2014 Fiat 500L: Stylish, Room For Five, Starts Below $20,000
Considering the Kia Soul, MINI Countryman, or Nissan Juke? You might want to hold out another few... Read More
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PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Hybrid accelerates from a stop and passes much like conventional models.
Consumer Guide
there’s no escaping its truck-based origins, which make it feel as big and ponderous as a school bus if you hurry it
Car and Driver
[Hybrid] accelerates almost silently in electric-only mode if you accelerate lightly up to 25 or 30 mph
Cars.com
The engine isn't a slouch, but the likes of the QX56 and Range Rover Supercharged will blow its doors off.
Motor Trend
With a huge (and thirsty) 6.2-liter V-8, making 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque, the Escalade can move quickly--to 60 mph in only about 6.5 seconds, according to some sources, even though its weight can total almost 6,000 pounds. Key to that is that the engine makes loads of low-rpm torque, and that the six-speed automatic transmission functions as a willing companion most of the time. And all the while, the V-8 has a rumbly, uncommon (for a luxury vehicle) muscle-car note.
Even with the huge 22-inch wheels that many Escalades come with, GM chassis engineers have managed to give this huge SUV a surprisingly responsive driving character thanks to Magnetic Ride Control, which is offered on most of the Escalade lineup and strongly recommended. While the Escalade is hardly maneuverable, it corners with a verve that will catch driving enthusiasts completely off guard. And thanks to large, powerful brakes, you can also sometimes temporarily forget about the Escalade's heft when stopping.
Towing capacity remains at 8,100 pounds for the all-wheel-drive model and a hefty 8,300 pounds for the rear-wheel-drive variant.
Conclusion
The Escalade is very, very heavy--but you might not know that based on how well it responds.
