2018 Cadillac Escalade Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
What’s New for 2018?
Cadillac hasn’t changed anything for the exterior of the Escalade, but has added a new 10-speed automatic transmission choice. On the Platinum model and trim, the Escalade gets a new Maple Sugar-themed interior with black accents.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Cadillac Escalade – The Pros
1. Fancy Interior
The interior of the 2018 Cadillac Escalade is well-equipped with both utilitarian features and luxury features. The most impressive luxury features are the heated and cooled front seats, each of which adjust in 12 different ways to ensure maximum comfort. Other comfort features include a heated steering wheel, not-to-bright ambient interior lighting, and wireless phone (or tablet) charging. Utility features include LED head and tail lights, five USB ports, and a plethora of active safety technology.
2. Super Fast Acceleration
A factor that most full-size SUVs struggle with is acceleration. Moving quickly from a full stop at a stop sign or light can take these behemoths much longer than other, smaller cars. The 2018 Cadillac Escalade is faster than many of the other SUVs in its class, accelerating from 0 to 60 in just under 6 seconds. This is even faster than some smaller vehicles. The acceleration is also smooth and linear due to the car’s amazing transmission.
3. Great Engine
The Escalade is run by an extremely powerful engine. All variants are powered by the same 6.2-liter V8, a V8 that offers an astounding 420 horsepower with 460 lb-ft of torque. This engine is what enables the Cadillac to accelerate as quickly as it does, and what allows the car to tow as large of a load as it does.
4. Large, Fast Infotainment System
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade offers a huge 8-inch touchscreen that hosts Cadillac’s own CUE infotainment system. This system is quite fast and responsive, and allows for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration with ease. The menus are fairly easy to access and navigate, and the navigation system works quite well. Not only does the Escalade have the large touchscreen up front, it also has two 7-inch entertainment screens in the back seats. These are great for kids and adults alike, as you can choose to watch anything you brought along for entertainment during long trips.
5. Solid Safety Ratings
Generally, full-size SUVs have a worse problem than other cars with safety - particularly the problem of rolling over. The Escalade doesn’t suffer from these problems, partially due to its general design and partially due to its wide wheelbase. The base model’s wheelbase comes in at 116 inches in length, while the ESV variant is 14 inches longer. Automatic braking and forward warning collision allow this car to be a top pick for safety in its class.
6. Great Active Safety System
While not every single safety feature is available in the base model, there are plenty of features available as options and upgrades. The Driver Awareness package lets you access most of these features. Included in that package are some of the best, such as a lane change alert and rear cross-traffic alert system along with lane keeping assistance and forward automatic braking.
7. Good Package Choices
The Driver Awareness package mentioned above is just one of many available for the 2018 Cadillac Escalade. The ESV model variant is even more spacious than the base model. Luxury packages include premium leather seating, a heated steering wheel, and more. The Premium package on both the base Escalade and the ESV includes every possible feature you can dream of.
8. Above Average Towing Capacity
The Escalade isn’t just a luxury SUV, as it can tow an impressive amount of cargo. The 6.2-liter V8 can manage to tow between 7900 pounds and 8300 pounds without breaking a sweat. That amount is large enough to tow a small cargo container (though that’s not particularly necessary with the large interior space), a small boat or a camper.
9. Sturdy Body
The body of the 2018 Cadillac Escalade is the only car in the Cadillac lineup to feature a body-on-frame design. This allows both a lighter weight for the SUV and a more rigid, sleek design. It also allows for more engineering choices for the exterior alloy, as the lighter weight lets heavier materials be used. The heavier materials let the car be tougher on the road, no matter the roughness of the terrain.
10. Great Sound System
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade includes a gigantic 16-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system with perfect surround sound. The car doors house subs and tweeters, offering great low and high end without any of the annoying vibrations due to resonance that you’d find in a smaller car.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Cadillac Escalade – The Cons
1. Below Average Fuel Economy
Unfortunately, the Escalade’s fuel economy is somewhat below average. Although no full-sized SUV gets great gas mileage, the Escalade’s is worse than usual. On the highway, the Cadillac can get up to 23 miles per gallon. In the city, that decreases to 14 miles per gallon.
2. Tough, Stiff Suspension
If you’re not used to a stiff suspension, the Escalade might feel rough on the road. Its suspension is tuned to by cushioned in the city, but more rigid at high speeds. However, the rigid feeling seems to still be present even at lower speeds.
3. Large Blind Spots
Most SUVs suffer from blind spots, and the Escalade is no different. The large columns in the back and sides mean that there are some obvious and large blind spots. However, the active safety features of the car easily make up for the blind spots. There are rear-view and blind spot monitors, letting you easily check if there are cars around you.
How It Stacks Up to the Competition
There are some other flagship SUV competitors like the Land Rover Range Rover and the Lincoln Navigator, but nothing is quite as luxurious and recognizable as the Cadillac Escalade. You can tell just how much care and effort were put into designing this car, and it has the features to prove it.
Conclusion
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade is one of the best full-size SUVs on the market. Its suite of active technology features and luxurious interior make this a fantastic car choice for anyone considering a car this large.
