2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT Review
2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Strong and smooth powertrain, pleasant ride, handsome cabin, versatile cargo area.
Cons
- Subpar stopping distances, large size makes it hard to park, rear blind spots, some low-grade interior plastics.
What’s new
Still fresh from its full redesign last year, the few changes to the 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT include a new key fob design, cupholders for the second row and equipment revisions.
Edmunds says
Though it can be a handful on city streets, the 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT's authoritative styling, powerful V8 and impressive combination of passenger and cargo room give it undeniable appeal in the small niche of luxury-themed pickup trucks.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$310/mo for Escalade EXT Base
Escalade EXT Base
vs
$264/mo
Avg. Large Truck
Vehicle overview
If crossover is the term for SUVs that think they're cars, what label applies to the 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT? Some see this 3-ton hunk of metal as a pickup truck with an SUV's cabin; others see a luxury SUV that happens to have a cargo bed instead of a cargo bay. Perhaps it's better to forget the labels and let the Escalade EXT stand for what it is: an innovative, nicely appointed utility vehicle with a have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too combination of truck and SUV attributes.
The secret lies in the EXT's unique "Midgate," a removable panel serving as the rear wall of the cabin. When in place, the Escalade EXT essentially functions as a five-seat crew cab pickup with a 4-foot-long cargo bed. In times of heavy hauling, however, the Midgate can be removed and the rear seat folded down, allowing the EXT to utilize its cabin to match the carrying capacity of far larger trucks. As a result, its ability to haul both people and cargo surpasses most vehicles of similar size.
Even judged purely as a luxury SUV, the Escalade EXT has its appeal. Like the rest of the Escalade family, the EXT benefited from a vastly more modern design in 2007 that endowed it with more precise steering, fairly able handling and a gentle ride. A 6.2-liter V8 sending 403 horsepower through all four wheels moves it down the road with gusto, and passengers enjoy a roomy, leather-lined cabin.
Such a generous package of space, muscle and luxury is not without its compromises, of course, and the Escalade EXT's considerable girth poses a few problems on the road. It's hard to fit in tight city spots, and rear visibility is compromised. A more pressing issue is the EXT's braking distances, which are longer than they should be for a vehicle wearing a premium badge. In addition, the quality of some interior materials and electronics doesn't live up to the Escalade EXT's $55,000 price, which stands a whopping $13K above that of its closest competitor, the Lincoln Mark LT.
Still, the Lincoln suffers from a 103-hp deficit, and is far less interesting to look at as it rolls through the suburbs. And although it offers two bed lengths, the Mark LT's conventional pickup truck body is devoid of any Midgate-type innovation. Considering that performance, presence and exclusivity constitute much of a luxury truck's appeal, the 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT is arguably worth the premium.
Performance & mpg
Unlike the regular Escalade, the Escalade EXT comes only in an all-wheel-drive configuration. Its sole power plant is a muscular 6.2-liter V8 that develops 403 hp and 417 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard and includes a tow/haul mode. It also includes a manual mode, though manual shifting is a tad awkward with the Escalade's column shifter. Thanks to standard trailering preparation, the EXT can tow a maximum of 7,600 pounds.
Safety
Standard are antilock disc brakes, stability control and full-length side curtain airbags. Front seat side airbags are not available. In addition to offering protection in side-impact and rollover incidents, the curtain bags can also inflate in serious frontal-impact collisions to provide additional protection. In rear-impact collisions, the front seatbelt pre-tensioners automatically activate to help front-seat occupants avoid whiplash. Rear park assist, adjustable pedals and GM's OnStar communications system are also standard.
Driving
The 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT may weigh almost 3 tons, but with this much horsepower and torque, acceleration is swift. During our instrumented testing, Caddy's pickup reached 60 in 7 seconds flat. Shifts from the six-speed automatic transmission are crisp and well-timed, and the ride is comfortable over all but the worst bumps. Steering and handling are also predictable, though the Escalade EXT's sheer bulk keeps it from ever feeling truly nimble. More bothersome are the brakes. Pedal feel is reassuring enough, but at our testing facility the EXT needed more than 140 feet to stop from 60 mph -- not a great performance from an expensive luxury vehicle.
Interior
Removing the Escalade EXT's Midgate allows the pickup bed to extend into the cabin, providing a maximum of 101 cubic feet of cargo capacity. A locking removable tonneau cover for the main bed is standard. One possible downside to the EXT's setup is that using the Midgate opens the rear of the Caddy's cab to weather, plus it keeps you from locking the truck.
The cabin has a mostly elegant ambience thanks to finely stitched leather and accents of wood and metal, though some plastics feel cheap. Large instruments with blue needles allow a quick read of vital stats, while a trip computer provides secondary information like average fuel mileage. The navigation system has a user-friendly touchscreen interface, and all controls are easy to find and use. Our biggest complaint is with the Bose audio system, which has been prone to glitches in the test vehicles we've examined, sometimes freezing up or clipping the first few seconds of CD tracks.
2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT models
The 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT is best described as a premium, full-size crew-cab truck. Standard equipment includes an adaptive suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, roof rack, heated and power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, wood-grain trim, tri-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker Bose audio system with an MP3-capable CD/DVD changer, rear parking sensors, remote start and OnStar.
Many of the most desirable extras for the Escalade EXT are grouped in the V8 Ultra Luxury Collection Package, which carries a hefty seven-grand price tag. Included in this package are 22-inch chrome wheels, automatic high-beam headlights, a navigation system, a rear back-up camera, cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel. A sunroof is also included in the package, but you can also get it as a stand-alone extra. Other individual options include power-retractable running boards and a rear DVD entertainment system.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
2.5 out of 5 stars2.5/5Average
#13 out of 20 among Luxury Fullsize SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Cadillac Escalade EXT from 2008-2022.$722/yr
vs. $735/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.57x/yr
vs. 1.83x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).26.4%
vs. 16.5%
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT.
5 star(74%)
4 star(19%)
3 star(7%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
31 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.38 out of 5 stars
Ideal Truck for Me
pfromd, 09/23/2011
2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
Love my '08 truck. It turns heads even in Texas where trucks are dime a dozen.
Bought it used with 60k, driven 12k in 6 months, no complaints.
Pull a boat, take it off the pavement, rinse it off, go to dinner and have it valeted in front row next to all the "me too" luxury cars.
Enjoy!
5 out of 5 stars
The Escalade EXT is in a league of it's own.
Just_Mike, 09/23/2006
2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
I must say I am very impressed with this truck! Although you can feel the weight behind the truck, the ride comfort and performance are excellent. I love the functionality of having a truck for the occasional tow and the ability to haul the periodic large purchase. I traded my 2004 Silverado LT for the refinement of the Cadillac. Despite the fact that the two vehicles are completely … incomparable the only downfall to the Cadillac is that it is too gorgeous to get dirty. The EXT is definitely a head-turner. I think GM has the most market for the high-end truck. However, if the functionality of having a truck didn't prevail, my wife liked the BMW X5's interior over the Escalade's.
4.88 out of 5 stars
What a truck!
TBK, 10/31/2007
2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
Wow! What a beautiful truck! Powerful, functionality as a truck, but luxurious appointments, all in one. The exterior turns heads and receives many compliments. But the interior is wonderful -- great style, nice materials, an incredible Bose surround sound system. Life is good in this truck.
4.25 out of 5 stars
Way Improved over my past 2004 EXT
Theweavman, 09/18/2007
2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (6.2L 8cyl 6A)
Very quiet and smooth. Nice new features. Lots of power. However, does not feel quite as quick as my 04 EXT, that only had a 4 speed automatic & 345 HP. Acceleration from lower speeds feels like the engine's power is not fully making it to the wheels. Acceleration from higher freeway speeds is awsome. This vehicle does so many things well, that it is hard for me to consider driving … anything else. Let's see, It has nice overall styling, great power, luxury seating / interior & comforts that match just about any luxury vehicle, plus tremendious utility. Could use an MP3, bluetooth hook-up, and more cubby storage spaces inside.Those minor things aside, a safe practical vehicle for many purposes.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT, so we've included reviews for other years of the Escalade EXT since its last redesign.
2008 Escalade EXT Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $54,890 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 14 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $310/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Max Towing Capacity | 7,600 lbs. |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Escalade EXT include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover3 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
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