REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

From Home Depot to the Ritz Carlton

While the Blackwood edition is reserved to the American market because of its poor adaptation to our climate (rear-wheel drive only), the Escalade EXT comes with all-wheel drive and will not fear our road conditions. Some 1,000 units should be roaming around the province within the next year.

Who will agree to spend that much money for driving this strange pick-up truck, sport utility and sedan amalgamation? Architects and contractors, quite unconvincingly reply GM ’ marketing. Two things are for sure, though: the Escalade EXT will make Cadillac more popular among young and female drivers, not the usual Cadillac crowd, and the Escalade may also find a parking place in the two-door garage of luxury sedan owners whose second vehicle is a light truck.The Escalade EXT ’ s versatility is aimed at the rich and famous (broke nobodies can always get their hands on an Avalanche). This Cadillac looks just as good in a Home Depot parking lot as in front of the Ritz Carlton.

Faithful to the brand ’ s new signature, the Escalade features vertically mounted headlights that allow for the huge wafer-like grille. As opposed to the Avalanche, the Escalade ’ s side panels are exempt from grey plastic Rubbermaid bottom panels. It features more sober paneling, including overlapped triangle pillars behind the cabin, painted to match the body.

As opposed to traditional light trucks that, for obvious drivability reasons, must often feature a bin too short to be of any use, Escalade EXT owners can benefit from a long and flat cargo floor that can accommodate a 4 ’ X 8 ’ plywood sheets.
How is that possible? With GM ’ s Convert-A-Cab system: engineers have designed a partly or entirely foldable rear back seat and a rear window that can be quickly removed (but careful not to drop it!) to expand cargo space. This way, the Escapade can hold grandma ’ s couch, or all the snowboards in the neighbourhood. It ’ s magic! For more formal outings, the bin can be covered with three rigid panels (than can be stored in a convenient bag inside the bin ’ s side panels) that can withstand as much as 113.4 Kg (250 lbs). For additional versatility, two locked storage bins have been built in the cargo space. They look good, but eventually, you may become weary (like myself after our test drive) of packing and unpacking all these elements. Are you that organized?

Inside the cabin, there are very few surprises. The Escalade EXT features the same furniture as the Avalanche, that is, a correctly executed interior whose main controls are conveniently labelled and accessible. Differences? Plastic, of course, is less present. Wood trims, plush carpet and leather upholstery make for a warmer atmosphere. Chrome-rimmed, user-friendly instruments and a long list of accessories will appeal to all five people taking place under its roof.Although derived from the Avalanche, the Escalade EXT combines unique attributes. Like the integral drive, more sophisticated than the one bolted under the Avalanche. A torque converter dispatches power unevenly (38% in front and 62% in the rear) for controlling frantic slip on low-adhesion surfaces or with an empty cargo bin, especially with the help of Cadillac ’ s anti-slip system. The system does not impair towing capacity, and this Escalade EXT can easily pull 3,628.7 Kg (or 8,000 lbs). But the integral drive train features no transfer box (low range), a must for muddy trail drives. The Escalade EXT features a 6.0-litre V8 instead of the 5.3-litre found under the Chevrolet ’ s hood. This may not be state-of-the-art mechanical engineering, but the 345 hp and 380 lb.-ft. torque are more than enough to pull this heavy vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 9 seconds, to offer convincing pick-ups and an electronically limited top speed of 174 km/h. This flexible and willing big- league engine is especially pleasing at low and mid range. We must admit the engine is very well backed with a perfectly stepped four-gear automatic transmission (the only one offered.)

But everyone knows for a fact that such qualities come at a price, especially at the fuel pump. The fuel tank needle moves quickly towards the E, despite the huge 117-litre capacity of the fuel tank.

Let ’ s now summarize differences in specifications between the Escalade EXT and the Avalanche. We already mentioned the engine, the anti-slip and the drive train; there are also electronic driving aids, like the Stabilitrak stability system that minimizes if not eliminates excessive driver brashness (and distraction.) This system, already found on the brand ’ s sedans for a few years, corrects trajectory when differing from the driver ’ s intention. The Escalade also features a two-tier (soft and firm) valve-equipped suspension system.

On windy Californian roads, the Escalade EXT proved remarkably nimble in spite of its humongous size (no less than 5,623 mm long). It is surprisingly comfortable as well, when driven smoothly. The interior is undisturbingly quiet. It must beт reminded that the Escapade, like the Avalanche, rests on a utility platform (Suburban) rather than on a truck chassis (Silverado). Peanuts, you think? Well, the cabin is not detached from the bin, like on a regular pick-up. This one-piece configuration bring exceptional rigidity (no torsion nor rattles) and allows for surprising road handling. But in urban conditions, the Escalade ’ s long turning radius (14 m) makes the word cumbersome an understatement. Parking this vehicle is a demanding task. Fortunately, it comes with a standard parking radar that emits a warning before imminent contact. What more can be said if not that this first contact has proven very positive.

PROS
Versatility
Powerful, proven mechanics
Road handling

CONS
Cumbersome size
Large turning radius
Heavy fuel consumption