The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is available in RWD and AWD options in all four trim levels that are named Base, Luxury, Premium, and Platinum. As the names suggest, each trim level has a significant amount of upgrades or additional features compared to the lower trims and as an opulent large SUV, the Escalade offers value for money through its varying trim levels. The prices start at $63,745 for the Base RWD trim variant and go all the way up to $83,070 for the Platinum AWD trim variant.

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The 2013 Cadillac Escalade Luxury trim level with AWD drivetrain is the one that is preferred by most of the customers hugely due to the fact that it brings along a lot of aesthetic as well as practical features that it adds over the base trim level. It is also priced right at just below the $71,000 mark.

The powertrain unit in the 2013 Cadillac Escalade is the same 6.2 L naturally aspirated V8 engine from the previous model year version that has been a favorite amongst people who prefer large SUVs. The engine produces 403 horsepower and 417 lb-ft. of torque. Its linear power delivery and smooth ride quality are possible due to the clever engineering that went behind building it and the fact that it is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission unit that makes sure the shifts are buttery smooth and the power delivery is linear without any confusion or lag in power. 

The Escalade is available in both RWD and AWD drivetrain configurations across all 4 trim levels and its powertrain and drivetrain unit together help it achieve a 0-60 mph acceleration pull in 6.7 seconds and cover a quarter-mile distance in 15.2 seconds which is really impressive considering the fact that the Escalade is a full-size premium SUV.

The Cadillac Escalade and the GMC Yukon Denali are products of brand badging and hence the powertrain, drivetrain, and performance configurations and figures are surprisingly identical. But the Escalade’s magnetically adjustable suspension system ensures smooth ride quality is available at the passenger’s disposal at all times. However, it is the 2013 Toyota Sequoia that is the quickest taking 6.6 seconds, while the least powerful Lincoln that produces 310hp and 365lb.-ft is the slowest.

The 2013 Cadillac Escalade’s performance figures and powertrain configuration suggests that it is the most powerful SUV in its class and thereby you might conclude that it must be low on the fuel economy side. Well, the Escalade kind of surprises us with its combined fuel economy of 16 MPG which is identical to the rest of the cars in the segment. It also delivers identical fuel economy in the city at 14 MPG but the economy at highways lowers down by 2 MPG. It gets a decent fuel tank capacity of 26 gallons that helps it offer a combined fuel range of 416 miles which is similar to other competitors in the segment as well.

The Navigator has a slight advantage when it comes to the fuel range criterion due to its larger fuel tank capacity of 28-gallons than the rest of its counterparts. It manages a combined range of 448 miles, while contemporary SUVs manage 416 miles. All four SUVs including the Cadillac, Lincoln, GMC, and Toyota manage 16 MPG. 

The interior design layout doesn’t have striking features to it but it definitely complements the Escalade’s tall and bold exterior image. The dashboard layout is a very simple yet practical design with a leather surface and metal and wood trim inserts. The center console has the infotainment screen as well as a host of buttons for various infotainment and creature comfort features such as tri-zone automatic climate control, heating, and cooling functions for the seat, and a lot more.

The front seats are broad and comfortable 14-way power-adjustable leather upholstered seats with heating and cooling features. The lower base trim gets a much simpler setup with 10-way adjustable seats. The front seats in the Escalade are certainly some of the best seats in its class and exude premium look and comfort.

The second-row seats are pilot seats with individual climate control units and armrests for each occupant. Cadillac also offers an entertainment package that avails multimedia screens and boasts of the best in class headroom. The third-row seats are 50-50 split-bench seats which are claimed to accommodate 3 occupants, but one look inside and you can conclude that there is enough shoulder room and headroom for adults but the decrease in legroom means only children can be seated comfortably in the last row.

Its standard cargo capacity of 16.9 cubic feet. might seem less compared to what its rivals like the Lincoln Navigator offers, but folding all seats behind the first row will reveal that the Escalade has an impressive max cargo capacity of 108.9 cubic feet. which is the largest in its class.

Each SUV in the segment has a total seating capacity of seven passengers. While shoulder- and legroom are highest in the Toyota Sequoia, its headroom is lesser than its competitors. While interior space differs diminutively only, the Toyota continues to lead in the cargo capacity, followed by the Lincoln Navigator having a trunk volume of 18.1 cubic feet. Both the Cadillac and GMC Yukon Denali are similar in all aspects. 

Some of the notable interior features are:

• Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Heated and cooled front seats
• Cruise Control 
• Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Day/night Auto-Dimming rearview mirror
• Cup holders with heating and cooling options
• Second-row pilot seats with 3-way heating 

How intuitive is the 2013 Cadillac Escalade’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system from Cadillac includes a multi-information infotainment screen in the center with buttons to control the system below. There is SiriusXM satellite radio and NavTraffic on offer. The sound system is a Bose 5.1 cabin surround sound system with 10-speakers. There’s also an entertainment package on offer that offers seatback multimedia screens for second-row passengers as well. Some of the notable infotainment features are:

• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• Auxiliary Audio Input 
• USB port
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Rear seat entertainment unit

The exterior bodywork and design layout are some of Escalade’s highly regarded USPs. These design features have let it become recognizable to everyone on the road and have made it a favorite amongst pop stars and bureaucrats alike. There are some attractive features in the external bodywork such as the massive chrome grille with the Cadillac logo, the automatic twilight sentinel LED headlamps, 22-inch aluminum wheels, LED tail lamps, and assist steps that are power-retractable that make the Escalade the best value for money SUV in its segment in terms of practicality and necessary features. The magnetically adjustable suspension setup works incredibly well to dampen out the vibrations caused on bad patches of road, but the brakes lack bite and feedback which are the only drawback on the Escalade’s side.

The 2013 Escalade and Yukon also surprisingly have the shortest wheelbase of all the SUVs measuring 116 inches and are lighter than the competitors. These features do help in maneuverability and performance, especially in cityscapes. The ground clearance is similar and above 9 inches in each SUV, while the Lincoln Navigator is the longest and the Sequoia is the widest.

Some of the notable exterior features are:

• 22-inch aluminum machined wheels
• All LED automatic twilight sentinel headlamps
• Sunroof
• All LED tail lamps
• Magnetically adjustable suspension system
• Power retractable assist steps

Along with being a feature-rich SUV aimed at being the most comfortable and spacious SUV in its segment, the Escalade also has a good structural integrity and safety features on-board that makes it one of the safest options in its class as well. The 2013 Cadillac Escalade receives an overall safety rating of 4 stars from NHTSA and similar ratings from agencies like IIHS as well that back Cadillac’s claim of the Escalade being one of the safest SUVs out there.

Some of the notable safety features are:

• Traction Control
• Side impact beams
• Automatic Crash Response
• Rear Park Assist
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Stolen Vehicle Assistance

The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is one of the best value for money purchases in the segment by all means. It might be costlier than most of its rivals, but it does offer a lot more standard features as well for the price that you pay. The Escalade has been a renowned SUV in the industry for all the right reasons that include its unparalleled ride comfort, power delivery, fuel economy, and the plethora of standard features that accompany it.