2018 Cadillac Escalade Photo 1

What is it: The 2018 Cadillac Escalade remains the company’s biggest, blingiest, three-row SUV. The ESV moniker means this is the long-wheelbase, Suburban-equivalent with near limo-like length. A 420-hp, 6.2-liter V8 is your only option for powertrain. Two-wheel drive is standard but four wheel drive is optional. The ESV adds about 20 extra inches, all of which goes to cargo space.

Key Competitors: Lexus LX570, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GLS

Base Price: $100,390 As-Tested Price: $103,185

Highlights: Not much is new on the Escalade for 2018 — just the 10-speed automatic transmission and a few new accents for Platinum trims. This fourth-generation Escalade was introduced in 2015; a new version is coming next year as a 2020. Our tester was equipped with a $2,700 performance brake kit, which thankfully, I did not need in my 500-or-so miles of travel with the golf buddies.

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Our Opinion: Ahh, fall in Michigan. It means football, leaf raking and golf for the South Lake boys. That’s the high school I went to, and where most of the golf crew comes from. Last year three of us took a Volvo XC90 and the year before we took our long-term Mercedes-Benz E400 wagon, both noble steeds. For 2018, we got the big dog.
And when I say big, I mean big. The Cadillac Escalade ESV is just under 20 feet long. When the front end got to the golf course, the rear was still at the hotel. It literally takes time to walk around it to pump gas. And as the owner of a 20-foot Pontiac StarChief, I can drive a big car.

So space wasn’t a problem. The Escalade ESV swallowed three sets of golf clubs, three coolers, three suitcases and a few other random objects without even cresting the rear window. We did fold the rear seats down.

The last two years we packed both cars to the brim, which blocks the rear view. But, even if we did block it in this car, Cadillac has a new rearview camera mirror that displays what’s behind you no matter how high your cargo area is stacked. It’s also widescreen, which made one of my friends remark that it’s a carjack stopper. No one would be able to creep up with that video mirror turned on.

I drove the new Navigator a few months ago and loved it. The interior accoutrements are probably comparable, but everything feels fresher and newer in the Lincoln. And the Navi’s new styling is great. The Escalade is 20 years old now, if you can believe that, and it’s just not as…cool. If Caddy changes up the style a bit on the next one, it could be back in the top slot.

Power is great from the 6.2-liter V8 and I didn’t notice the 10-speed automatic, which is a good sign. Shifting too much or two little is always a little annoying. The new Lexus LC500 has a ten-speed, and it always seemed to be swapping cogs.

My biggest complaint about the Escalade is that it’s just not that plush-feeling on the road. Obviously it has big wheels, which again, look great, but considerably worsen the ride. Changes of direction are about as good as a three-tonner can be, and I never really scared my occupants with crazy moves.

I did, however, get pulled over by one of the local constables in mid-Michigan. I was doing a cool 89 mph in one of our new 75-mph zones with the cruise control on. By the time I spotted the lightbar through the trees — he was hiding, as all cowards do — I was only at 84 mph while using the adaptive mode. He pulled me over anyway, and asked how fast I thought I was going.

“I saw 84 on the cruise control,” I said.

“I got you at 89.”

Thankfully he only gave me a no-point, 5-over citation and sent me on my way.

I golfed terribly as usual. Just an FYI.

–Jake Lingeman, road test editor