2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT | Review | Buying Guide
For some it may not have been a natural progression, from big luxurious limo-like sedans to the king of the luxury sport utility vehicle segment, but Cadillac has proved that their buyers want the change. The common denominator is a desire to be king of the road and with the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT and its brothers, that is certainly the case. Changes for 2005 include updated interior trim designs, new exterior details and some technical innovation as well in the form of an enhanced cooling system.
The crossover AWD Escalade EXT is a 4-door pick-up with a collapsing midgate wall for an extended bed. Basically, think of it as a luxury 4-door sedan and home cinema that will seat five in sumptuous plushness while carrying a 2000lb payload and towing up to 7400lbs on a trailer! Buyers will be hard-pressed to push this multi-purpose behemoth to its limit.
Under the Hood
Like all Escalades, the EXT has plenty of power lurking under its hood. Leading the way is a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engine. It is able to muster 345 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. This tough, durable engine is mated to a heavy-duty 4-speed automatic transmission and is exclusively all-wheel-drive.
The four-channel StabiliTrak system and a Borg-Warner one-speed full-time open-differential transfer case means that any of the four wheels can be independently controlled, offering more stable antilock brake stops. Innovation this year includes an upgraded cooling system and some refinement of the dash trim and instrument cluster.
The Escalade EXT features a passenger-sensing airbag system that automatically deactivates the passenger-side front airbag under certain conditions to help protect smaller occupants. Other standard safety features include dual front and front-side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, antiskid, traction control, rear-obstacle detection and a tire-pressure monitor.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
The versatile Escalade EXT can seat five passengers, two with the midgate down and the 2 nd row seat folded flat. Cadillac realizes the eye-catching fancy the Escalade EXT creates with potential thieves, and protects items from the elements and from theft with a standard three-piece cargo cover and lockable tailgate. The cargo box also offers protection for items secured inside.
There are still enough standard interior features with the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT to make your head spin. XM Satellite radio, the OnStar System, air conditioning with automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, heated front seats, power windows and door locks and an Bose AM/FM/cassette player with in-dash 6-disc CD changer merely start things off.
The Escalade EXT has an available DVD rear seat entertainment system with a 7-inch flip-down screen and a DVD navigation system. The latter uses a GPS system with visual and voice guided directions to make sure you won’t get lost—ever.
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