Either you like it or you don't |
| (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
The
Cadillac Escalade is luxurious, comfortable, very spacious and a mammoth on the road, but it sure has the ability to turn heads. Some people admire it for its beauty and physical presence, while others find it obnoxious, simply too much. That's the kind of comments one is likely to receive when driving such a vehicle. You have to take some and leave some. Personally, when I look at the Escalade, I'm thinking: this is too big, too much for a single individual or even a small family. But when you climb on board and drive it for a week, you come to understand a little better the motivations of the typical Escalade owner. The comfort, luxury and [link url="http://www.auto123.com/en/used-cars/safety-guide">safety feeling are obvious. All things considered, if you can afford it, why would you deprive yourself of this pleasure?
How about the environment?  |
| (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
SUV owners often find themselves on the hot seat. They're viewed as conscienceless polluters who only think about themselves. As with any other product, some people exaggerate, while others use it moderately and decently. It is possible the folks who drive big SUVs are concerned about the environment but choose different ways of reducing the pollution: recycling, consuming less water, etc. Everybody has their own approach!
A first look In terms of exterior design, the Escalade is commanding and sleek. From
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| (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
bumper to bumper, the lines are well drawn and smooth to look at. Access to the passenger compartment is easy thanks to big front and rear doors. The same goes for the cargo area, which is not too high even when the vehicle is riding on 22-inch wheels.
Inside, a slew of features and accessories increase the level of comfort and make life easier. For example, the front seats offer 12-way power adjustments as well as heating during winter and cooling during summer. The ergonomics of the dashboard are simple and functional. Controlling all the instruments can be done very conveniently.
One button for each control I may forget about a few, but here's what you have to remember: with your fingertips, you can control and set a plethora of features. The seats
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| (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
are heated and cooled, up front and at the back; they can fold or recline. In fact, the second row folds completely flat at the push of a button. The pedals are also adjustable and allow the driver to find a better driving position. The tilt/telescoping steering wheel is heated too. As for the on-board computer, there's a lot to entertain the driver: you can program the locking and unlocking of the doors, the interior lighting, the side mirrors with reverse-tilt function and many other settings. In addition, a rear-view camera helps you during your parking maneuvers. However, you have to use it carefully; remember that a good look around with your own eyes is always necessary. You can't rely solely on the image captured by the camera. What else? There's the audio unit, the integrated DVD system, the heating and climate controlled by front and rear passengers... These last features are high-performance accessories that make the interior of the Escalade a user-friendly and pleasant place to ride in.
