The 2013 Cadillac Escalade comes with a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmission are standard. In Edmunds performance testing, an all-wheel-drive Escalade took just 7.5 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph, an impressive number for this size vehicle. Properly equipped, two-wheel-drive versions can tow a healthy 8,300 pounds. The EPA estimates 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive.
The Escalade's cabin, highlighted by supple leather upholstery and attractive faux wood and alloy trim, looks and feels more luxurious than a Tahoe or Yukon's interior. The gauges and controls are well-placed and intuitive in operation, and there are plenty of luxurious features to keep drivers and passengers comfortable and entertained.
Interior features include remote ignition, tri-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-only steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, heated and ventilated 10-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, driver memory functions, heated second-row captain's chairs, leather upholstery, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Additional features include a rearview camera, Bluetooth, OnStar, a navigation system, a touchscreen interface, and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack, an iPod/USB audio interface and rear audio controls.
The Escalade Luxury adds 22-inch wheels, a magnetically controlled adaptive suspension, automatic high beams, a blind-spot warning system, a sunroof, power flip-and-fold second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. Options include power-retractable side steps and a rear-seat entertainment system with a single display.
Standard safety features on the 2013 Cadillac Escalade include stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, front side-impact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and OnStar emergency telematics. A blind-spot warning system is standard on all but the base model.