Cadillac's Escalade is now the stuff of hip-hop legend. Rappers, gangstas, doctors, lawyers and even soccer moms love this glammed-up SUV. But does it really live up to its Hollywood-like image?
Yes. The 2007's new chromed-out grille is bigger and more dominant than ever. It shouts, "Yes, I'm bad ass!" New chrome pieces on the doors and side vents on the hood make it more sparkly and modern with a bit of 40s art deco vibe.
Beleaguered GM's new 2007 body is wider and longer, making it a rather large ride. However, we felt comfortable driving this bus anywhere and the huge side mirrors, excellent steering and back-up camera and monitor made getting around town super enjoyable.
There's quite a climb up into the cabin, but once inside you are enveloped by Caddy quality and over-the-top amenities. For example, the middle bucket seats can be powered by the driver or just inside the passenger doors to fold down once and then, if desired, fold flat again the front seats.
The interior's rather masculine styling seems a bit too clumsy and amateur at first, but the on-board systems are very ergonomic and have an easily instinctive learning curve. The integrated audio, sound, navigation, satellite radio and DVD entertainment systems are all top notch, very user friendly and make the ride way cool and definitely more fun.
And what about fuel costs? Cadillac boasts that the new Escalade's "403-hp 6.2L Vortec V8 VVT engine produces the highest horsepower of any SUV that can seat seven or more passengers, while also offering unsurpassed highway fuel economy in its class."
We're not quite sure if you'd actually save much when driving any large SUV, but the Escalade's drive cannot be questioned. It is super smooth, has great acceleration, maneuverability, suspension and a good turning radius.
If you've got money to burn on gas, want a luxurious SUV and even like the car's gangsta image, this Caddy is for you.
Here are some notes from the male, female and family and perspectives:
Male: Well, this was the one I was most looking forward to. I expected luxury. I fully expected to be riding high, wrapped up in a lavish cabin fit for a king. So, ready? I was not disappointed. The interior was a soft leather that enveloped my body as I drove away listening to a mellow-sounding engine that went vroom. The outside of the Escalade was jet black and the cream-colored interior meshed nicely with brownish-lacquered paneling that ran alongside all the doors
and the front of the dash. I used the Cadillac Escalade as a family vehicle on this occasion, as it was my college graduation night. (I went back to school to finish up, finally.) This meant seating for my two-year-old daughter, my 13-year-old daughter, her teenage friend, my wife and my mother-in-law. One of he biggest compliments I can give the Escalade is that I felt completely comfortable and un-crowded with the entire family+1, inside the cabin. That's saying something folks! The second-row bucket seats folded easily so that the child safety seat and two giggling teenage girls could sit way back in the third row, just the right distance away from the captain's chair in the front, where I directed things. The entertainment system functioned without complications, and I was actually able to carry on adult conversations with my passengers in the front, while the kids did their thing in the back. This was all due to design and layout of the interior. However, this was no mini-van! I had on my best suit (navy blue pinstripe), and I arrived with the family at Rouge Bistro (post-graduation restaurant), looking goooood in a very sleek, stylistic and suave Cadillac Escalade. - Derick Alexander
Female: This giant luxury truck screams out to the masculine side in everyone, but I still loved the interior and exterior styling. Yes, this Caddy drives like a truck and any hot-blooded gal with some driving know-how can handle this behemoth with ease and comfort.
Family: There's lots to like about the Escalade for its family appeal. We were able to put our toddler's car set in the third row quite easily with the middle seats in the fold down or fold-against-the-seat positions. She couldn't get enough of the awesome DVD entertainment system with pop-down screen just above the driver and passenger seats. The best part of this system, however, was that the front screen plays the movie when the car has stopped. The in-dash screen is super clear and this way mom and dad can watch the movie in the front seat while the kids watch in the back. We were even able to make a little play area for the kids with the middle seats in the most out-of-the-way position.
The Lincoln Navigator is just as spacious and full of amenities as Cadillac's Escalade. However, the exterior has a more classic feel and has much less curves, but it still rides like a truck wrapped in a luxurious shell of power everything, stunning leather seats, wood veneer and metallic accents.
The six-speed automatic transmission on a 5.4 liter 3V SOHC V8 engine is smooth as glass and drives with a lumbering land yacht feeling. Yet, braking is easy and assured as long as you start to brake sooner rather than later.
One thing we truly enjoyed about the Navigator is the retractable running boards, which the Escalade doesn't have. It sure makes it easier to climb into this high-off-the-ground ride when the running boards glide silently out to meet you each time you open a door.
Inside, the Navigator is very comfortable and luxurious, but were weren't happy with the plastic-looking metal covering the control system. The control system's screen also seemed lackluster and small in comparison to the Escalade's excellent system screen. The in-dash controls were easy to understand and had a good ergonomic feel.
Overall, the Navigator definitely has its advantages over the Escalade with the retractable running boards, second row seating with more amenities (giant armrest/cooler, trash can, big cup holders) and an easy-folding third row for more trunk space. And, if you are into a more classic look and feel, then this is the bling-bling SUV for you.
Men: I put the cool cashmere-colored Lincoln Navigator to the test on the streets of Vegas. The smooth ride and fairly easy handling manuevered in and out of the Friday night Las Vegas Blvd. traffic with a lot less effort than I thought. My thought was that it seemed big enough to bo-guard the road, but stylish enough to arrive at The Wynn Hotel and draw some curious looks as I step out using the electronic spring board. The cool thing for a guy on a weekend hiatus in Vegas was the simple-to-use-navigation system. On Saturday, I bounced from hotel to hotel in search of the best pool and NFL draft watching combo. To my delight, and without having to spend twenty minutes with my face buried in an instruction manual, I punched directions to the Hard Rock Casino, where they have some overcrowded event called Rehab. Then, I tried out the new Hooters Hotel and Casino (awesome!), which were both off of the strip. So, hats off to Lincoln Navigator for making it easy. -- Derick Alexander
Female: More feminine looking than the Escalade, Lincoln's Navigator seemed more tame and perhaps a bit more nimble for the ladies.
Family: The big difference, family-wise, between the Navigator and the Escalade is the mid-row seats. The Navigator's has an almost cooler-like armrest between the mid-section bucket seats while the Escalade has nothing there. And because the Escalades mid-row seats move effortlessly (with the push of a button) to fit behind the front seats, you can actually have a big play or storage area right there in the middle of the car. Not so with the Navigator. However, the Navigator's third row seats move seamlessly down (with the push of a button), making it nice when you need extra room in the back for groceries and other stuff.
