2011 Cadillac Escalade

From the front, Cadillac has done a good job taking the Art & Science theme that's prevailed in Cadillac's cars over the past several years, and adapting it to a very luxurious truck design. The tall grille, flanked by large headlights wrapping upward, calls out Cadillac from blocks away, while up close the ports alongside the fenders are ornate and showy. While wheel wells aren't flared as much as in some other luxury-vehicle designs, the wheels themselves are like glitzy rolling jewels—huge 22-inchers on much of the model line.

The two primary versions of the 2011 Cadillac Escalade share the same basic look, but the Escalade ESV is about 20 inches long, giving it a slightly different sense of proportion.

The huge, thirsty 6.2-liter V-8 in the Escalade makes 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque, which allows the Escalade to dash to 60 mph in only about 6.5 seconds, according to some sources, even though it weighs nearly 6,000 pounds in some trims. The engine's willing companion—most of the time—is a responsive six-speed automatic transmission.

Magnetic Ride Control is offered on most of the Escalade lineup, and it's the key to enabling the ridiculously huge 22-inch tire-and-wheel combinations that the model is known for, while allowing it to ride in a way that won't bust your bum—and handle remarkably well. While the Escalade is hardly maneuverable, it corners with a verve and responsiveness that will catch driving enthusiasts completely off guard.

Whether in the first or second row, seats are generously sized and supportive, with enough comfort for all-day trips. Larger passengers will welcome the Escalade's abundant elbow and shoulder room. Throughout the Escalade model line, the second row is barely a downgrade from the front, and in the ESV, the third row is spacious enough, though getting back there can be difficult. In some trims, the second row includes a power-release feature that makes getting to the third row quite a bit easier. But there's one big if you often need to reconfigure for varied ratios of passengers and cargo, the Escalade can be a bear due to its third-row seats that need to be removed and stored, not folded.

The high driving position is a refreshing departure from many newer, somewhat claustrophobic and high-shouldered crossover designs, and the Escalade's instument panel sits low and is attractive and carlike.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn't yet tested the Escalade, but this SUV has received quite good ratings in the new, more stringent testing NCAP testing system from the federal government. In it, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a four stars overall, including five stars for frontal impact and five stars for side impact. It was apparently graded down only for its three-star rollover calculation. But it also received top five-star rating in the new side pole test, which gauges the chances of injury in a sideways collision with a tree or pole.

The center console is wide enough to set a laptop on, and the Cadillac Escalade includes standard heated power seats, tri-zone climate control, power-adjustable pedals, and a magnificent-sounding Bose system with USB port.

Think of the base model as providing all the traditional luxury and convenience items—along with, of course, the top-notch trims and interior materials that are included in the Escalade. Luxury models add Magnetic Ride Control (a must-have in our opinion) plus 22-inch wheels, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, and IntelliBeam headlamps. Premium models add DVD entertainment and a Side Blind Zone Alert system. But for those who must have tech, along with a unique, no-holds-barred look, the Platinum is the way to go; it adds unique chromed 22-inchers, special Tehama anilene leather, heated and cooled cupholders, LED headlamps, a leather-trimmed instrument panel, and many other appearance and trim upgrades.

So it's a little ironic that, if you don't want to guzzle nearly as much, there's an option: the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, which gets an EPA-rated 20 mpg city, 23 highway and is bound to give card-carrying Union of Concerned Scientists members a sigh of relief. While the Escalade Hybrid has been a very low-volume vehicle thus far, its very existence was enough for us to bump the Escalade's Green Rating up a couple of notches for that model.