2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV REVIEW
Powerful and unapologetically American, the Cadillac Escalade ESV is the Big Kahuna of the Escalade luxury SUV family. Everything about it is massive, from its extended wheelbase to its V8 engine and Bose sound system. Introduced in 2003 as a variant of the regular Escalade, the ESV broadens the Escalade's appeal by offering the absolute maximum in passenger room and cargo space.

WALKAROUND
No wonder celebs, athletes and moguls are enticed by the Cadillac Escalade ESV. Available in a single trim level, the luxury SUV pampers like few vehicles can. It is vast and plush. As the upscale sibling to the Chevrolet Suburban, the identically sized ESV offers three rows of seating and can accommodate up to eight people. To facilitate access to the third row, Cadillac offers an optional power fold-and-flip function for the ESV's second-row seats. With this kind of seating capability, the Cadillac Escalade ESV is understandably popular with family buyers as well. The interior comes with finely stitched leather upholstery, faux wood trim and loads of standard features, including tri-zone automatic climate control, 14-way power and heated front seats, a touchscreen navigation system with a rearview camera and real-time traffic, and a Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system with 10 speakers and an in-dash CD/DVD changer. There are some low-grade plastics here and there, but in general, the Escalade ESV's cabin feels suitably upscale for a vehicle with a $60K price tag. In addition, even with all this technology on board, the control layout remains simple and user-friendly.

OPTIONS
Factory options include 22-inch chrome wheels (as an upgrade from the standard 18s), a sunroof, multilevel cooling for the front seats and a heated power-tilting steering wheel. Unfortunately, the third-row seats don't fold flat into the floor. Although cumbersome to lift, the third-row bench's 50/50 sections are removable; with them removed, the ESV provides 90 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold and flip the second-row chairs out of the way and there's a maximum capacity of 137 cubic feet. With all the seats in place, there are still 46 cubic feet available in this extended-length Escalade. Power for the Cadillac Escalade ESV comes from the same 6.2-liter V8 engine found in the standard Escalade. It churns out 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. A heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission is standard, with rear- and all-wheel drive available.

SUMMARY
In road tests, we found the ESV performs very much like the standard Escalade, even with its extended wheelbase. As big SUVs go, it's a gratifying driving package. Given the ESV's size and mass, you'd expect some difficulty in the handling department, but the Escalade ESV's rack-and-pinion steering is light and precise. By no means is it a nimble vehicle, but it's stable and controlled and provides a comfortable ride. With its big-time V8, power comes on in a deluge under full throttle, despite the fact that the ESV weighs nearly 6,000 pounds.

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