When flagship cars from iconic automotive brands enter a new generation, it’s usually a stellar event – not only because they present their new, improved selves, but also because they recast the benchmark for rivals and the entire segment. This game of oneupmanship is what is pushing the automotive market forward and sideways alike, to drift into a metaphor. The big daddy of luxury, design and the American dream in one big box, the Cadillac Escalade is into an all-new fifth generation and it is the biggest ever to begin with!
The Dimensions: 5359 x 2060 x 1946 mm, Ground Clearance: 203 mm, Wheelbase: 2946 mm
The Specs: 6.2 L V8, 420 hp, 624 Nm torque
WOW! feature: Curved OLED screens for driver
The Price: Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport Platinum AED 325,000 – AED 450,000
The Design
Cadillac has always impressed, first by design. The resolutely vertical lights of Cadillac now incorporate a narrow, starkly horizontal headlamp design in the 2021 Escalade. The bonnet holds a higher stance and mightier appearance. In the rear, the long vertical taillamps stop short in their descend for a more contemporary look, while the front still retains more of the classic cues of Cadillac styling. In fact, many features of the new Escalade celebrate an obvious influence of the Escala concept car that Cadillac made its ambassador at motor shows.
The grille is generously clad in chrome fletching, especially in the Premium Luxury platinum version, while the Sport trim comes with an aggressive mesh grille. The privilege of chrome makes way for stark, dignified black, uninterrupted all the way – even the tail pipes are blackened. Across the trim levels, 22” wheels are standard. This is the biggest ever Cadillac Escalade. 18 cm longer, 1.5 cm wider and 5.6 cm taller than the fourth gen, this ‘bigger’ daddy wears a taller, sleeker look.
UPSIDE: Pathbreaking multimedia tech, Useful cargo space with even with rows up, More pillowed ride, Mind-blowing music system, Complimentary ‘Onstar’ connectivity support
FLIPSIDE: Steering connect is still limp, OLED screen could have more of Cadillac design influence
Cabin and Controls
Taking the lead in adopting new technology hasn’t been alien to the Escalade philosophy. The third generation (2007 – 2014) introduced magnetic ride control shock systems and LED headlights to its class. The 2015 chapter of the Escalade made a mark with a front centre airbag and the introduction of small vibrations in the seat to alert the driver. This year, what is most remarkable is the first thing that greets you from those super-comfortable seats (seats in my Cadillac Escalade 2021 Sport trim test car were a crisscross patterned burgundy – ‘delectable’!). I am talking about the industry-first curved OLED screen that pans out in layers behind the steering wheel. Measuring 38” in total diagonally, it has paper-thin screens, twice the pixel density of a 4K TV and displays perfect blacks – you will notice a 7.2” control panel to the left of the steering wheel, a 14.2” cluster display behind the steering wheel and a 16.9” infotainment screen towards its right. This OLED screen ensemble blends craft and technology seamlessly – the fonts or lettering came across to me as too large and somewhat less sharp (or less Cadillac-like) on the central screen. Similarly, the array of control switches could be considered a bit too flimsy for Cadillac, even if it’s only a tad too light.
More than a couple of wide panoramic dashboard screens impressed me lately but those on the Cadillac Escalade 2021 keep all information in the driver’s line of sight and reach, making this one of the most driver-centric halves in a front cabin. The other remarkable screens are two 12.6” HD screens to entertain the rear passengers, and a 15.0” Head Up Display that projects all important information ahead for the driver. But then, size and resolution are only the start line – augmented reality enabled navigation uses live street views and overlaid directional instructions, along with Surround Vision that takes the feed of four exterior cameras for a 2 MB pixel bird’s eye-view of the vehicle and its surroundings!
The next best thing in the new Escalade, or if you are an audiophile the very best thing, is a 19-speaker studio grade music system with the highest number of speakers to come as standard in a premium SUV. But even that fades in front of the studio reference sound system with 36 speakers! This is the first time Cadillac or any automotive brand has partnered with sound wizards AKG (remember those professional headphones and concert gear?) and they are making sure everyone is listening up. There are two more awesome stories that the sound system has to tell – how the system allows front riders to easily talk to third row passengers. (Look at the sci-fi style speakers fitted onto either side of the headrest of seats. Hidden embedded microphones capture voices and reproduce them using the 36-speaker system) Likewise, the front row can now choose its own volume levels – let the boss or the baby enjoy the nap in the rear.
The interiors offer 9 interior trim combination with 4 seat insert patterns and 7 hand-selected wood interiors. While the Platinum trims have exquisite wood craftsmanship, that is not reserved for the higher trims alone. Cadillac being a luxury brand that allows for customization and choice, some cloth interior components are there to be selected – they sure look classy in crepe-like fabric but maintaining it speckless could send you crazy. Other touches worth mentioning are the stainless steel speaker grilles, range of ambient lighting colours and unique seat designs with custom perforation and quilting patterns.
The Escalade 2021 cabin packs the future of connectivity and I am not only referring to the wi-fi enabled environment with a shared data plan for seven. Come January, GM will be initiating the OnStar, which is basically a subscribers’ call centre for GM customers. Advantages are many. If the GM vehicle owner is in a major crash, the car will automatically send a message to the centre and an advisor would instantly come online to provide guidance, support and send help. In case the car is stolen, it works with local police to track the car, slow it down and bring it to a stop remotely or block it from re-igniting once it is switched off. On less drastic occasions, the service allows for on-demand diagnostics to run real-time check of the engine, transmission, antilock brakes etc.
Is OnStar a paid service? GM is giving the new Cadillac Escalade owners a 12-month plan for free and a 10-year standard subscription for online checks.
Family Drive
Eighteen cm or one and a half foot is a noticeable increase in length, which simply means more space to lean back and for more cargo. Even when all the seats of the new Escalade 2021 are taken, there is still space for luggage. While the third row is actually useful for cramp-free travel with 40% more legroom (886 mm or close to 3 feet), you can load 68% more stuff into the Escalade boot (722L) with all three rows up. Escalade ESV, by the way, has the best-in-class cargo space in all three rows.
All those who choose to drive the new Escalade are in for a reward – 16-way seats with massage function. This time, soft closing doors (you only need to let go of the doors and not bang it shut!) add to the elegance and comfort of Cadillac’s flagship.
The 12.6” touch displays in the rear can not only stream music, videos and games through USB and HDMI ports but also mirror android smart phones. Navigation also shows up, so the SUV-loving tycoons (or those hijacking their car) travelling in the rear can pick their destination and share it with the front screen, while the driver does his job.
If all the USB and charging ports are engaged on a family trip, your smart phone can still be charged. Simply insert it into the wireless charging slot next to the console Fridge. Right, the new central console comes with a fridge with a dedicated compressor that can set temperatures of 4 degree or minus 4 degree. Cooled or chilled, your choice!
The Drive
It rolls in stealth, like a cloud bearing the whole monsoon on it, ready to rain 420 hp and 624 Nm of torque at your command. 2021 Cadillac Escalade glides on the wings of the 6.2L L86 EcoTec3 V8 engine from the GM family of eight-cylinder motors. It is mated to a 10-speed transmission that has been in place for 3 model years already. The engine makes use of cylinder deactivation through Dynamic fuel management technology that determines how many cylinders are required to fulfill the power needed at any given time. This amounts to improved fuel economy, especially as the new Cadillac Escalade is lighter by 16 kg even though it is bigger (AWD compared). It still doesn’t make the fuel economy phenomenal only because it never was, but GM officials are quick to point out that it is way better than the fuel efficiency figures of rivals.
The Escalade glided along the Jumeirah beach road in Dubai, and merged with the rapid flow on Sheikh Zayed Road. As I let my foot fall heavy on the accelerator, I could hear the eight cylinder rev up – generally the sound doesn’t break into the quiet cabin. What I could hear all over me was the AKG Acoustics – literally too as I once felt a note pour out somewhere along my ankle and then rise all the way up! Magnetic ride control of GM is the world’s quickest suspension technology that reads the road up to 1000 times per second and keeps adjusting the damping rate of the shocks. This greatly reduces the up and down swing, the body roll and the vibrations generally felt inside a large SUV. Along with this, the new air ride adaptive suspension provides automatic load-levelling and ride height adjustments at all four wheels, continuously and without making itself felt. It also allows the Escalade to stick to low ride height on highways for greater stability; to lower the vehicle by 51 mm (two inches) when parked, making it easier to get in and out; and raise the body for extra ground clearance while off-roading. (Why not have some luxury on an adventure?)
The new Cadillac Escalade might be bigger, but it doesn’t make it felt during the drive, especially in corners. An all-new independent rear suspension allows either rear wheel to independently react to the road to increase ride quality, steering responsiveness and driver control. Likewise, the rear wheels benefit from a new electronic Limited Slip Differential (available) that can deliver torque to the wheel with most traction, to tackle corners and wet surfaces.
The Cadillac Escalade comes with Camera offering 9 viewing angles for a complete awareness of the surroundings while parking and tackling curbs. The camera is particularly useful as a part of a trailering package, in which features like extended side blind spot alert and an integrated trailer brake controller have been thoughtfully included.
Driver Assistance Safety Features: Front and Rear Park Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Detection and Braking, Rear Pedestrian Detection, Safety Alert Seat, Forward Collision Alert, Adaptive Park Assist, Head-Up Display, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Night Vision, Adaptive Cruise Control – Advanced, Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Reverse Automatic Braking and Automatic Safety Belt Tightening.
The essential Cadillac Escalade 2021
What is remarkable about the improvements and introductions in the new Escalade is that it still places paramount importance to passenger comfort and rear command (like a true tycoon-mobile!). However, it doesn’t stop Cadillac from developing the driver seat as a power centre – nothing less than a cockpit – that brings this behemoth as close as it gets to being a driver’s car.
