Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade is the brand's full-size, three-row luxury SUV and a fixture of the American driveway. Built on a body-on-frame truck platform, it pairs serious towing and passenger space with a cabin that has finally matched its German and British rivals on materials and technology. A standout curved OLED dashboard display, optional rear-wheel steering, and a choice of V8 or diesel power make it a credible flagship rather than just a badge.

Climb into the Escalade and the first thing that lands is scale. This is a genuinely large SUV, and Cadillac has used that footprint to deliver a roomy, comfortable three-row cabin where adults fit in all rows and the long-wheelbase ESV adds usable cargo space behind the third row. The dashboard's curved OLED display stretches over 38 inches and looks the part, while the available AKG audio system and massaging front seats reinforce the luxury pitch. Fit and finish are a clear step up from older Escalades.

On the road, the standard 6.2-liter V8 makes a creamy 420 horsepower and a deep, satisfying soundtrack, paired to a smooth 10-speed automatic. The optional 3.0-liter Duramax diesel trades some character for noticeably better real-world economy and strong low-end torque for towing. Magnetic Ride Control and the optional air suspension keep this two-and-a-half-ton machine composed, and rear-wheel steering shrinks it around town more than you would expect. It rides well, though it never disguises its mass through corners.

The trade-offs are the familiar full-size ones. Fuel economy is poor, especially with the V8, and the sheer size makes tight parking garages and narrow streets a chore despite the camera suite. Pricing climbs quickly once you add the desirable packages, and the high-performance Escalade-V pushes well into six figures. Some switchgear and lower-cabin plastics still don't fully justify the sticker against rivals like the Range Rover.

Super Cruise hands-free highway driving is among the best systems of its kind and a genuine reason to consider the Escalade for long-distance families. Combine that with strong towing, abundant space, and real road presence, and the appeal is clear, provided you can live with the running costs and the parking-lot gymnastics.