The 2022 Escalade SUV offers every high-tech item and the utmost in luxury features- Car and Driver

Being a luxury full-size SUV, the Cadillac 2022 Escalade is filled with creature comforts up to the brim from the base Luxury trim itself. Some features like 22-inch 14-spoke alloy wheels, running boards, 12-way power driver and front passenger heated seats, Curved OLED with 38-inch of total diagonal display, AKG Studio 19-speaker audio system, and Cadillac Smart System suite of safety and driver assistance features like front pedestrian braking, automatic braking, HD rear vision camera, and rear park assist are standard. 

The Escalade Premium Luxury features consist of panoramic sunroof, full color head up display, enhanced driver-assistance features, and multiple optional features like adaptive air suspension. The Sport trim adds features like gloss black trim elements and performance package with electronic LSD, magnetic ride control, and trailering package. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim adds features like leather-wrapped interior, heated and ventilated front seats, and rear entertainment system. The Sport Platinum trim offers similar features as the Sport trim, adding Premium Luxury Platinum features.

The packages available on a few trims also include a few nifty features. The Driver Assist Tech Package includes adaptive cruise control and soft-close doors. Performance Package gets you a trailer brake controller, better suspension, and trailer hitch. While the Sport and Sport Platinum trims don’t get any major features added except for blackened exterior trims and alloys. Also, there is a new Touring package for 2022, available on Premium Luxury and Sport trims, which adds soft-close doors, air suspension, and an illuminated door sill protector.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade mpg ratings are not even close to the competition. With an EPA-estimated gas mileage of 14 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in combined driving conditions. For better efficiency, prospective buyers can go for the diesel engine with better fuel economy of 21/27/23 mpg in city/highway/combined driving conditions. With a gas tank size of 24 gallons, the 2022 Escalade can be driven up to 336/456/384 miles in city/highway/combined conditions.

As seen, the rivals with newer and smaller turbocharged engines perform much better and stay far ahead of the gas-guzzling Escalade. The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class puts out the best figures followed by the BMW X7. The Lincoln Navigator like the Cadillac Escalade is another gas-guzzler that returns only a few MPG more than the latter. The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class has the second-largest 23.8-gallon fuel tank, which helps it to return close to 500 miles combined range from a tankful of gas. 

As the flagship of the Cadillac lineup, the 2022 Escalade ups the ante on in-cabin luxury- Car and Driver

The Cadillac Escalade 2022 interior is the place to be in. Since the cabin was redesigned last year itself it has been carried forward for this year without any change. That means even the base model comes with the nicest of materials. After all, this is the brand's flagship vehicle. Every touchpoint in the 2022 Escalade has premium materials, soft-touch plastics, and metal accents. The seats are plush and power-adjusted and also come as standard with heating function. The 2022 Cadillac Escalade dashboard flaunts a big curved OLED screen. The lower trim comes with a faux leather interior, while the higher trims come with semi-aniline leather.

With the top of the line Sports Platinum trim, you get the Palermo Quilted Leather trim. The seats are plush and power-adjusted and also come as standard with heating function. The Escalade comes standard with the two second-row captain's chairs. But buyers can opt for the second-row bench for no additional cost, thus increasing the seating capacity from seven to eight. The interior color options (trim specific) include Black, Brandy, Parchment, Whisper Beige, and Dark Auburn colors. With 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, the Escalade is high on practicality as well. 

All the luxury SUVs in the foray are full-size SUVs that have plenty of interior space. But what sets apart the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator from the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is the best-in-class third-row seats without compromising in the first two rows space. That said, the Lincoln Navigator offers the maximum interior space, followed by Cadillac Escalade. Next comes the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, which is more spacious than the BMW X7 which in turn happens to be the least spacious among all.

The infotainment of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade is not only its highlight but also the talk of the town. The massive infotainment setup consists of a 16.9-inch infotainment screen plus the 14.2-inch digital driver's display and another 7.2-inch control panel. All of which are integrated smoothly, which gives the Escalade a futuristic feel that can outclass the best of what the Germans have to offer. The screen feels as responsive as any modern-day smartphone. Also, features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, AKG audio system and WiFi hotspot are standard. 

Some of the key interior features of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade are: 

• Tri-zone automatic climate contorl
• Heated and power-adjustable front seats
• HD radio and Bluetooth Connection
• Wireless device charging
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 16-speaker AKG sound system
• Five USB-ports

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade retains the sleek and suave styling cues from its generational change in 2021. The exterior of the newly redesigned Escalade is posh. Shod with 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, the Escalade has a massive 8-inches of ground clearance. At the front, you also get the majestic grille, LED Headlamps, and a grand hood, all backed by a behemoth silhouette. Move to the side, and though the 2022 Cadillac Escalade has an overall boxy build but is curved in the right places. The clean lines and creases make up for a bold yet subtle look for an SUV that is almost six meters long.

The large and imposing front grille with the sleek and modern-looking headlights give the Escalade a brawny yet swanky look. The SUV sports smooth flowing lines along its body that converge towards the rear where it meets the long LED taillamps. Even from the rear, the ride manages to retain its butch and bulky road presence. To make the Escalade's presence even more pronounced, Cadillac offers different exterior colors like Black Raven, Crystal White Tricoat, Dark Moon Blue Metallic, Galactic Gray Metallic, Infrared Tintcoat, Mahogany Metallic, Sandstone Metallic. 

The dimensions of the Cadillac Escalade are humongous, and it is truly a land yacht. The Escalade measures 211.9-inches in length, 81.1-inches in width, 76.7-inches in height, and has 120.9-inches of wheelbase. Lincoln Navigator is the closest to the Escalade in terms of dimensions. The Navigator is 1.9-inches smaller in length, 1.2-inches less wide, but has a 1.6-inches longer wheelbase compared to the Escalade. The next closest is the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class that is 6.9-inches smaller in length, 1.2-inches less wide, 4.9-inches lower in height, but gets a 2.5-inches larger wheelbase compared to the Escalade. Except the wheelbase, the BMW X7 is smaller than the Cadillac Escalade 

Some of the key exterior features of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade are:

• 20-inch 7-spoke chrome alloy wheels
• Capless fueling system
• Swept-black headlights
• Active aero grille shutters
• Eldorado inspired tail lights
• Acoustic windshield and rear privacy glass

The 2022 Escalade sits on a brand new chassis called the GMT1XX platform, which is shared with its mechanical counterparts developed by Chevrolet and GMC. The platform is tried and tested and is one of the most stable and rugged in the business right now. Apart from the Federally mandated features, Cadillac offers active safety features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front and rear parking sensors, active lane control, a surround-view camera system, and a driver seat that vibrates in the direction of potential danger. The 2022 Escalade hasn’t been completely crash-tested yet. The IIHS is yet to crash-test it while the NHTSA gave it an overall safety score of 4 out of 5 stars.

Some of the key safety features of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade are:

• Trailer side blind zone alert
• Forward collision alert
• Enhanced automatic parking assist
• Lane keep assisting w/ Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert and Rear pedestrian alert
• Lane change alert w/ Side blind zone alert

2022 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 BMW X7

The BMW X7 is one of the fastest and stylish looking SUVs of 2021 along with the all-new Cadillac Escalade. One of its major flex is that the X7 is much more engaging to drive compared to the bulky Escalade. The X7 also boasts a posh cabin, which is evenly matched with the Escalade. However, the X7 can't compete with the sheer size and practicality of the Escalade. Thus to conclude, the decision between the two depends on what you want from your SUV.

2022 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz is one of the most established brands in this segment, and the GLS is its flagship luxury SUV. It is more fun to drive and also boasts high-powered AMG variants. Although it can't tow as much as the Escalade, it surely gives the Cadillac a run for its money when considering fuel economy and performance figures, The GLS, however, can't match the space and practicality provided by the Escalade, which the latter is a true eight-seater. While the GLS feels cramped in the third-row seats.

2022 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator is by far the closest competitor to the Escalade. Navigator offers a more powerful engine from the get-go and also has one of the highest towing capacities in this class. The Lincoln also has a well-appointed cabin that can go toe to toe with the new Escalade. The Escalade does get some extra points of innovation due to the excellent infotainment system and central stack. Thus choosing between the two it eventually boils down to personal preference between the Navigator and the Escalade.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade is more or less similar to the 2021 model year, and this is not a bad thing. The new Escalade is one of the most excellent offerings to have come out of the General Motors group in recent years. It has the looks and feels luxurious both inside out to impress ones sitting in it and those looking from outside. Add to that the Escalade offers loads of practicality and it is a perfect full-size land yacht in the form. Thus if a land yacht is what you are looking for then look no further and go for the Escalade.