2013 Cadillac Escalade

As one of the last few truly truck-based luxury SUVs left on the market, the Cadillac Escalade makes varied impressions. Its boxy look and rugged body extend clearly to GM's other full-size SUVs, like the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon, but many of its luxury-car details and bright-chrome trim pieces assert that this is more of a true luxury vehicle.

On the outside, the Escalade is a little intimidating--a tall wall of chrome and rather slab-sided sheetmetal, with large headlamps extending upward. But some of the details are more disarming; for instance, the ports alongside the fenders are ornate and showy, while the huge 22-inch wheels are rolling jewelry.

With a huge (and thirsty) 6.2-liter V-8, making 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque, the Escalade can move quickly--to 60 mph in only about 6.5 seconds, according to some sources, even though its weight can total almost 6,000 pounds. Key to that is that the engine makes loads of low-rpm torque, and that the six-speed automatic transmission functions as a willing companion most of the time. And all the while, the V-8 has a rumbly, uncommon (for a luxury vehicle) muscle-car note.

Even with the huge 22-inch wheels that many Escalades come with, GM chassis engineers have managed to give this huge SUV a surprisingly responsive driving character thanks to Magnetic Ride Control, which is offered on most of the Escalade lineup and strongly recommended. While the Escalade is hardly maneuverable, it corners with a verve that will catch driving enthusiasts completely off guard. And thanks to large, powerful brakes, you can also sometimes temporarily forget about the Escalade's heft when stopping.

The Escalade is huge and imposing from the outside, but that does pay off inside, translating to a roomy, comfortable interior that's also luxury-car plush and reasonably quiet. Just be aware that if you want cargo versatility and folding seats, this might not be the right pick.

You sit quite high in the front seat, with a rather low belt and dash--a refreshing departure from the many borderline claustrophobic designs with low positions and high beltlines. Whether in the front row or the second row, seats are wide, generously sized, and supportive, with good comfort for long hauls. Thanks the the Escalade's width, there's an airiness that you won't find in many other crossovers or SUVs.

The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is hardly a newly engineered design; its traditional body-on-frame layout dates back to the 2007 model year and hasn't seen any major structural changes since. But GM got this one right from the start; even with today's tougher federal crash-test system, the Escalade gets top ratings.

In frontal, side, and even side pole tests from the feds, the Escalade earned five stars. And although it earned a four-star score overall, that's only because of its mathematically determined rollover score.

The Escalade is a luxury vehicle in look and feel no matter which of its trims you choose; but opting for one of the high-end models, or some of the appearance options, may give you the feeling that you're driving something even more exclusive.

Executive-car services and those who simply want an Escalade in the garage will be happy with the base level equipment, which includes standard heated power seats, tri-zone climate control, power-adjustable pedals, and a magnificent-sounding Bose system with USB port. The center console is wide enough to set a laptop on, and there's of course plenty of elbow room.

The Cadillac Escalade, a few years ago, became quite the polarizing vehicle. At one end were those who wanted to be seen in something bold and blingy; and at the other end were those who saw it as a sort of anti-green symbol.

But that latter group might have thought differently about it if they knew about the 2013 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid; it gets an EPA-rated 20 mpg city, 23 highway--better than many much smaller vehicles. The down side is that you get very little overt badging to tell others that you're in the less-thirsty version.