[Test Drive] Charismatic presence, chosen by 1% of real men…Cadillac Escalade

[Daily Car Reporter Ha Young-seon] When it comes to outstanding charisma, there is virtually no SUV that can match the Cadillac Escalade. That is why it is known as the ‘King of SUVs.’ It is truly ‘infant solitude’. This is the natural reason why it is said to be the 1% car chosen by real men.

The Escalade lineup being introduced in Korea consists of the 6.2 gasoline and 6.2 gasoline ESV. It is also equipped with a V8 naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a displacement of 6162cc. The 6.2 gasoline has a total length of 5380mm, but the 6.2 gasoline ESV is a very large vehicle with a body length of a whopping 5765mm.

What these models have in common is that they are equipped with a V8 gasoline engine, so their advantage is a quiet and comfortable ride like a luxury sedan. Although its size is enormous, its driving performance is as explosive as that of a sports car. It is truly considered a masterpiece.

■ Charismatic presence

The unrivaled charisma of the Cadillac Escalade is extraordinary. The huge size of the car body emphasizes straight, straight lines, giving it a distinct and powerful look.

The large radiator grill exudes luxury and sportiness at the same time. The Cadillac emblem is also a design point. The rectangular-style LED headlamp has a calm feel compared to its size. The aesthetics of the space were also enhanced with vertical daytime running lights (DRL). A skid plate is applied to the bottom of the bumper to protect the lower part of the engine when driving.

As it is a very large SUV, the side view feels like a regular bus. The scale is no joke. The overall length of the 6.2 gasoline is 5380mm, and the long-body Escalade ESV is 5765mm.

The side character lines have become sharper. The windows emphasize straight lines, but the ESV is differentiated by applying chrome to the C-pillar. As the overall height is high, side steps are also applied. The alloy wheels are large at 22 inches, but because the car body is large, it looks rather small.

In the rear view, the LED rear lamps stand out. It is a vertical style extending from the roof and reaches 1m. The reflector at the bottom of the bumper is large, and the dual mufflers imply that it is a high-performance model. It is a typical SUV design with added space and practicality.

The interior is luxurious. The point is that the highest quality leather, wood, and fabric materials are used, and the product is elaborately finished by hand by craftsmen. The 38-inch LG curved OLED display provides a picture quality that is more than twice that of a TV, greatly enhancing visual quality. The console box includes refrigeration and freezing functions.

3 rows, 7 people can ride. As the interior living space is excellent, movement from the second row to the third row is also possible. The long-body ESV can secure a loading space of 4044 liters by folding the second and third rows. The ambient light system applied throughout adds to the emotional atmosphere.

■ Smooth and comfortable ride…outstanding performance

The Escalade 6.2 gasoline and long-body ESV are equipped with a 6162cc V8 gasoline naturally aspirated direct injection engine. The maximum output is 426 horsepower (5600 rpm) and the maximum torque is 63.6 kg.m (4100 rpm).

After starting the engine, the interior is infinitely quiet when idling at around 650 rpm. The V8 engine sound makes you feel the calm yet heavy taste. The pedal force of the accelerator and brake pedals is slightly on the hard side, but considering the large body of the car, it is judged to have been set appropriately.

Acceleration is smooth and agile even when not at full throttle. The Escalade 6.2 Gasoline Sports Platinum is massive, weighing 2795kg, and the ESV is 2870kg, but as the engine displacement is large, they are unstoppable. These models have the same output and torque, but the long-body ESV feels more resilient.

The ride quality is truly infinitely comfortable. The idea is that not only men but also women can relieve the burden of driving through smooth and soft leather seats, an open windscreen, and a light-feeling steering wheel.

While driving, wind noise coming from the side, as well as noise or vibration coming from the engine room or the bottom of the car body, are appropriately blocked. The ride quality is as smooth as that of a luxury sedan.

The running performance is comparable to that of a sports car. The driving feeling in sports mode is outstanding. Although the car body is large, the suspension response is excellent. Here, the sound coming from the V8 naturally aspirated engine is heavy and refined, and it is truly delicious.

Another attractive point is that the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, which adjusts the height up to 75mm while driving, maintains a smooth ride. The direct feel of the 10-speed automatic transmission when shifting up and down is excellent.

The overall height is high at 1935~1945mm, but thanks to the permanent four-wheel drive system and electronic riding control system, there is little pitching or rolling in handling. As an ultra-large SUV, the body is massive, but the stable driving feeling on the out-in-out course is impressive.

The Escalade 6.2 gasoline and long-body ESV include a haptic safety warning sheet that intuitively conveys dangerous situations through vibration, as well as front pedestrian emergency braking, front collision warning, rear pedestrian warning, rear traffic warning, automatic seat belt tightening system, lane keeping assist, Convenience features such as automatic parking assistance and hands-free trunking are widely applied to increase driving safety.

■ The highlight of Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV is…

The Escalade was first introduced in 1998, and has competed in the market with Ford’s luxury brand, the Lincoln Navigator, ever since then. It shares the platform with Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon.

This full-size SUV model has a charismatic style that is overwhelming. Compared to the Escalade 6.2 gasoline, the ESV is evaluated as a model that maximizes the sense of space. Another point is that it has two faces at the same time, delivering performance comparable to that of a luxury sedan with a smooth ride or a sports car with excellent running performance.

For reference, Cadillac unveiled the high-performance model Escalade V in 2022, which is equipped with a V8 supercharger and produces 682 horsepower. Zero to 100 seconds is only 4.4 seconds. The price in the North American market is around $150,000 (approximately 197.7 million won), but domestic release has not yet been decided.

The domestic selling price of the Cadillac Escalade 6.2 gasoline is 157 million won, and the Escalade ESV is 167 million won.

ysha@dailycar.co.kr