2021 Cadillac Escalade Platinum 4WD: The Luxury Brand's Fifth Generation SUV

Highlight: This is the first fullsize luxury SUV to be available with a handsfree highway self-driving system. And Crystal Windham, the highest ranking Black female designer in the auto industry, is responsible for overseeing the interior design.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $109,500 (Base Model: $80,890)

Seating Capacity: 7

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a stability control system; an automatic emergency braking; a following distance indicator; a forward collision alert system; a front pedestrian braking system; a rear pedestrian braking system; a lane keep assist system;  a rearview camera; an OnStar concierge safety system; front and rear park assist system; automatic high-low headlights; a traction control system; a hill start assist system; a trailer sway assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Standard Equipment (Base): 22-inch wheels; a 10-speed automatic transmission; a tri-zone automatic climate control system; 4 years or 50,000-mile free maintenance; a start-stop fuel saving system; a handsfree liftgate; rear ventilation system; an adaptive remote start system; a keyless ignition system; a push button ignition system; memory setting; an in-vehicle Wi-Fi system;  leather-like seats; heated first and second row seats; a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel; a heated steering wheel; power release second-row seats; a wireless phone charging system; an augmented reality system integrated in to the vehicle; a 37-inch driver information screen and infotainment screen; and a tri-zone climate control system

Standard Equipment (Platinum): 22-inch spoke polished wheels; 16-power front seats; 4-way power lumbar seats with a massage; semi-aniline leather seats; a leather wrapped interior with a suede headliner; platinum grille; Opus semi-aniline leather seating (1^st and 2^nd row seating); ionizer air cleaner; a magnetic ride control; an adaptive parking assist system; a head up display system; a rear camera mirror; a lane departure warning system; side blind zone alert system; a rear cross traffic alert system; a lane change alert system; a radar-activated cruise control system; a reverse automatic braking system; an automatic safety belt tightening system; an electronic limited slip differential; a panoramic suspension system; and a 36-speaker audio system

Options: Night Vision; power assist steps with perimeter lighting; console cooler; special exterior paint; and puddle lamps, Cadillac crest

Other Trim Levels:

Luxury

Premium Luxury

Platinum Luxury

Sport

Platinum Sport

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: a 19-speaker audio system with AM/FM/HD with SiriusXM

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Apple/Android Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower: 6.2-liter, 8-cylinder engine/420-hp

Recommended Fuel: Regular

Towing: 8,600 lbs 

Standard Fuel Mileage: 15-city/20-hwy (based on 2WD)

What’s New:  The fifth-generation Escalade is all-new for the 2021 model year.

Why:

A safe road warrior on our dangerous highways

Two Powertrains: A V8 and a 6-cylinder diesel

Three rows of spacious seating

Easy to access second and third row

A massive infotainment screen and driver's instrument cluster

Infotainment screen is easy to use

Fingerprints are no longer traceable on the touchscreens

Second row bucket seats

Rearview camera makes parking simple

High quality interior materials

Speakers embedded into front seat headrest

36-speaker audio system available

Automatic sidesteps offers lighting effects at night

Can easily carry up to seven adults

A towing workhorse

Loads of extra cargo carrying capabilities, when second and third row seats are folded flat

Exterior execution led by a Black woman

Only fullsize luxury SUV on the road to offer the closes thing to a self-driving vehicle

Apps like the Wall Street Journal that reads to you

But:

The exterior fascia is massive, but not as distinctive is the previous generation

The vehicles continues to handle and drive like a truck

The average transaction price exceeds $100,000

A lot of vehicle to navigate, especially on narrow streets

The seats in this year's generation are still too firm

Verdict: Today’s fullsize luxury SUVs have literally overpowered the dwindling car segment. In fact, the luxury SUVs are the new luxury cars of today. The sales numbers reflect how luxury SUVs have left luxury sedans and coupes in the dust. Cadillac CT6 can't compete with the Escalades in terms of amenities, utility space and power.

Cadillac, as well as other luxury automakers, have packed the latest high-tech features and amenities into vehicles like the Escalade. Thus, this has pushed the vehicle into flagship status for the brand. This year’s model infuses the brand hands free highway driving system, which is known as SuperCruise.

For those looking to go big, in every sense, this is how you do it!

Competition: 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer (coming this summer); 2021 BMW X7; 2021 GMC Yukon Denali; 2021 Infiniti 2021 QX80; 2021 Lexus LX; 2021 Lincoln Navigator; and 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS