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2022 Cadillac Escalade Starting at $ Highs More technology than an Apple Store, luxurious cabin, swift acceleration with standard V-8. Lows Downright expensive, gas engine's big thirst, high-end trims of GMC and Chevy SUVs are nearly as appealing. Verdict Cadillac's flagship SUV might just be the best interpretation of modern American luxury. Overview As the flagship of the Cadillac brand—and therefore the entirety of the General Motors portfolio—the 2022 Escalade SUV offers every high-tech item and the utmost in luxury features. Luckily, due to the Escalade's massive size, Cadillac could fit it with a lot of those features. Fine leather, genuine wood, and shiny metal trims line the cabin. A huge, curved digital display dominates the dashboard, serving up both infotainment- and the driver-gauge displays in a unique way. The Escalade's exterior draws inspiration from the gorgeous Escala concept car scaled up to size XXL and adapted to the Escalade's boxy silhouette. Most Escalades will roll with the standard V-8 but Cadillac also offers a more fuel-efficient turbo-diesel inline-six as an option. No matter the engine, the Escalade's ride and handling are luxury-car appropriate—but, of course, don't expect the playfulness you'll find in the brand's sedans. What's New for 2022? Lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning are now both standard on the base Luxury trim while the Premium Luxury, Sport, and Platinum models now come standard with Cadillac's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving feature as well as front and rear automated emergency braking. The new Touring package adds air suspension, soft-close doors, and illuminated door sill protector plates to Premium Luxury and Sport models. Pricing and Which One to Buy Luxury: $77,840 Premium Luxury: $86,690 Sport: $89,690 Premium Luxury Platinum: $104,240 Sport Platinum: $104,240 To truly deck out the Escalade in its best features, go for the Premium Luxury Platinum trim. It adds semi-aniline leather, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with massage, soft-close doors, and an AKG audio system with 36 speakers. It also comes standard with a self-parking feature, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Cadillac's biggest SUV is powered by either a V-8 engine that makes 420 horsepower and can deactivate half of its cylinders when cruising to save fuel or a turbo-diesel inline-six. A 10-speed automatic transmission will be standard with both engines, and buyers will be able to choose from rear- or all-wheel-drive setups based on their individual needs. As with its siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the GMC Yukon, the Escalade rides on an independent rear suspension to help provide a smooth ride. Higher-end models also offer an air suspension with adaptive dampers that use computer-controlled shock absorbers. At our test track, the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV with the V-8 engine sprinted to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. The diesel engine sounds less refined than the V-8, but for some buyers that compromise is worth the improved fuel economy and low-end torque. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG Rear-wheel drive Escalades are rated at 15 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined; adding all-wheel drive drops each of those numbers by 1 mpg. The last generation model carried ratings as high as 23 mpg highway and the Escalade's key rival–the Lincoln Navigator–offers more efficient ratings too. Opting for the turbo-diesel engine makes a big difference, with EPA estimates as high as 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, an all-wheel drive Escalade with the optional diesel engine returned 26 mpg. For more information about the Escalade's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo As the flagship of the Cadillac lineup, the 2022 Escalade ups the ante on in-cabin luxury. Faux leather is used in the base Luxury trim, but all other trims receive the real deal, with Platinum models getting soft semi-aniline hides. Leather-covered dash and door panels, aluminum speaker grilles, and adjustable interior ambient lighting provide an upscale appearance. Like the outgoing model, both a standard and long-wheelbase model are offered, the latter of which yielding more legroom for third-row riders and additional cargo space. Read More 📌 Instagram ▶ 📌 Tiktok ▶ @cartvpress
