Test Drive: 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum

Link to article: https://blog.bestride.com/reviews/new-car-reviews/review-2015-cadillac-escalade-platinum/

For years, I have held the rather short-sighted view that the majority of high-end vehicles, with even higher-end price tags, were a waste of money. Surely the owners were paying for a brand name, flashy looks, or something — but it couldn’t have been performance or even comfort. Cadillac has officially proven me wrong.

At face value, Escalade performs exactly as you would expect for an oversized SUV. Its 420-horsepower V8 engine provides more than enough torque to handle inclines, while also doling out enough power to get the attention of speed freaks. Ride quality is top notch for a three ton vehicle, as would be expected from a Cadillac product, but all in all, from a performance standpoint, Escalade doesn’t have much more to offer over like sized competitors at a huge increase in cost, especially with the Platinum option package.

But the Platnium package is by no means a performance upgrade – it’s a luxury upgrade – and after a long day at the office, this is the vehicle we want to be driving home, and here’s why.

Walking up to Escalade is daunting, as the vehicle towers over even the tallest of drivers and occupants. Yes, it’s big, and yes, it takes quite a step up to get inside. Open the door and hidden side steps automatically extend with lights illuminating them. “OK, Cadillac has that covered,” we think.

As most have experienced, a 12-hour day at the office is generally accompanied by a sore back. Escalade’s super adjustable seats with 18 different segments to program has you covered. If that’s not enough, why not try one of three different massage modes that is sure to release some tension on the trip home.

As tempting as it was to just sit inside the car and fall asleep in the parking lot, we begin our trek home during the very early hours, with no moonlight in sight. Active Cruise Control is the first switch we activate on the steering wheel. The Caddy now stays a set distance behind vehicles automatically, taking any pedal work out of the equation for the next 30 minutes of our trip. We catch up to a car in front of us, and Escalade applies the brakes and stays a safe distance behind. It’s a great time to be able to stretch our legs.

As we head out of town and the street lights disappear, the vehicle in front of us turns onto a side street. Escalade automatically activates the vehicle’s high beam headlights after it recognizes there are no longer a set of brake lights in front of us or an oncoming set of headlights in the other lane.

So, with cruise control set to 60, our feet having to do absolutely no work, the vehicle’s headlights automatically actuating and receiving a massage, holding the steering wheel and staying between the lines is about our only responsibility.

Five minutes later the massage is becoming extremely relaxing, and dare we say sedating. That’s not good, we’re driving a 3-ton vehicle. Wait a second – wasn’t one of the massage options “anti-fatigue”? Yes, Cadillac has that covered as well.

We finally arrive at the destination, almost unwilling and hesitant to exit the car. The door opens, and the side steps extend. We’re done for tonight.

Somewhere during that 30-minute drive I recognized the value in what that extra $30,000 gets you. It’s certainly not an experience that everyone seeks, but for those that do, Escalate Platinum edition deserves a test drive.

I consider myself a car guy who enjoys a “driver’s” vehicle, and Escalade is far from that. There is a definite disconnect from the road, and in fact, it’s designed that way. The isolation is very much a part of its luxurious allure. Up until this point, I never understood why someone would want those qualities in a vehicle – but now I do.

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