Used 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury SUV Review

Aside from a 14-inch increase in wheelbase and an additional 250 pounds or so, the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV is the same as the regular Escalade. Like its standard-wheelbase brother, the Escalade ESV is built on GM's full-size truck and SUV platform and shares its underpinnings and powertrain with the GMC Yukon XL and the Chevrolet Suburban. As the top model of the range, the Escalade ESV boasts more unique interior appointments and a longer list of standard and optional features.

Though the Escalade ESV's first- and second-row seating accommodations are essentially the same as the Escalade's, its longer wheelbase liberates much more legroom for third-row occupants. Additionally, its cargo area is larger to the tune of a maximum of 120.9 cubic feet (the regular Escalade's is 94.2 cubic feet).

Despite its more premium cabin, there are some compromises associated with its utilitarian roots. The cargo area's load floor is very high, the ride quality is middling at best, and its driving dynamics border on indifferent. The Escalade ESV has its charms, but it's a concept that's showing its age.

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a full-size luxury SUV available in four trim levels: base, Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum. The base trim comes with a dizzying array of equipment, but the Premium Luxury and the Platinum take this big, plush American machine to a whole different level.

The base trim is generously appointed both inside and out. Standard features include a 6.2-liter V8 engine (420 horsepower, 460 pound-feet), a 10-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive (four-wheel drive is optional on every trim), 20-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, an automatic parking system, a hands-free liftgate and remote start.

Inside the cabin, you'll find tri-zone automatic climate control, a heated and power-adjustable steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, and power-folding split third-row seats.

Standard electronic features include the CUE infotainment interface with an 8-inch touchscreen, OnStar with 4G in-vehicle Wi-Fi, a surround-view camera system, a customizable gauge cluster, a navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose 16-speaker audio system with satellite radio, five USB ports and a wireless device charger.

For additional driver aids and more plush equipment, the Luxury trim adds 22-inch wheels, a sunroof, automatic high beams, power-folding second-row seats, a head-up display, and a camera-based rearview mirror system in which the rearview mirror is a screen displaying what the camera sees behind the vehicle. It also includes a blind-spot monitoring system, lane departure warning and intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

Our recommended trim, the Premium Luxury, hits the sweet spot with the above features plus adaptive cruise control, a rear entertainment system with a Blu-ray player and two overhead-mounted displays, adaptive cruise control, and a more advanced collision mitigation system with both forward and reverse automatic braking.

The most lavish Escalade ESV is the Platinum trim, which adds power-retracting side steps, upgraded power front seats with massaging function, upgraded leather upholstery, a cooled front-seat center console, and two more rear entertainment screens (mounted in the front headrests) with the ability to display individual video sources, for times when your passengers can't agree on what to watch.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Cadillac Escalade Platinum (6.2L V8 | 10-speed Automatic | 4WD).

Note: The 2018 Escalade we tested differs from the ESV by having a shorter wheelbase and comparatively less third-row seat room and cargo space. Most of our observations still apply, however.