New 2013 Cadillac Escalade

The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is a full-size SUV with full-size panache, a stylish and bold way to carry around plenty of people in comfort.

The Escalade is simple and handsome but carries plenty of what we will call presence. It has high side walls, boxy styling, and chrome accents on every pore. 18-inch alloy wheels are standard, while larger 22-inch alloy wheels with wider, low profile tires are optional. Standard exterior features include entry-assist steps, HID headlights, a power liftgate, and roof rails. Options include powered side steps, LED headlights, and a powered sunroof.

The interior of the 2013 Escalade is nothing short of posh. The inside is huge and features a large amount of standard equipment including automatic climate control, Bose Audio system, satellite navigation, leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, and power-adjustable steering wheel and pedals. There are also plenty of luxury car options such as a rear-seat entertainment system, walnut trim pieces, and powered-rear seats.

All 2013 Escalades get a 403-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 with 417 pounds-feet of torque. Mated to a heavy-duty six-speed automatic, the 2013 Escalade is available with either rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. Base models are equipped with adaptive suspension that accommodates different road surfaces, but fancier trims get a magnetic suspension that monitors itself up to 1000 times every second and makes adjustments in only 5 milliseconds to keep the ride smooth. With RWD, the Escalade will return a not-so-stellar 14/18 MPG city highway and with 4WD, the economy drops to 13/18 MPG city/highway.

The standard safety features are plentiful, and include six airbags, traction/stability control, anti-lock disc brakes, parking sensors, and the OnStar safety system. OnStar monitors the car and alerts authorities if the car is crashed or stolen. The only optional safety feature is lane-change assist. The Escalade earned five star front and side safety ratings from the NHTSA. Overall, however, the Escalade earned a four-star score because of its rollover potential.