2023 Cadillac Escalade-V

Just as the T. rex was the one of the biggest and the baddest carnivores on the planet, so too is the 2023 Cadillac Escalade the king of the hill in General Motors' portfolio. And while the standard Escalade's 6.2-liter V8 and six-cylinder turbodiesel are perfectly adequate at hustling around its considerable mass, there are some who crave more meat on the bone. Something to feel peerless in when pulling up near performance-oriented luxury SUVs such as the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63, V8-powered Land Rover Range Rover and BMW Alpina XB7. Enter the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V — the brand's first application of the V performance moniker to an SUV, and the Giganotosaurus of the luxury SUV world.

The Escalade-V's interior is as plush as you would expect from a luxury SUV. It is equipped similarly to the standard Escalade's range-topping Platinum trim level, which can be had in either black or dark brown semi-aniline leather in all rows. Interior panels are covered in wood veneers with stripes that Cadillac playfully refers to as a Zebra pattern.

This fully loaded Escalade doesn't skimp on the features, with goodies like heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a 38-inch panel incorporating three OLED screens (including a 16.9-inch central touchscreen), and an augmented reality overlay for navigation all standard. If you don't feel like constantly listening to the roar of the supercharged V8, there's also a 36-speaker AKG audio system, which will likely sound better than many home theater setups. Cadillac's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology, with trailering support and automatic lane changes, will be available further down the line, as a $2,500 option.

While most people will not likely tow in their Escalade-V, Cadillac says the super truck is capable of hauling roughly 7,000 pounds, or about 1,200 pounds less than the most capable standard Escalade.

The Escalade-V has not yet been tested by the EPA, but for reference, the CT5-V Blackwing with this engine is rated at 15 mpg combined. Expect the Escalade-V's number to be well below that. In other words, if you have to ask, this isn't the vehicle for you.