Used 2004 Cadillac Escalade Consumer Reviews
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Gonna take it to 250k!
We love this truck! Keep in mind it is just that...a full size truck, just all dressed up. We bought it used with 76K and in 1 year we have already crossed 100K, and not a flicker. I am a huge fan of this GMC line up. The ride, power and class is second to none. We plan to go 250k miles before we upgrade to another. This is the best family vehicle! Lots of power, comfort and class. Buy one and you will see why most Escalade owners go for a second.
A "Truck" underneath the Glamour
I purchased my 2004 Escalade with the 6.0 liter in February. It was certified and came with the extended factory bumper to bumper 6yr/100k warranty. I hear about people complaining about it's fuel economy, but you must realize that behind all the chrome and flash that this is still a 5700 lb truck with a 6 liter V8. I use to get about 17 mpg on the highway, but I have installed a K&N filter($50) and a custom Flowmaster exhaust system($450), and now I get between 20-21 mpg with premium(93 octane) gas on the highway cruising at 70 mph, with 22" wheels. If fuel consumption is a worry for you, then simply don't buy an suv. But this truck is absolutely awesome, especially on long 200+ mile trips.
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,000253 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,390295 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,995307 mi away
Outstanding SUV
This Escalade is nothing short of an outstanding vehicle. If you are looking for command presence, curb appeal, and attitude that works in all weather conditions, look no further. Pros: -Excellent V8 engine that snarls when you put your foot down and has no trouble smoking most vehicles on the road. -Handles well -Good sound system Cons: -The interior build quality is a real black eye. They dropped the ball on this one. -Some replacement parts are pricey -Electronics build quality is also a little spotty
More Options would make this awesome
Sturdy, Classy Styled SUV. Very Reliable, turns heads everywhere.Easy to Drive and Park. Quality is top of the line. Interior spacious. Great handling.
Great Truck, Cheap Interior
We love the truck, very powerful and reliable, excellent quality when it comes to drive train. The only reason why I might never buy another Cadillac after owning soooo many is the cheap and horrible design of the interiors. I'm begging Cadillac to change their outdated mindset of plastic and unimaginative thinking and take example from Lincoln when it comes to interior design. Power rear hatch, folding rear seats, rain sensor wipers, cooled leather seats, center shifter, and please get rid of the plastic! Make it a Cadillac not a Tahoe with enhanced cheap trim. We are all getting tired of GM cutting corners on Cadillac. If it does not change, my selection will.
This Car Is Awesome
this is one of those cars that you'll love to drive anywhere it's very comfortable classy it's everything you want in a luxuary car and more i really would tell anyone looking to buy go for it you wont regret it.....CADILLAC IS ALWAYS THE BEST WAY TO GO
Love this Car!!!!!!!!!!
Cadillac Escalade is the BEST SUV ever, hands down. The ride is smooth like a car and it has every option standard that you can think of. I will never own another SUV!
Improvements Needed
The rear door is too heavy to pull down for women and elderly men and women. Needs to be power operated. Gas door should be lockable.
Best car on the road!!
This is a great vehicle I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING else but the same thing new!!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
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- Value
Love My ESV
Test Drove most other SUV's. With them I felt a truck is a truck til I drove the Escalade ESV. Rides like a car, drives like my Mercedes and the Vortec engine is better than any other make. Plenty of power, outstanding handling and steering, excellent braking. All wheel drive is great in the winter. Can not say enough good things. Just wish my wife would let me drive it a little more. Buy one.
Love My Catty
Although i initially brought my SUV for fashion purpose, i must say that its performance on the road has been surpurp. It's as though it hugs the road whenever making a turn.
Like Riding on Air
I purchased this vehicle for its all wheel drive (we live in the mountains and travel through snow) and its towing capability (8100 pounds). I have had the car for just one week and am very happy with it so far. The surprizing thing about it is that my milage is the same as I had with theToyota Tundra I traded in for it, 15.2 mpg overall.
2004 - Great Car
Great trick. I get tons of great comments on its looks (we have 22" Custom wheels) Feel proud to drive it. Dealer has been excellent in dealing with any issues - large or small.
Here's Your 20 Year Old Escalade Review, Guys
Let me preface this by saying that today is November 19th, 2024...it's now been 20 years since this truck was new. It's also been 9 whole years since the last review someone on Edmunds left for this car. This is an Escalade ownership experience, 2 decades in. The truck I bought has 225,000 miles. I'm the third owner. It's not my daily, but a trusty backup/winter truck I can use to haul people and large items from time to time, as well as plow through brutal Nor'easter snow. This generation of Escalade is now a bona fide classic. Let me tell you why. Gone are the days when this car was new...back when smartphones were barely a thing, High School Musical was just a concept, and SUVs were king. It was a simpler time. Likewise, the GMT800 SUVs (the Tahoe/Suburban, Yukon and this Escalade) were still largely simple trucks. With the next generation Escalade, most of that simplicity was gone. Dependability has gone down, too. The following generations of the Escalade added in tons of new technology, but also complexity. Things broke more often. Parts cost much more. Trucks were totaled too young. But that wasn't the case with this generation of truck, from 2002-2006. Case in point: this runs the venerable, much-praised 6.0 V8, paired with the mass, and I mean MASS-produced 4 speed 4L60-E transmission. So simple, so easy to work on. The engine is easy to access, with tons of space underhood. Parts are EVERYWHERE, and CHEAP. The 6.0 is arguably the most dependable modern V8 engine put in any American truck. It will literally run forever...that is not hyperbole. Paired with the AWD system, it is an absolute monster in snow and poor weather. Not great on gas, but as a second vehicle...does that really matter? Go on any 2nd generation Escalade or Tahoe/Yukon forum or Facebook group. These trucks reach 300,000 miles much more often than they don't, and it's not even rare anymore to see 400,000- or 500,000-mile examples. My Escalade has 225,000 miles. So in other words, barely broken in. It starts, runs, shifts and drives like a 3 year old truck, not a 20 year old truck. The seats remain some of the most plush, most comfortable seats I have ever sat in. And I'm talking about ANY seats, ever. Not just seats in a car or truck. The little fold-down TV is still there in the second row. It somehow still works in my truck. Reminds me of watching episodes of "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" in a Tahoe with my cousins back in the summer of 2006. These trucks are nostalgic now. That's not to say it's perfect. Rust from Ohio has started to eat away at the rockers, door sills and lower tailgate. Old plasticky switchgear always break and need replaced, like every 2000's GM product. You'll get the occasional ABS light, or traction control light, or check engine light. And take my advice and swap out the air ride for the passive suspension from the Tahoe...rides 95% as well, but cuts potential repair costs in half, or in thirds. None of that matters, though. The Escalade keeps on trucking like nothing happened. They just don't die. Back in the early 2000's when this truck was new, it was both a hip hop cultural icon and the best way for rich doctors, lawyers and engineers to express their patriotism without risk in a time where patriotism was still "in." Today, this Escalade has an entirely different aura. It's a go-to for farmers, contractors, painters, carpet layers, young families on a budget, overlanders and normal, everyday people who want space, reliability and comfort without dropping $70,000 on a new truck. How the turns have tabled, huh? I don't know how long I'll have my Escalade. I'm getting married next year, and in our current poor economy, sometimes it's no longer practical to own two vehicles. I could easily sell it for $4k and pay off a huge chunk of wedding expenses. Oh yeah, these things are in hot demand. 20 years on, the secret is fully out. The GMT800 generation trucks and SUVs are highly sought after these days. This is the first used vehicle I've had in years where I know I could sell it immediately without issue. And if I sell it, I know I'll always regret it. Shoot. But maybe you'll be the lucky one to capitalize on the mistakes of people like me, who make the foolish decision to let one of these go. You now know all the secret ingredients of the 2nd gen Escalade sauce that makes these trucks such winners: dependability, ease of maintenance, super low cost of maintenance, power, comfort, space, safety and price. If you've made it this far, I hope you're now convinced as to what you need to do. Take that cash, whatever they're asking for it, and hand it over for that set of 2004 Escalade keys. We don't know each other, but I want you to be safe. I want you to be able to rely on your vehicle. And most of all, I want you to be happy. And happiness, these days, is jumping in your 2nd gen Escalade, turning the key, and hearing it roar to life on the first crank. Every time. Cheers.
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- Performance
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- Reliability
- Value
earcad
Purchased Escalade ESV (long wheelbase) as replacement for older suv and car (2 vehicles)got all I bargained for and more. Roomy-stylish-practical-responsive More car for your dollar than any others, with nav, sunroof, mag wheels, three seats that adults can actually sit in w/o being cramped, firm road feel with all the safties, stabilitrak, levelride etc. Cad. did their homework.
Great Vehicle
I have had mine for a month now, gone on very long trips and love it, have tvs in all the headrests and some 22s on it. My favorite vehicle I've owned yet.
Dream come true
I have always dreamed of owning a Cadillac. With a family of five,this vehicle tailors to all, conveniently and with room to spare. A pleasure to drive to the market or long distance. First drive a Tahoe. Then drive the Escalade. You will notice the difference. You get what you pay for,defenitely. You will also get the attention of your friends, family and neighbors. It is my trophy.
Best hunt, fish, farm cadillac ever
I changed the tires to good off-road tires. I use it to hunt, fish, work on farm and go to church. It runs like a Corvette, rides like a Cadillac and I have never been stuck. I love this vehicle for rough use during the day and smooth comfort after hours. Thanks Cadillac for my favorit 4 wheel drive in the 32 years I have owned 4 wheel.
Go Escalade!
I have really enjoyed driving my 2003 Escalade. I have received more compliments with this SUV than with any other vehicle I have owned. Fir some reason, kids love this truck! There isn't a day that goes by that a kid will stop and stare at the car.(I'd like to say it was me they were staring at, but it's not!) The truck runs well. I haven't had any mechanical problems with it.IT LOVES TO EAT FUEL.
Looking for Resolution
I received my 2004 Escalade as a Christmas gift from my husband in 2003. I fell in love at first site. I have had very little problems until recently. Nothing major, the speedometer went out. I brought it in to be fixed. Wasn't cheap. My husband also bought an Escalade EXT as a result of mine. He purchased his a year later. His speedometer just went out too. We were told to call Cadillac that there is a Campaign that we should be reimbursed for the part. I am currently fighting with them as they are telling me that I didn't have this "Special Policy". I have talked to many GM owners who have had to replace speedometers. Other than that, I LOVE my caddy.
escalade esv awd
one of the BEST cars ive owned so far , this 1 is a keeper for sure and the amount of attention while driving it is GREAT!
King Escalade
I purchased a Black escalade april of 2003, the vehicle is by far the best of the best. we test drove every veh in this class...Navigator,lexus,etc, there is no comparison. The escalade is extremely comfortable,more powerful than any others on the market.The navigator is very sluggish,clumsy,and severely underpowered. The ride cannot compare to the king...Escalade.It is the best of the best. Lexus ride was inadequate and underpowered. Sequoia when you grow up you may play in the same field. The king is here to stay
Love My Escalade
I have found the Escalade a real pleasure to drive anywhere, anytime. I have 22" rims, lowered it 3&5 added a lot of billet pieces and it gets a whole lot of attention everywhere I go.
I love it
This car is awsome!!!!.I wonder what they will come out with next year because if is better than this one oh man it'll be wicked awsome!
Escalade is Awesome Vehicle
I am a Real Estate business owner and I am out and about a lot. I love all my Cadillac's but the Escalade is my all time favorite. The turning radius is suburb, the comfort for my clients is outstanding and the safety they feel is superior. I will buy another!!!! The entire team at the dealership has always been the BEST!
Escalade ESV TOPS
The drive is as smooth as the 81 Riveria,just like riding on a cloud. It has all the toys for the big boys. It has all the comforts of home with a smooth transmission and FAST pickup.
Needs some changes
Love the car looked at many other like the navigator and x5. I choose this because of its looks i love it. i like the handeling and how easy it is for a person to drive. i let my 75 year old mother drive it and she thinks it is very easy to drive. i have two kids and like the third row feature it's just when u need the cargo space it is kind of hard to change from passenger to cargo mood. but this is great i luv it in the winter. it has great handeling and i like how high it sits up but it still is low enough to comfortably get in.
unsatisfied customer
When i purchased my escalde i was informed it had a dvd entertainment center in it and once the sell was complete i found out that they sold me a vehicle that did not have one so the sales people are selling a vehicle that they know nothing about. Also i bought a interior cleaning and stain guard when i picked up my vehicle from haveing it serviced at bill cookes which also included the under rust proofing i was shocked to find my vehicle in such awful shape that i was upset with them and will never return when i contacted caddilac inc they did nothing about my complaint of the dvd entertainment center. so my complant is that they should not sell a vehicle
Big gas hog
Oversized and hard to park. Expensive to drive. Doesn't fit in city driving. Not much better on the highway.
Great SUV
This is a fantastic vehicle I also own a H2 Hummer and comfort and Luxery Its got it beat hands down
Cadillac Escalade
The Escalade is a first-class car, but is also one of the most comfortable and user-friendly cars I have owned. In comparison, the seats are more like a lazy boy recliner than that of a car seat. The Escalade also offers separate radio and air conditioning controls for the rear of the car. (Which is great if you have kids!) The rear seats also recline!
lovin the truck
Lots of room, lots of power(345 horses), lots of features XM, cd and cassette players, phone via GPS, Onstar, well tailored interior and an INFRARED exterior a great looker all around and a little pricey but worth it!
jay
I have owned my vehicle for 3 months and am very pleased with it
04 AWD
I traded in an 02 with 22500 miles , kept having problems with the check engine light ( caused by o2 sensor getting dust ) I live in the mountains and we have all dirt roads , county maintained . My o4 only has 400 miles and I am very happy with the improved seats and the nav. system ( very complicated ) VEHICLE HAS A BAD DASH RATTLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE , WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP I SAW 2 04'S BEING REPAIRED ( SAME DASH RATTLE )
Complete suprise
after owing several new vehicles this has been the most rewarding.
joshs review
i absolutely love this wehicle it has been thebest suv i have ever owned my last suv was arange rover and i sold it for the escalade and i dont regret one bit
Excellent Escalade
This is one excellent vehicle! Puts all others to shame in every catagory. It's a "10" in all aspects and a "20" easily, on the head turning scale. This is a keeper for a long time to come. It handles magnificently, extremely responsive, comfort is unbeleivable. Bose radio, yum! Comfort for all passengers, plenty of cargo space. Beautiful styling inside and out.
excellent 10!
this, is a great vehicle!it is great with,gas,mileage,comfort, and everything more!i would definetly reccomened this suv to anyone!
Best Suv I've Had!
Vehicle Rides like a luxary car yet has all the features of an SUV. Better value for your money then high -end SUV from Japan. Previous SUV was a Lexus same price but less Vehicle.
Satisfied Customer
Could not be happier or more satisfied with the new Escalade. It's everything one could want in a vehicle and more. My Wife and I are extremely pleased with the new vehicle.
Best SUV
The 2003 Cadillac Escalade I purchased delivers great power and performance, stylish looks, loads of features and a great roar from the 6.0L V8. The first thing that caught my eye is the distinctive look. The SUV is very flashy especially with the white diamond paint. The fit and finish in the SUV is very fine and the SUV has had no relaiblity issues.
I love my Escalade!!!
I love it! The ride is fabulous and having the north start navigating system is definately worthwhile. We also had the opportunity to use our heated seats here in New Orleans!! I would recommend the Escalade to anyone who is interested!! We are very pleased with our recent purchase. The staff from Duplessis Cadillac in Baton Rouge, LA were very professional and made our buying experience a positive one!!
Escalade, King of the Road
I test drove a 2003 Hummer(H2), 2003 Navigator and 2003 Tahoe before trying the 2003 Escalade. None of the others compared. This vehicle blew my mind. It has the best of everything and looks great too. The power is mind boggling. You feel like you are in a sports car when you step on the gas, yet it rides like you are on air. I would recommend the '03 or '04 Escalade to anyone.
Best Yank Tank on the Market
A silky smooth ride coupled with a powerful engine. Definitely has a lot of punch. The appointments inside are superior.
I LOVE THIS MONSTER
THIS IS MY 3RD ESCALADE AND THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER
cadillac
i love this truck, it's the bomb!
POWER
This Car is not only fun todrivebut also to listin too. It's engine in almost as powerful as it sounds. The interior amendities are hard to match and has a suprisingly tight turning radius
Best Truck For The Money
This car is awesome. The V8 engine is just great, very powerful.
love it
wonderful comfortable great styling
EXT
GREAT VEHICLE FUN TO DRIVE ON THE OPEN ROAD