New Cadillac Escalade EXT Review

The Cadillac Escalade EXT is a luxury pickup truck, which at first might come off as a strange vehicle classification. But when Cadillac was revamping the Escalade in 2002, the company explored different ways to take advantage of the luxury SUV's street cred and runaway popularity. So it spun off the model every which way to maximize the Escalade badge -- hence, the EXT.

One part full-size luxury SUV and one part crew-cab pickup, the Escalade EXT is the only vehicle of its kind in the mid-$50,000 luxury market. Overwhelmingly massive and surprisingly functional, the EXT is the ultimate niche vehicle, and it has found a healthy audience for the limited number that Cadillac builds each year.

Current Cadillac Escalade EXT
Mechanically related to the Chevrolet Avalanche, the Cadillac Escalade EXT comes in three trim levels (base, Luxury and Premium) and one body style: a four-door crew-cab pickup. From the rear doors forward, it is essentially a standard Escalade and is equipped with the same suspension and powertrain. The latter consists of a 6.2-liter V8 (403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque) mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

From the rear doors back, the EXT is a pickup. A special "Midgate" system allows greater cargo capacity -- the rear seats and rear window fold down, which enables the storage of longer items. An automatic tonneau cover protects items from the elements. The EXT is also equipped with 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights and automatic suspension damping.

Inside the cabin, the EXT is all luxury, with leather upholstery, wood trim and 14-way power and heated seats. Tri-zone climate control and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with in-dash CD changer are also standard. A navigation system with touchscreen operation, real-time traffic and rearview camera is also included. Moving up through the trim levels brings even more luxury features such as a heated steering wheel, 22-inch chrome wheels, adaptive suspension, power-retracting side steps and a rear-seat entertainment system.

In road tests, we found that the Cadillac Escalade EXT offers a gratifying driving experience, especially for a large luxury truck/SUV. Given its size and mass, you'd expect some difficulty in the handling department, but the EXT's steering is light and predictable. By no means is it a nimble vehicle, but it's stable and controlled over all but extremely rough surfaces. With its big-time V8, acceleration is brisk from nearly any speed, which is remarkable for an SUV that weighs nearly 6,000 pounds. As one would expect, gas consumption is quite poor.

Read the most recent 2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT review.

If you are looking for older years, visit our used Cadillac Escalade EXT page.