Cadillac cars 2014 Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade is a legend in multiple segments: as a celebrity limousine, a wealthy outdoorsman’s shuttle and do-it-all hauler for large families. These core attributes continue for the new model year with detail revisions to the LED lights front and back and two new grille designs in the higher-dollar models.

The Cadillac’s exterior style and enhanced image is the main justification for its prices at the very top of the GM SUV line that also includes the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC Yukon. The Escalade also has unique interior trims, much better noise/vibration/harshness ratings and top-level performance to match its flashy chrome exterior.

The Cadillac brings serious levels of style, luxury and power with a better drivetrain than its cheaper siblings, standard air suspension with electronically adjustable dampers and even magnetic ride control on the top Platinum model.

So the Escalade is a shortcut to get the most loaded truck possible. Making most options standard at the Cadillac’s $65,000 base price also ratchets up the competition to the seven-passenger Range Rover Sport, the Infiniti QX56 and the aging Lincoln Navigator.

Does the flagship Cadillac SUV still capture buyer wants and needs in the final years before its replacement in 2015?

Click past the jump for the full review of the 2014 Escalade and 2014 Escalade ESV with photo comparisons of the three available grille finishes.

Exterior

The Escalade ESV "extended" shares all styling with the normal model aside from a length stretch and rear doors that do not have a cutout for the wheel arch. The ESV is more imposing with less top-heaviness about the design and generally is priced only $2,500 more than the shorter Caddy.

The Escalade’s top two trims in both lengths (Premium and Platinum) have a new grille design that is sharper and more defined than the base model’s grille. The lower two trims stick with the bumper/grille combo with individual egg-crate grille that looks less current.