Cadillac Escalade Premium 4WD

Even though it shares parts with lesser GM products, the 2020 Escalade is unmistakably a luxury SUV. Along with its chrome-laden shell, the Escalade has a host of upscale standard features such as a leather interior, heated and ventilated front seats, self-parking assist, and more. Every Slade is motivated by a gutsy V-8 that pairs with rear- or all-wheel drive and can tow up to a hefty 8300 pounds. Both short- and long-wheelbase versions can fit up to eight people, but the extended Escalade ESV has a roomier third row and more cargo space. The Caddy looks snazzier than its corporate cousins—the GMC Yukon and the Chevy Tahoe—but it's considerably more expensive and its ride isn't any more refined. Although the 2020 Cadillac Escalade evokes the Hollywood lifestyle, it doesn't truly deliver the red-carpet experience.

Cadillac lightly updated the Escalade for 2020 with only a smattering of changes. Along with a new Dark Mocha metallic paint color, which costs extra, the lineup adds a new appearance package called the Sport Edition. The get-up is only available in Red Passion, Satin Steel, and Black Rave. However, that unlocks gloss-black trim to the front end, around the side windows, and on the rear. While we've glimpsed the interior of the next-gen model and spied a prototype testing, Cadillac hasn't officially revealed the upcoming 2021 Escalade.

Behind the Escalade's giant sparkling grille sits a mighty 420-hp V-8 engine connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Together, they push this plus-size SUV with authority and can tow up to 8300 pounds. Rear-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is optional. In our testing, the Escalade was always responsive, and the transmission handled gearchanges without fuss. At cruising speeds, the Slade was quiet and refined. Despite a set of standard adaptive dampers, the Escalade never felt as convincingly comfortable as its branding and price would suggest. To be clear, the Caddy never felt explicitly uncomfortable. However, the way it shivered over uneven surfaces and how harsh bumps infiltrated the cabin are unacceptable. At least the Escalade is composed around corners—just don't launch it onto an exit ramp above the posted speed limit. The steering effort felt lighter than we found on the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon, which made the Escalade easier to operate at low speeds. Unfortunately, that lack of directness allowed the Cadillac to wander in its lane on the highway. The brake pedal had smooth and strong responses that we appreciated on daily commutes.