Cadillac Escalade ESV

The "E" stands for "Extended," and that's what this vehicle is: an Escalade with a longer wheelbase. It's a big SUV with all the luxury features, and if you need the space and can handle the price, it might be what you're looking for.

Space

The extra 14 inches on the wheelbase over the standard Escalade mean more space for passengers and cargo. The ESV seats seven or eight, depending on whether you get captain's chairs or a bench in the second row. Even though the third row gets more legroom with the longer length, it's still most comfortable for kids. Perhaps more significant is the extra 27 cubic feet of cargo space you get in the ESV; you can pack a lot of luggage and gear into this vehicle.

Power

Cadillac gave the ESV a redesign in 2015, and that included upping the power of the V8 engine from 403 to 420 horsepower. Either engine has enough power to move a vehicle of this size, and paired with the automatic transmission, you get relatively smooth acceleration. Across the model years, a properly equipped ESV can tow about 8,000 pounds.

Luxury Amenities

Every trim level of the Escalade ESV has a variety of features, and the top tier has a few exclusives. Looking from 2013 on, the top trims have leather upholstery, cooled cupholders, and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system. The 2015 redesign adds heated, ventilated massaging seats, and the 2017 model brings power retracting side steps and two more screens for the entertainment system.

Handling

The sheer size of the Escalade ESV produces not-unexpected compromises in handling both before and after the 2015 redesign. You have to crank the wheel more than you might expect to make a turn, and it will give you some body roll. Although the vehicle is powerful, it's not quick, and it's not particularly maneuverable in tight spaces. The ESV is capable of going off-road over fairly rugged terrain, but you need to keep its maneuverability limitations in mind.

Ride

You can expect a quiet ride from the ESV since its noise cancellation features keep out the road noise and its quality construction guards against squeaks and vibrations from the interior. It isn't quite as comfortable as you might expect from a Cadillac, though. If you're driving over a bumpy road, you may feel it, and the seats aren't bolstered well enough to keep you from sliding a bit when the going is particularly rough.

CUE Infotainment System

Cadillac's CUE system with a touch screen was introduced in the 2015 model year. Some drivers find that the touch controls aren't as responsive as they could be, and frustration with one aspect or another of the system has persisted through at least 2019. For models with voice control, you may have more success running it through your phone than directly through the CUE system.