"Escalade has no problem accelerating to highway speeds or passing slower traffic. Throttle response is immediate, and the braking performance is reassuring and predictable." - Edmunds
2017 Cadillac Escalade Engine and Transmission
The 2017 Cadillac Escalade is powered by a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that churns out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of gargantuan torque. All that power is channeled to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox. For a small premium over the base price, you can also upgrade to a 4WD configuration.
The engine has a lot of grunt for a more than 5,500 pounds SUV and despite its heft, the V8 motor builds up speed very well. That said, the column shifter feels a little out of place inside a premium SUV that costs north of seventy grands. Although the gearbox does its job well and shifts smoothly, always keeping you in the powerband.
Models
|
2017 Cadillac Escalade
|
2017 Lincoln Navigator
|
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
|
2017 Land Rover Range Rover
|
MSRP
|
$73,395
|
$67,090
|
$68,700
|
$85,650
|
Engine
|
6.2-liter V8
|
3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 |
3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 |
3.0-liter supercharged V6 |
Transmission
|
8-speed automatic
|
6-speed automatic
|
9-speed automatic
|
8-speed automatic
|
Horsepower
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420 hp @ 5600 rpm
|
380 hp @ 5250 rpm
|
362 hp @ 5500 rpm
|
340 hp @ 6500 rpm
|
Torque
|
460 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm
|
460 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm
|
369 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
|
332 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
|
Except for the Range Rover that costs around $12,000 more than the Escalade, the rest of the SUVs are cheaper than it. The Escalade is the only SUV that comes with a naturally aspirated V8 engine while the rest of the rivals comes with a turbocharged or supercharged V6. None can match the power produced by the big V8 of the Escalade although the Lincoln Navigator churns out a similar 460 lb-ft of torque from its twin-turbo V6.
2017 Cadillac Escalade Acceleration
The V8-powered Cadillac Escalade is no slouch and goes from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds while it covers the quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds. Despite its above 5,500 pounds curb weight the Cadillac Escalade is quick to build pace and manages to remain the fastest SUV among its rivals.
Models
|
2017 Cadillac Escalade
|
2017 Lincoln Navigator
|
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
|
2017 Land Rover Range Rover
|
0-60 MPH
|
5.7 sec
|
5.9 sec
|
5.7 sec
|
6.3 sec
|
Quarter mile
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14.2 sec
|
14.5
|
14.3 sec
|
14.8 sec
|
Engine
|
6.2-liter V8
|
3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 |
3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 |
3.0-liter supercharged V6 |
As for the rivals only the 362-hp, twin-turbo V6-powered Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was able to match the 0-60 mp timing of the Escalade although it was one-tenth of a second slower than the Escalade to cover the quarter-mile.
2017 Cadillac Escalade Ride and Handling
The Cadillac Escalade is based on a pick-up truck that surely rides harsh compared to its rivals, especially with the 22-inch alloy wheels that are standard from the Luxury trim. Although Cadillac has given the Magnetic Ride Control suspension system to mitigate the stiff ride quality, the same is not reflected in the real world.
Being a voluptuous SUV, the Escalade is not particularly easy to handle but the high seating position and the commanding view do help in driving around town. The steering provides good feedback although it remains on the heavier side even at parking speeds. Due to its massive size, the Escalade exhibits a lot of body roll going around the corner and is best not driven hard around corners.
2017 Cadillac Escalade Braking
The 2017 Cadillac Escalade gets 17-inch rotors both at the front and the rear. The braking in the Escalade feels sure-footed and the 5,594 pounds SUV stops from 60-0 mph in just 127 feet. Although the Cadillac Escalade gets the biggest brake rotors among the rivals its heavier curb weight ensured that it took longer than the rivals to come to a halt.
Model
|
2017 Cadillac Escalade
|
2017 Lincoln Navigator
|
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
|
2017 Land Rover Range Rover
|
Brake Front (in.)
|
17.0
|
13.8
|
13.8
|
13.8
|
Brake Rear (in.)
|
17.0
|
13.8
|
13.6
|
13.8
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Curb Weight (lbs.)
|
5,594
|
6,069 |
5,370 |
4,918 |
60-0 MPH (ft.)
|
127
|
132
|
111
|
117
|
The Lincoln Navigator is the heaviest SUV here and took the longest distance to stop from 60 mph, the Navigator took 5 feet more than the Escalade. The Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 that comes with the smallest brakes took the least 111 feet which is 16 feet less than what the Escalade took to brake from 60-0 mph.
2017 Cadillac Escalade Towing Capacity
The 2017 Cadillac Escalade powered by the 420 hp V8 engine has an 8,300 pounds of towing capacity for the RWD version. Due to the added weight of the 4WD, the Escalade 4WD can only tow up to 8,100 pounds.
Model
|
2017 Cadillac Escalade
|
2017 Lincoln Navigator
|
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
|
2017 Land Rover Range Rover
|
Towing Capacity(lbs)
|
8,300
|
9,000
|
7,500
|
7,716
|
Among the rivals, the Lincoln Navigator has the highest towing capacity and it can tow 700 pounds more than the Escalade while the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 has the lowest towing capacity among all.