There is no denying that the Escalade is an important part of both the Cadillac lineup, and the United States automotive market in general. It is considered to be a social symbol of success for its customers and offers a refreshing change in image for Cadillac itself.
Before the Escalade was introduced in 1999, Cadillac had a reputation for producing traditional, conservatively designed cars. The Escalade changed all that with its large dimensions and flashy looks. Now in its third generation, the 2013 Cadillac Escalade has its share of pros and cons. Here is a more detailed look at the latest avatar of this popular luxury SUV.
New For 2013
Cadillac’s iconic Escalade carries over from 2012 mostly untouched. Base, Hybrid, and ESV models see the addition of three new exterior colors: Silver Coast Metallic, Midnight Plum Metallic, and Sapphire Blue Metallic.
Exterior
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is unapologetically flashy and bold on the outside. Its front fascia is pronounced by sharp angles and the recognizable Cadillac wreath-and-crest badging. Chrome trims are present in generous amounts through the length of the SUV.
The exterior of the 2013 Cadillac Escalade is defined by the three-tier headlights and oversized cross-crossed grille. Other exterior features include a power lift-gate, 18-inch wheels, and side mirrors with integrated turn signals as standard. Optional exterior features include LED headlights and 22-inch alloy wheels.
Overall, the Escalade is clearly designed to showcase its grandeur on the outside. However, the exterior of the SUV has received very few modifications since it was introduced in 1999.
The Escalade’s outer design, while stylish, is not timeless, and this has begun to show quite clearly in recent models. The exterior of this SUV is starting to look old when compared to the more modern look of other luxury SUVs, and is due for a redesign.
With a completely new version of the Escalade coming in a year or so, it looks like even Cadillac has taken the cue from the falling sales of this car. However, the 2013 Cadillac Escalade is still here and available for those who do not mind the slightly older design.
Interior & Cargo
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is generously proportioned inside with a better cabin than other similar SUVs from GMC and Chevrolet. Right from the base model, customers can find a generous amount of equipment and features like heated seats for the first and second row. The first two rows are captain’s chairs and the third row is a single three-seat bench if you opt for the standard seating configuration.
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade also gets a navigation system and a Bose surround-sound audio system as standard. Additional options add even more features to the SUV, like a second-row bench that increases the seating capacity from seven to eight passengers.
One of the most interesting aspects of the 2013 Cadillac Escalade is that its center control panel has been designed to merge with the floor console rather than sitting as a separate unit. Standard interior features include an LED-backlit instrument panel, tri-zone automatic climate control, cooled front seats, seat heaters in the front two rows of seats, leather front seats with power adjustment, and a power-tilting steering wheel.
Additional packages and options put in even more niceties inside the 2013 Cadillac Escalade, but they are generally just trim or styling elements. Despite a great list of features, the Escalade suffers from poor build quality.
This would not be a problem for any other car, but the cabin of a luxury SUV is the last place anyone would want to find low-cost, poor quality materials. Even the leather and wood trims are not that great when compared to the cabins of other competing luxury SUVs.
The interior of the 2013 Cadillac Escalade suffers from some other significant drawbacks. The third row seat is a big problem in this SUV because it cannot seat three people comfortably. The passenger in the middle of this seat would feel the most uncomfortable because of the lack of space.
Another big drawback in the 2013 Cadillac Escalade is its cargo area. More specifically, it is the rear seat of the vehicle that causes the problem. Most other SUVs and smaller cars offer foldable rear seats for extra cargo space, which is a great addition that is almost a given in any new car today. However, the Escalade does not have this fold-down system in place. Instead, the seat has to be manually removed from the car in order to free up the cargo space. Considering the fact that this is a luxury SUV with a luxury price tag, the lack of a foldable rear seat is a significant design flaw.
Safety
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade gets a number of standard safety features including side-curtain airbags for all the seats, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability system, and rollover-mitigation technology. Optional safety features include a blind spot warning system.
Driving Experience
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade gets an aluminum-block, 6.2-liter, V-8 engine that delivers 403 horsepower (hp) and 417 lb-ft of torque, combined with a six-speed automatic transmission system. It is available with a rear-wheel-drive system or all-wheel-drive system. With the right equipment, the rear-wheel-drive Escalade can tow up to 8,300 pounds and the all-wheel drive can tow 8,100 pounds.
The Escalade gets an optional Magnetic Ride Control system that puts electronically controlled shock absorbers instead of mechanical ones, which supposedly results in quicker reactions to the road.
Despite a good engine and suspension, the 2013 Cadillac Escalade feels rather loose and uncontrollable around tight roads. Moreover, the Escalade is shockingly thirsty for fuel, even for a large, luxury SUV. In fact, the Escalade has one of the lowest fuel economies in its segment.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Cadillac Escalade
- Infiniti QX56
- Lexus LX570
- Lincoln Navigator
- Mercedes-Benz GL-class