Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Cadillac, GM
A New York minute with the 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT
Anyone who knows me wouldn't ever think I would want climb into an Escalade, let alone the Cadillac truck that is the Escalade EXT. One look at me and you might pin me for the euro-import freak that I am. But deep down, somewhere inside my American psyche lies this desire for a White Diamond Cadillac Escalade EXT. There is no justification for it, although I could always spin it as a need for a tow vehicle to pull my toy box camper with an Ariel Atom 2 in the back. That's a blatant fantasy, but we can all aspire to something, right?
Anyway, in the world of the luxo-truck, Cadillac is head and shoulders above Lincoln and their badge engineered F-150 (sorry Ford, but you know it's true). This is exceedingly apparent when you pull the EXT's chrome wrapped door handle. As soon as you climb into the driver's seat of the Escalade, you feel instantaneously underdressed, and your wrist looks very naked, like it needs a diamond-encrusted watch. The interior is hands down the most elegantly designed interior that you will ever find in production pickup truck. It is all exclusive to the Cadillac line and is not shared with any other full-size GM SUV. The unique-to-Escalade instrument panel has a refined time-piece quality about it. It features white-LED illuminated dial and needles, with the latter featuring illuminated cobalt blue accent stripes.
Even the steering wheel gets special treatment with a wood rim on the outside edge facing the driver, to give your palms the luxury of a wood wheel without compromising the leather grip available to your finger tips. Don't let that rim fool you, or the Escalade's large and in charge presence, the wheel on this Caddy isn't a tiller for any large nautical vessel. The seating position might be high, and the rest of the truck might seem massive, but it is surprisingly maneuverable and any body motions are well controlled. You feel like you're driving the Escalade EXT and it's not driving you. And the 6.2L aluminum V8 provides a satisfying 403 horsepower and 417 ft-lb of torque. All that power is channeled through an all new 6-speed automatic transmission. Put the truck in drive and the back up camera will pop on warning you to watch for pedestrians who might be within firing range if you choose to toast the tires on the optional 22-inch wheels.
We did not get a chance to run our own test numbers, but by the seat of our pants, this Cadillac zigs. In fact, the entire package is deceptively fast. Eighty miles per hour comes up very fast at full tilt, and the only noise from the inside is the subdued roar of the General's latest generation truck V8. If you have a decent amount of self-control, it may be possible to get the 13/19 mpg EPA-rated fuel economy in the Escalade EXT. Those EPA numbers seem about right for a vehicle of this size. Whether you choose to cruise or romp around town, it's when you step out of the Escalade that you realize the vehicle feels a lot smaller behind the wheel than it is.
From the exterior, you would never mistake the Escalade EXT for anything other than a Cadillac. The new fascia is inspired by the Sixteen concept vehicle, as well as the chrome front fender vents. This truck oozes class and attitude in amounts that make you strangely proud to be an American, albeit with a touch of guilt over your own extravagance.
If this seems like your idea of a luxury truck, head over to Cadillac's website (http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/model/gallery.jsp?model=ext&year=2007) and build one for yourself (trust me, I have).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Hon 1:00PM (9/27/2006)
This is a great car to buy your daughter when she first gets her driver's license.
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Michael Karesh 1:07PM (9/27/2006)
Shirley you must be joking.
I've never checked out one of these, but have driven the related Avalanche. Very versatile with the midgate. I'm surprised that the Honda Ridgeline doesn't have a similar feature, given that brand's tradition of innovation. The trunk-in-bed isn't on the same level.
As far as the interior goes, except for the bits on the steering wheel all of that "wood" is fake. For all of its other shortcomings, I believe the Lincoln's interior includes the real stuff.
My site's page for the Escalade, with specs and links to the most popular price comparisons:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Escalade.php
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Lillie Belle 1:14PM (9/27/2006)
1. This is a great car to buy your daughter when she first gets her driver's license.
Posted at 1:00PM on Sep 27th 2006 by Hon
Can we pretend I'm your daughter? Guess what dad DRIVER'S LICENSE!!!!!!!
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Otto Ingineer 1:15PM (9/27/2006)
So the body motions are "soggy"? I suspect that you mean the body motions are "damped" (related to suspension dynamics) rather than "dampened" (related to moisture)
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Juan 1:17PM (9/27/2006)
Escalades will never be my taste, but I'm happy to see that the General has put some effort into the interior.
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Irma 1:18PM (9/27/2006)
The new Cadillac Escalade EXT is the phattest Cadillac ever! It is a major upgrade over the '06 model. Everything from the styling, engine, and cabin is better. It's by far the hottest vehicle on the road!
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el indiano 1:27PM (9/27/2006)
6. The new Cadillac Escalade EXT is the phattest Cadillac ever! It is a major upgrade over the '06 model. Everything from the styling, engine, and cabin is better. It's by far the hottest vehicle on the road!
yeah hottest vehicle if your trying to look like a dork!
idiots that drive this and the hummer think they look cool, but everyone is laughing at you!
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jogia 1:39PM (9/27/2006)
This is the SUV for those who have a need to show what they don't have. What they do generally have is tons of debt.
The ultimate beautiful "SUV" in my personal opinion is the Lexus RX 350 (although some may argue that is isnts and SUV but X over).
Elegant yet reliable.
Big thumbs down to this environment killer.
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el indiano 1:46PM (9/27/2006)
yep 2 thumbs way down.
it is such an over-the-top, dressed up, chevy pickup that i bet you can just pour straight 10w40 into the gas tank without refining it. now thats a flex-fuel!
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el indiano 1:55PM (9/27/2006)
i just ran the number on a lease and buy for this car with a msrp of $68000.
finance $1000 month for 60 months.
lease $1100 month for 36months/12k.
damn. thats stupid to pay that for a dressed up avalanche.
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Ryan 1:57PM (9/27/2006)
"Anyway, in the world of the luxo-truck, Cadillac is head and shoulders above Lincoln and their badge engineered F-150 (sorry Ford, but you know it's true)."
versus the badge engineered Cadillac EXT?
Personally, I think the Chevy looks nicer, plus I like the front end of the old Escalade better, it look meaner.
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concept cars 1:59PM (9/27/2006)
A great car to make good impression in NY
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/
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Sam 1:59PM (9/27/2006)
Great, another ghetto-mobile in the making.
Maybe if these people would be smart enough to invest in their children’s education rather than a new chrome-laden SUV's with big wheels, the world would become a better place.
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Jamie 2:00PM (9/27/2006)
8. This is the SUV for those who have a need to show what they don't have. What they do generally have is tons of debt.
The ultimate beautiful "SUV" in my personal opinion is the Lexus RX 350 (although some may argue that is isnts and SUV but X over).
Elegant yet reliable.
Big thumbs down to this environment killer.
Posted at 1:38PM on Sep 27th 2006 by jogia 0 stars
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Who'd have thunk it?
Do you want our approval?
Were you also smart enough to buy a Camry?
Do your neighbors approve of your car purchases?
In MY opinion the RX is old and common.
Anything from Audi (to start) looks much better.
Oh, and I DON'T care what my neighbors think about me.
P.S. Come off the "environment" crap please. Even an RX350 os an "environment killer".
It can't tow anything and gets worse mileage than a car.
So it's even more vainglorious than an Escalade.
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Ken 2:04PM (9/27/2006)
It's very nice, but the new GM full size SUV's fall way short to the Ford/Lincoln in one area: Space! I know that the '07 Lincoln and Expedition come up short on horsepower, but if you're actually using your full size SUV to haul stuff, you can't beat the full size pair from Ford. I just got ride of my '05 and am the first in town with an '07. It basically has the stow and go of the DCX minivans when the seats are folded down. I haul many electronic components in 24" cube shaped heavy boxes, and I can haul 6 to 8 of them in any one trip. The interior in the Expedition is pretty damn nice. But this is only one man's opinion.
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Ryan 2:08PM (9/27/2006)
#14
Are ya gonna cry Jamie?
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Ryan 2:13PM (9/27/2006)
"P.S. Come off the "environment" crap please. Even an RX350 os an "environment killer".
It can't tow anything and gets worse mileage than a car.
So it's even more vainglorious than an Escalade."
-Prove it.
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jogia 2:13PM (9/27/2006)
Jamie,
You are absolutely correct I do own a Camry.
You are a genious. Really.
Now stop crying and go to the back of the class.
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Jimmy 2:26PM (9/27/2006)
jogia - sounds like you're a typical tree hugger. Go the F on and leave the real vehicles to those of us with a set of balls.
-go big or go home.
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Oscar 2:26PM (9/27/2006)
The new Escalade is a very nice vehicle, I've riden in one a few times and it is the equal of ANY luxo SUV. I'm sure the EXT is just as nice. Those who criticize the people who own one are probably jealous they themselves can't afford one. If I was in the market to buy a vehicle in this category they'd be at the top of my list.
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