2010 Cadillac Escalade - Page 1 Review

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Shopping for a 2010 Cadillac Escalade? MSRP: $62,495 - $84,125

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The 2010 Cadillac Escalade comes in two guises, including standard or extended length. The extended-length variant provides a 21-inch increase in size with seating capacity for up to eight adults. The Escalade shares its platform and mechanical layout with the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs.

For 2010, the Escalade’s 6.2-liter, V-8 engine returns and is still capable of burning E85 fuel. The Escalade also retains the Magnetic Ride Control feature, which helps absorb the bumps and jolts that go with having 22-inch wheel/tire combinations. Once again the Escalade will be available as either a rear- or all-wheel-drive model; also returning will be the terrible fuel consumption—despite being partnered with a six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management to help reduce fuel use during cruising or coasting, the Escalade still gets dismal fuel economy figures of 12 mpg city across the entire lineup and either 18 or 19 mpg highway, depending on the model. Real-world city driving can easily result in single-digit mileage numbers, as TheCarConnection.com editors have observed in the past.

The poor fuel economy is a result of the enormous engine and the even more intimidating size of the Escalade itself. Even on steep inclines with full loads, the engine powering the 2010 Cadillac Escalade provides plenty of power to make the big, heavy wagon feel perky, while the six-speed automatic transmission has no problem sorting out the right gear when it's needed. Stopping power is provided by large, powerful brakes, and although the Escalade isn't the most nimble vehicle on the road, it's one of the best of the biggest truck-based SUVs; the ride remains even-keeled and absorbent on the road, and the interior stays impressively silent except for a bit of engine noise.