2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Road Test and Review

There are two distinct styles of luxury: a quiet, almost delicate refinement, and a bold, triumphant visage. One look at the chrome-glazed, 18.6-foot Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum is enough to surmise its breed of extravagance. No other full-size premium SUV can match the Escalade ESV’s mass or utility — but is size enough to dominate this segment?

The Escalade has always been a status symbol, but an increasingly crowded niche threatens Cadillac’s foothold. Lincoln is back with its redesigned tech-laden Navigator, Mercedes-Benz’s refreshed GLS touts performance engineering, and Lexus’ LX 570 is ready to tear up the trails. Whether used to haul a large family, chauffeur VIPs, or simply flaunt one’s success, these monumental vehicles must dazzle with accommodation. To stay one step ahead, the Escalade needs more than a big grille. Our week with the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum put big luxury to the test — and here’s what we learned.

Not much has changed since Cadillac overhauled the Escalade in 2015, but the 2018 model year adds a 10-speed automatic transmission as standard, upgrading from the eight-speed unit used in recent years. This new gearbox improves fuel economy in conjunction with the V8’s cylinder deactivation technology.

This year's more minor updates include a new exterior color (Satin Steel Metallic), a revised center console with a cooler box, deeper and wider cup holders, new 22-inch wheels on the Platinum model, full-speed adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, and an available performance brake kit with red Brembo six-piston front calipers.

The Escalade ESV doesn’t so much cut through the air as it does bulldoze it. Only the boxy Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Jeep Wrangler can rival the Escalade in terms of aerodynamic inefficiency. The exterior is a patchwork of rectangular proportions and straight-cut lines… and it works. By embracing the brash, the Escalade is impressive to behold.

Brushed chrome trim on the vast grille, 22-inch wheels, badges, roof rails, window moldings, tailgate, and door handles accentuates the exterior. Jeweled LED headlights pair with slender LED daytime running lights and LED taillight towers for a signature look. Automatically deployed running boards tuck neatly against the bodywork. Our test vehicle's Dark Granite Metallic is as subtle as one could hope for such an imposing silhouette, and the paint quality is superb when viewed up close. Importantly, Cadillac’s exterior cues appropriately distinguish the Escalade ESV from the less expensive Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL upon which this truck is based.

The Escalade Platinum’s interior is nothing short of a leather factory; everywhere you look is a panel covered with supple cowhide. What few spaces remain are either imbued with technology — the steering wheel controls, the center stack controls, the wireless smartphone charger atop the center console, and the Bose surround sound system — or are areas a hand or arm wouldn't typically reach. The effect of all this soft-touch material is a sumptuous cabin on par with its $100,000 price.

Front passengers enjoy 18-way adjustable seats with four-way lumbar support, built-in massagers, heating, and ventilation. Rear riders make do with only seat heating. Leg and headroom throughout the interior is good, but extra-long passengers won’t be too happy for too long in the third row. The second and third rows are power-folding, and there's a best-in-class 120.9 cubic feet of cargo space. The pair of second-row captains chairs can also pop forward at the press of a button. Despite the cavernous quarters, however, the sense of space is diminished without an available panoramic sunroof. A dark headliner and window tint doesn’t help the issue.

Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system has never received much love, with its touch-only inputs and confusing menu structure. Today's Escalade brings faster responses and intuitive icons than early CUE iterations, but the system remains finicky and difficult to use without full attention (which can lead to driver distraction). Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto simplifies some tasks, but we think Cadillac should thoroughly redesign its whole setup.

Apart from the CUE system, the Escalade's tech is top-notch. A fully digital driver display can be reconfigured to display audio, navigation, or telemetry, and a head-up display keeps essential details in the driver’s peripherals. Rear passengers enjoy four monitors (two overhead, two in the front-seat headrests) with Bluetooth wireless headphones for all. Other highlights of the Platinum trim include ample USB connections, a built-in cooler within the center console, cooled cup holders, a three-zone climate control system, a digital rearview mirror, and a 16-speaker Bose sound system. It also includes valuable driver aids: adaptive cruise control, a forward-collision warning with automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera with parking sensors, and a rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking.

A potent powertrain is required to move the Escalade ESV’s roughly 6,000 pounds. Cadillac sources a 6.2-liter V8 from other General Motors products, tuned to produce 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The new 10-speed automatic transmission sends power to either the rear wheels or, for a bit more coin, to all four. Plunge the throttle and the eight-cylinder engine roars to life, sending the Escalade ESV to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. It feels a bit silly to treat a luxury suv like a muscle car, but who doesn’t love a throaty engine note?

Driven more conservatively, the Escalade can run on four cylinders, maximizing fuel economy. The EPA estimates it can achieve 14 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined — competitive figures for the segment.

Asking something this large to get out of its own way is a tall order, but GM’s Magnetic Ride Control dampers, a set of Brembo front brakes, and clever chassis tuning rein in the SUV’s movements well. A firm press of the brake pedal brings the rig from 70 mph to a stop in just over 200 feet — that's not a sports-car stopping distance, but it's a respectable figure to be sure. During these hard stops, front-end dive doesn’t unsettle the whole vehicle, either.

Hustling around a bend at speed creates noticeable body roll, but the Escalade feels stable on its tires. Perhaps most importantly, the turning radius isn’t bus-like, allowing single-swing u-turns at most intersections. Ride quality is superb, even on oversized rims, as the magnetic ride dampers are deft refiners of crumbly road surfaces and bumps.

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV starts at $76,695, but our Platinum test vehicle nudges the needle up significantly to $96,795. Between base and range-topping trims are the Luxury and Premium Luxury variants. Standard features on the base ESV include Magnetic Ride Control, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic parking assist, 20-inch chrome wheels, a 16-speaker Bose sound system, a surround-view camera, wireless phone charging, power-folding second and third rows, CUE infotainment with navigation, a hands-free liftgate, LED taillights, acoustic glass, a digital driver display, and auto-dimming mirrors.

Standalone options include a performance brake system ($2,795), all-wheel drive ($3,000), and the Radiant Package ($3,130 — only available for non-Platinum trims), which includes polished exterior accents and 22-inch wheels.

Highs:
- Unapologetically bold design invites attention
- Interior material quality is stellar and soft to the touch
- Robust V8 power becomes efficient motoring with cylinder deactivation
- Passenger volume and cargo capacity is unparalleled in the segment
- There's a smooth ride, despite standard 22-inch wheels

Lows:
- Though improved over previous iterations, CUE is still an overly complicated infotainment system

As the full-size luxury suv segment continues to grow, the Escalade ESV encounters stiffer competition. For now, its closest rivals are the 2018 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label ($96,905), Lexus LX570, ($90,380), and Mercedes-Benz GLS550 ($94,950).

In terms of utility, only the Navigator L and its extended body is a direct match for the Escalade ESV. The Cadillac has a slight edge at 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat and 120.9 cubic feet with both rear rows stowed. By comparison, the Lincoln offers 34 cubic feet behind the third row and a total 120.3 with all rear seats folded. Even the standard-length Escalade and Navigator, though, hold a distinct capacity advantage over the GLS550 and LX570. Meanwhile, the 420-horsepower Escalade faces the 450-hp Navigator and 449-hp GLS550. Fuel economy also favors the Lincoln, at 18 combined mpg, while the Escalade is second-most efficient at 17 combined mpg. What the GLS lacks in efficiency it makes up for in performance, with a 0-60 sprint of just 5.0 seconds.

The Cadillac Escalade continues to excel as an ultra-plush people mover with a powerful stance. Improvements to its transmission and fuel economy keep this stately SUV in the game, but redesigned rivals push the luxury bar ever higher. In particular, the new Lincoln Navigator’s smarter, sharper infotainment system, panoramic glass roof, and innovative convenience features make it a fierce challenger.

Those in the market for a full-size premium SUV have some very good options, and the 2018 Escalade is just one of them.