THE ONE We've Been Waiting For

THE INTERIOR OF THE NEW CADDY FLAGSHIP IS REVOLUTIONARY, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING

- ALISA PRIDDLE

In 2019, it was the Chevrolet Corvette that we were desperate to see, and the wait seemed interminable. This year it’s the opposite end of the vehicular spectrum that had us transfixed: The big daddy of bling, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, had us waiting, wondering, worrying it might not live up to the hype.

The fifth-generation Escalade, on sale this summer, has the future of the franchise riding on its upsized 22-inch wheels.

It’s not easy styling a massive SUV, but Cadillac has continued its “Y” branding strategy, where it offers both a luxury and a sport variant for each nameplate.

The Luxury models have the expected chrome and other bright bits, but the bling factor has actually been dialed back, and the result is a more sophisticated look for a mature vehicle.

Escalade’s first foray into Sport offers enough blacked-out features to differentiate the model with tasteful restraint. It would be easy to put an intimidating grille on an already massive vehicle, but designers kept the proportions measured. As the grille and wheels grew, the Cadillac crest emblem was also upsized. Designers were cognizant that Escalade buyers like a powerful-looking SUV, which in turn makes them feel powerful driving it. But consumers also wanted more sophistication in the evolution of the exterior design. The headlights have simple yet intricate layers, giving them depth but not too much jewelry.

Big, slabby sides are a challenge with a three-row full-size SUV. Effort was taken to add some slimming character lines, concave door sculpting, and a jaunty outline of the greenhouse with a kick-up at the C-pillar. These measures were important, given that the vehicle grew longer and taller—and this is the short-wheelbase version. We have yet to see the stretched Escalade ESV.