Cadillac Escalade 6.2 V8 Platinum 5dr Car Review - March 2012

With a power output of 409bhp at 5700 rpm and a torque figure of 415 lb-ft at 4300 pm, the Cadillac Escalade 6.2 V8 Platinum delivers impressive top speeds and acceleration figures considering its size and weight. Unfortunately, the Cadillac suffers from a lack of body control and steering is largely unresponsive. Imperfections in the road are largely ironed out by the suspension.

The V8 engine is capable of pushing the 4x4 to a limited top speed of 106 mph - rest assured that without a limiter the Escalade could go much faster. One of the car’s strongest attributes, however, is its quick acceleration, hitting 62 mph in just 6.7 seconds.

The large engine is quiet, improving driver and passenger comfort. Unfortunately, wind noise can be a problem at high speed thanks to the Escalade's poor aerodynamics.

Unfortunately, rear visibility is poor and is restricted by the design of the vehicle and the large seating capacity. Some of the internal instruments are also difficult to operate and a lack of adjustment in the steering wheel means driver comfort is not as good as it could be.

One of the biggest advantages of this vehicle is that it offers a hugh amount of kit as standard. Everything from central locking and power steering to an advanced stereo system with MP3 connectivity and a built-in sat nav are provided as standard features, ensuring that the car’s cabin is both comfortable and practical.

Other standard features include stability control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors, an alarm and an immobiliser. Leather seats and metallic paint are also included which help to improve the appearance of the car.

The standard additions of stability control and cruise control help to keep the car safe on the road and are combined with other great safety features. These include driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard whilst an alarm and immobiliser help to protect the vehicle from thieves.

With an eight seat capacity, this Cadillac offers a large amount of space. The back row is restricted to child passengers only, however, with a lack of shoulder room making it uncomfortable for the average adult. The boot capacity is also impaired by the additional seats with just 98 litres offered when all the seats are in place. Removing the seats increases this capacity to 1,707 litres but is difficult to achieve due to the fact seats must be removed rather than simply folded down.

Priced at £74,994 the Escalade is marginally dearer than Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autobiography Sport. Specifications between the two rival models are fairly even, with the Cadillac offering marginally lower carbon emissions and achieving an extra 0.5 mpg fuel consumption whilst the Land Rover has a much higher top speed of 140 mph.

Unfortunately the Cadillac doesn’t hold its value well and that means depreciation will be high.

The high-performance engine lacks efficiency as well and this makes it expensive to run. Fuel is consumed quickly and the model achieves just 19.5 mpg. Carbon emissions of 339g/km also puts the Escalade in the highest tax band, M.