2005 Cadillac Escalade

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A full-size luxury SUV , Cadillac's Escalade probably tops the list as the luxury vehicle with the most appearances in rap videos and it still has popular common appeal as an icon of wealth and success. And why not? It is an ultimate vehicle; behemoth power, industry leading luxury, state-of-the-art interior gadgetry and on the outside, most important for some… style.

Escalade's 2002 U.S. sales went up 15.5 percent from 2001. Cadillac hopes this number continues to rise. For 2005, to keep on the edge of style, they have updated interior trim and added some exterior details, they still pack a mammoth collection of standard features into every model, and they have upgraded the cooling system. The high-tech electronics return, XM satellite radio, with its 100 coast-to-coast digital channels, is still standard, a touch-screen navigation system, and DVD entertainment. All the trimmings are available for the Escalade.

Available Models
The 2005 Cadillac Escalade is the core model for the family, with rear- and all-wheel-drive versions available, both with V8 engines but different ones. The extended Escalade ESV and ESV Platinum and the crossover Escalade EXT are reviewed separately.

Interior Features
The brawny, four-door 2005 Cadillac Escalade is large and striking. With a second-row bench seat instead of the now-standard bucket seats, the Escalade can fit eight passengers. All four bucket seats are heated and powered with lumbar and side-hugging settings.

As a luxury SUV, the 2005 Cadillac Escalade continues to be filled with luxury as standard equipment. Some of the names from the long list include the OnStar System, air conditioning with tri-zone automatic climate control (including rear controls), a tilt leather-wrapped/wood steering wheel with radio controls, leather upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, a memory system (driver seat, pedals, mirrors), rear radio controls and a Bose AM/FM/cassette player with in-dash 6-disc CD changer.

A DVD rear-entertainment system is optional, as is a DVD navigation system. The former features a 7-inch flip-down screen and the latter is now touch-screen controlled, replacing a joystick.

Exterior Features
With its big front grill, massive lights and overall size, the Escalade certainly cuts an imposing figure. Standard chrome exhaust tips and available 20-inch chrome alloy wheels top off the detailing.

Performance
Rear-wheel drive Cadillac Escalade models have a 5.3-liter Vortec V8 engine that doles out 285 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Models with all-wheel drive get a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engine with 345 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. A 4-speed automatic transmission gets the big guy efficiently up to speed pretty quickly but it's thirsty 13/18 mpg (city/hwy).

The Escalade is not only powerful; it is also smart. An advanced multiplexed electrical architecture greatly reduces the number of wires, splices and connectors, minimizes weight, and improves packaging efficiency, reliability and durability.

Safety and Security
Naturally, with all the other details, the designers haven't forgotten about safety. The 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT features antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, antiskid, traction control, rear-obstacle detection dual front and front-side airbags, and a tire-pressure monitor.