2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV Review

All versions of the 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV come with the same powerful V8, sophisticated suspension and unmistakable styling. In order to get the best features on the inside, however, we suggest going with the Premium Luxury trim. This way you'll get some desirable extras from the one-tier-lower...

Despite its size, the Cadillac Escalade is exceptionally easy to drive. The eight-speed transmission and 6.2-liter V8 make a good pairing.

The big, 420-hp V8 has tons of torque, which helps give the Escalade easy and effortless acceleration. A regular Escalade we tested accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds, and the ESV is likely just a few tenths slower. It also makes a great V8 rumble along the way.

The brake pedal travel is long, soft and predictable, but there is a noticeable nosedive from this massive machine when you brake hard. Our panic stop from 60 mph in a regular Escalade took 131 feet, which is long but about what we'd expect. The ESV could fare a bit worse.

It is surprisingly easy to place the big Cadillac exactly where you want, though the wheel does require more turning than most drivers are used to. Steering effort is very, very heavy — almost to a fault.

There's a surprising amount of response and confidence on twisting roads, but because of sheer size and weight, the Escalade ESV's limits are quite low. Seat bolstering isn't up to the task of twisty roads or quick freeway exits either.

Despite its size, the Cadillac Escalade is exceptionally easy to drive. The eight-speed transmission and 6.2-liter V8 make a good pairing.

The big 22-inch wheels hurt any pretense of off-roading, but the Escalade does have retractable steps, selectable four-wheel drive and adequate ground clearance. It won't get you through the Rubicon but should get you to the cabin in the woods.

In a category that should be a slam-dunk for Cadillac, the Escalade ESV is less than perfect. Things start off as expected with an admirably quiet interior, but the busy ride, so-so seat comfort and nearly unusable third-row seat take their toll on overall comfort.

For a luxury vehicle, the seats are a surprising low point. Stiff, wide and featureless, they simply don't provide enough support or comfort for long drives. Taller drivers will wish for more thigh support.

The Magnetic Ride Control suspension helps the Escalade manage its heavy 22-inch rims. This does not, however, mean the ride is polished and well-isolated. Expect truckish behavior on anything less than a glass-smooth surface.

As you'd expect from Cadillac, the Escalade ESV has a pleasantly quiet ride. At times there's a touch of wind noise from the side-view mirrors. Even so, it's pretty silent. Road noise is well managed apart from the occasional tire thunk over pavement cracks.

If you're going just by the numbers, the Escalade ESV's interior is pretty great. Interior quality, though, especially compared to high-dollar rivals, isn't. The Escalade has a pleasant interior, but for buyers in this segment that may not be enough.

Major controls such as the gear selector, headlights and wipers are very good. The instrument panel is crisp and clear. But the touch-based CUE system is slow and hard to use. Some of the radio and climate controls that you use the most suffer from CUE's drawbacks.

An optional power-retractable step aids access without getting in the way, but shorter (sub 5-foot-5) passengers will wish it was lower still. The doors are wide enough for easy entry and egress, and a tumble feature in the second row makes third-row access a snap.

The Escalade ESV is one of the biggest vehicles on the road, and the inside makes pretty good use of that space. Headroom and legroom are exceptional in the first and second rows and acceptable in the third row for the kids. Oddly, all three rows feel narrow at the shoulders.

You'd think that driving an Escalade ESV would require the use of the blind-spot monitors, parking sensors and backup camera, but it doesn't. There is good enough visibility all around to make it impressively easy to park. That said, the camera is useful in close quarters.

The latest Escalade generally looks and feels significantly improved from the previous generation, but that's not quite enough. Much of the competition feels more substantial and more precisely tailored. Our tester had a rocking driver seat and squeaky second row.

Able to tow 8,100 pounds and capable of carrying eight passengers, the Escalade is one of the most utilitarian luxury vehicles you can find. The ESV's massive cargo space helps you haul quite a bit of luggage as well.

The Escalade ESV has an impressive 39.3 cubic feet of storage behind the third row, 76.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and 120.9 cubes with the second and third rows stowed. Few vehicles can hold more. But a high load floor can make it hard to lift heavy objects up and inside.

With a standard tow capacity of 8,100 pounds in 4WD trim, the Escalade is very competent straight out of the box, no options required.