now run a new taillight design that features clear lenses for the main LED blade lights in the corners and the third brake light up top. The latest generation of Escalade’s do not have a full-length LED light bar – only the center portion lights up.

The LED headlights are now standard on the top two trims and are magnificent. They run numerous small projector beams in a vertical design, with extra lamps for high-beam and cornering functions. The Escalade has an LED accent blade in the front lamps but it is an older design that is not as striking as the latest Cadillac ATS.

The major options for the exterior of the Escalade are larger wheels, in sizes up to 22 inches. Be warned: these tasty chrome rims are frequently stolen and the optional $55 wheel locks may not be enough to deter motivated thieves. Aftermarket locking wheel nuts are the best bet to make sure you never come back to find the Caddy sitting on its brake discs.

2014 Cadillac Escalade – Exterior Dimensions:
Model     Escalade     Escalade ESV
Wheelbase (in.)     116     130
Length (in.)     202.5     222.9
Width (in.)     79     79.1
Height (in.)     75.9     75.5
Track - Front (in.)     68.2     68.2
Track - Rear (in.)     67     67
Weight (Pounds)     5527 RWD, 5718 AWD     5787 RWD, 5982 AWD
Drag Coefficient     0.36     0.36

2014 Cadillac Escalade – Standard Exterior Features:

    Road Sensing, electronically controlled shock absorbers
    Heavy-duty locking rear Differential
    Automatic level control, heavy-duty, air
    Wheels, 4 - 18-inch x 8-inch 7-spoke aluminum; Tires, P265/65R18, all-season
    Tire, full-size spare, P265/70R17-113S blackwall; Tire carrier, lockable outside spare
    Luggage rack, roof-mounted with chrome accents; Luggage rack center rails
    Assist steps, Black with chrome accents, mounted between front and rear wheels
    Headlamps, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) with Twilight Sentinel and flash-to-pass feature
    Headlamps, Twilight Sentinel automatic delay
    Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable, power-folding and driver-side auto-dimming, color-keyed with integrated turn signal indicators, ground illumination and programmable to provide curb view when in reverse
    Power liftgate with deep-tinted liftglass includes rear-window wiper/washer and defogger

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