2015 Cadillac Escalade release date, price

We confess it: We’ve wondered whether the 2015 Cadillac Escalade deserves to stick around. Many of the top-end luxury SUVs long ago ditched their pickup origins for the bones of cushier, compliant unibody platforms, yet the Escalade proceeded atop its working-class residential district framework. Nor did information technology do anything unique that other luxury tanks didn’t, except maybe show more composure during hip-hop movie shoots. But brand new design details and a greatly upgraded cabin assistance make the 2015 Cadillac Escalade a standout in the course that information technology as soon as defined.

The brand new Escalade nevertheless rides on conventional body-on-frame design, and though luxury snobs might dismiss the concept, owners of week-end toys will maybe not. The base rear-wheel-drive Escalade, correctly prepared, can tow up to 8,200 weight (the all-wheel-drive Escalade is ranked for 8,000 weight). The Escalade additionally holds over a 6.2-liter V8, but this one comes from GM’s newest generation of direct-injection machines, with production increased to 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.

But the Escalade’s interior decorating and materials are unquestionably its centerpiece improvements. Formerly bit much better than the Suburban/Yukon twins, the cabin of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade functions a wide range of perforated leather-based, prominent stitching and genuine lumber, while covered and tiered areas indicate a level of information and build quality missing in earlier years.

The dash and tool panel are anchored by the fancy — and discouraging — CUE multimedia system and its 8-inch touchscreen screen, but it’s the bigger 12.3-inch configurable measure cluster and “driver information center” that actually impresses with razor-sharp, high-definition colors and photos.

The 2nd line is available with captain’s seats or a bench seat (for eight-passenger ability), and for 2015 the Escalade lastly gets a fold-down third-line seat. The bad news is that it doesn’t fold entirely flat and its flexibility consumes into cargo capability. The brand new Escalade falls almost 15 cubic legs of capability, but nonetheless provides 94 cubes. The great news is which you no longer need to phone a neighbor to assist eliminate and stow the 3rd line whenever it’s perhaps not required.

The only individuals whom may maybe not completely value the Escalade’s brand new cabin are back chair people. The brand new model is fractionally longer and wider, about 1.5 inches in both instructions, which nets the motorist and front chair passenger an additional 4 inches of legroom. Cyclists in the 3rd line, nevertheless, lose almost an inches of space to extend away (ESV models fare better). Headroom in both rows is also down since much as a half-inch based on model.

Modifications to the sheet steel aren’t as dramatic as modifications inside, but the Escalade nonetheless cuts a dashing figure from the curb. Both the front side and back ends utilize steeply stacked straight designs for the standard Light-emitting Diode headlights and taillights, and Cadillac’s present grille design is provided in its biggest type however. And like the Suburban and Yukon, the Escalade tailgate is topped by a prominent spoiler that improves its aerodynamic profile.

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade goes on purchase this springtime beginning at $72,690, almost $8,000 more than the present base model. That’s nevertheless less than a similar Land Rover number Rover, and about exactly what you’d spend for a Mercedes-Benz GL-Class with a V8 and a couple of choices. The forthcoming redesigned Lincoln Navigator is additionally really worth an appearance whenever contrasting full-size SUVs.