Navigate the urban jungle with confidence and elegance in this vehicle that exudes prestige and captivates onlookers with every moment and mile. With an impressive 420 horsepower and effortless 10-speed automatic transmission, the Escalade offers a thrilling driving experience. But it's not just raw power; the Escalade also harmonizes opulence and technology. Enjoy a customizable heads-up display, a captivating 16-speaker audio sanctuary by Bose, and the innovative Surround Vision safety feature. By choosing the Escalade, you are embracing a lifestyle that demands commanding power and majestic refinement.
Read on to learn more about the 2018 Cadillac Escalade.
The Escalade can seat up to seven people and comes with some awesome features as standard. You've got leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated power-tilting-and-telescoping steering wheel. The cabin is super plush with a combo of soft leather and microfiber suede covering all the major surfaces. The dynamic front styling is enhanced by a highly detailed Galvano chrome grille that has a unique, almost brushed look and feel. Plus, you've got all the modern tech goodies like the CUE infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a killer 16-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system. It's a real luxury ride!
The 2018 Escalade leaves an indelible impression with its bold and assertive exterior design. The dominant front grille, accented by the iconic Cadillac emblem, gives it a commanding presence on the road. The overall length of the Escalade is 203.9 inches, making it one of the largest SUVs on the market. The Escalade features full LED lighting, including headlamps, tail lamps, and signature daytime running lights. These not only enhance the vehicle's visibility but also contribute to its sleek and modern appearance. The standard model comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, while the Luxury trim and higher come with 22-inch dual-spoke alloy wheels. These large, beautifully designed wheels add to the Escalade's robust and high-end look.
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade is powered by a robust 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces a substantial 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain is mated to a newly introduced 10-speed automatic transmission, which ensures smooth and efficient gear shifts. Despite its size, the 2018 Escalade can accelerate from zero to sixty in just around six seconds. This makes it one of the quickest SUVs in its class. In addition to the standard engine performance, there are several performance packages available for the 2018 Escalade. These packages offer enhancements like supercharging, which can significantly boost the vehicle's horsepower and torque.
According to the EPA, the four-wheel-drive (4WD) variant of the Escalade has a combined fuel economy of 17 miles per gallon (MPG), with 14 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway. In real-world testing, some drivers have reported achieving an average of around 16.75 MPG to 18 MPG combined, which falls neatly within these EPA estimates. The two-wheel-drive (2WD) model offers slightly better fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 14 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. The 6.2-liter engine, paired with a 10-speed transmission, delivers these ratings. Despite being a large luxury SUV with a potent V8 engine, the 2018 Escalade's fuel efficiency is fairly competitive within its class. However, it's worth noting that fuel consumption can vary depending on driving habits and conditions.
The 2018 Cadillac Escalade got a solid four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with four stars in frontal crash tests. Plus, it's got impressive 5-star Side Barrier Ratings, 5-star Side Crash Ratings, and 5-star Combined Side Barrier and Pole Ratings. Safety-wise, it comes with daytime running lights as standard, and you've got the option to add some cool active safety tech like blind spot detection, lane departure warning, and lane departure prevention. And get this, it even has front and rear automatic braking to help you avoid collisions. Of course, it's got a comprehensive airbag system too with seat-mounted side airbags, frontal airbags, curtain airbags, and side-impact airbags. Furthermore, the Driver Assist package is available with the Premium Luxury and Platinum trims, encompassing all the features of the Driver Awareness package in addition to Adaptive Cruise Control, Front and Rear Automatic Braking, and Automatic Safety Belt Tightening. Moreover, Front Park Assist and Rear Park Assist come as standard on all models.
Encapsulating the essence of American luxury, the 2018 Cadillac Escalade stands tall as a beacon of opulence on wheels. When it comes to blending high-powered performance with plush comforts, this SUV packs a punch with its authoritative 6.2-liter V8 heartbeat and an interior that whispers extravagance. Yes, some might nitpick about its thirst for fuel and the firmness of the ride, but these are mere footnotes in an otherwise stellar performance. The Escalade pulls no punches in the safety department, boasting a laudable NHTSA rating and a suite of active tech that'd make the Secret Service nod in approval.
So, do we slap a hearty recommendation on this chariot of luxury? If those purse strings are itching for a splurge and the idea of commanding the road from a throne of leather sounds like your kind of Sunday drive, absolutely. For those who covet a balance of brute force and finesse, the Escalade drives home as a top-shelf pick. Its few concessions to practicality are just the modest dents in its armor—hardly deal-breakers. Let's be real, the 2018 Cadillac Escalade isn't just about getting from A to B—it's about arriving with a statement.
