2010 Cadillac Escalade

Cadillac Escalade - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Cadillac Escalade ranks 1 out of 11 Luxury Large SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 79 published reviews and test drives of the Cadillac Escalade, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Cadillac Escalade roars into 2010 with look-at-me styling, an impressive cabin, and good performance for its size. While some competitors drive smaller, the Escalade impresses with its luxurious cabin and old-school SUV capabilities.

The 2010 Escalade makes sense for buyers who need to haul a lot of people, tow heavy loads, and want luxury and outsized styling. Reviewers say that if it's a luxurious and powerful SUV you want, the Cadillac Escalade is a great choice. When it comes to large SUVs, carmakers are competing for a shrinking pool of buyers -- that's good news for you. If you truly need the luxury and capability a luxury large SUV provides, you should be in a good bargaining position.

The Escalade can seat up to eight people and comes in four models: the Escalade, Escalade ESV (an extended wheelbase version), the Escalade EXT (which trades the third row seat and enclosed cargo area for a short truck bed) and the Escalade Hybrid.

The Escalade's size and power give it a thirst for fuel, though for 2010, that thirst has been reduced -- slightly. The Escalade's 6.2 liter V8 engine now comes with cylinder deactivation, a system that shuts down four of the engines cylinders when they're not needed. That saves you some fuel. But, if you want to save even more gas, check out the Escalade Hybrid -- but keep in mind that the Escalade hybrid starts at about $10,000 more than the conventional Escalade, and while the Escalade hybrid has good gas mileage for an SUV, you shouldn't expect fuel economy in line with what a small hybrid car might have.

In addition to cylinder deactivation, the Cadillac Escalade also adds a standard USB port for MP3 players and standard side airbags for the front seats for 2010. If you can live without these niceties, you should consider shopping the 2009 Escalade as well as the 2010 model. Dealers need to clear the 2009 models from their lots, meaning that you could get a pretty good deal on one.

As good as the deals on the Escalade have been recently, it competes in a very competitive class, and most manufacturers have been offering discounts. The Escalade is a solid performer, but others in the class, like the Toyota Land Cruiser, are easier to live with day-to-day and have better off-road capabilities. The Land Cruiser and the Escalade cost about the same, so it's worth a look. While the Escalade has one of the nicest interiors in the class, it loses points for its third row seat. While that's typical for the class, if you need a comfortable third row that can handle adults, check out the Lincoln Navigator. It has a lower base price than the Escalade and is one of the few SUVs that actually gets praise for its third row.