Cadillac
The 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT not only looks great, it has useful features that make driving it a fun experience.

Escalade moves Cadillac into different realm

Devon Baker, For The Olympian

Originally published Saturday, April 13, 2002

SEATTLE -- Within the last year Cadillac has changed its image that catered to primarily an older and much more conservative audience.

Although the company still produces models such as the DeVille, Seville and Eldorado, it has made some innovative changes in the Cadillac's exterior and interior designs.

The Cadillac's roadster XLR, CTS sedan and Escalade EXT are among the most unexpected and pleasing automotive designs to hit the market for years. The Cadillac design team's trademark style of using angular exterior elements, sharp creases and the five-point Cadillac grille won them Autoweek editor's choice for Best Concept Car at the 2002 NAIAS Detroit Show. Though the car known as the CIEN was the model that caught the eye of critics at the show, the same tough character is used in the Cadillac Escalade EXT.

The Cadillac Escalade EXT was a welcome change to my usual driving schedule. The first thing I noticed about the EXT was its similarities to the Chevy Avalanche. Both offer seating for five, and both have an exterior short bed. Though they are similar, the extra touches on the stylish Cadillac reflect the obvious differences.

The extended wheel wells, the fortified proportions and its elegant grille and chrome accents make the Cadillac Escalade EXT great for a night on the town or weekend camping in the mountains. I don't know. With a pricey beast like this I would rather carry it over puddles and wait until the dirt roads were paved.

The expandable cargo bed extends the carrying capacity by nearly 3 feet. That feature lets you carry large items like drywall, bed frames, building supplies and other stuff that automatically drain your bank account. The cargo cover is removable in segments. Although it's easy to take off, it is a tad too heavy to cart around easily. Storage compartments on each side of the cargo cover offer more space for carrying first aid kits, road safety items, or whatever.

The interior is made for pure comfort. I had no problem in heavy city traffic because, besides having all the amenities of home with the exception of a toilet, I also sat high enough to see what was ahead. I felt a bit sorry for the poor guy behind me, but my extreme comfort far outweighed the twinges of guilt.

How do I measure comfort? Start with a warm, comfortable environment and ample use of leather and Zebrano wood trim. Then there are the 10-way power leather seats with heated cushions and backrests for both driver and front passenger. There's also a large storage compartment between the two front seats that also doubles as an armrest. The controls are easy to reach and well marked for quick decisions.

I found it a bit troublesome to have the CD player near my knees when in heavy traffic. Luckily the rest of the radio controls are at the top of the middle console and on the steering wheel. Some of the other interior features include one-year OnStar premium service, Bose premium music system with cassette and in-dash six-disc CD, rear seat audio and earphones, electronic climate control, ultrasonic rear park assist, power windows, power sunroof, power folding heated mirrors with lamps and power door locks. I'm proud to say there was nothing that involved the use of actual muscles. With a price tag of $52, 535, I didn't want to move a finger...with exception of my "driving finger."

The performance was exceptional. The 6.0-liter LQ9 V8 with 345 horsepower was very responsive, so hills, highway travel and passing were a breeze. The gas mileage of 12 mpg in city and 15 mpg highway hurt my wallet, but paid me back in ego.

Thankfully the Escalade EXT could take large potholes in stride, and it also took corners at a relatively faster speed that most SUVs. Part of the reason was its impressive all-wheel drive with automatic adjusting torque split, and the lack of top weight thanks to the exterior cargo bed.

Because of the lack of visibility towards the rear section, the EXT includes ultrasonic rear park assist. I did have to parallel park a few times, and the park assist worked like a charm.

The 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT is fun to drive, rugged and offers luxurious amenities that surpasses that of other SUVs in its class. All it takes is one test-drive and you'll be hooked just like I was.

Devon Baker is a Seattle-based automotive writer.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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