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Longer than last year by 1.4 inches, wider by 1.5 inches and heavier by about 100 pounds, the 2015 Escalade (from $72,690, including destination) carries eight, tows up to 8,300 pounds and accelerates from zero to 60 in 6.1 seconds.
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On the outside, the edges and angles of Cadillac’s Art and Science design language bring an assertive edge to its blocky lines. Inside, an army of digital interfaces nests comfortably among the high-grade, cut-and-sewn leathers, genuine wood trim and lush soft-touch surfaces.
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A two-mode air suspension helps control the Escalade’s bulk but never really tames it. Roll stiffness dialed into the chassis reduces body lean during cornering but contributes to a ride that can grow brittle on rough surfaces, a tendency exacerbated by the optional 22-inch wheels.
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New owners must resign themselves to an electronics learning curve. Cadillac’s Cadillac User Experience (CUE) is a touch-screen system that uses proximity sensors to detect the approach of a user’s hand and automatically serve up a context-based menu. It’s powerful and elegant in theory, but its voice-recognition function may be its saving grace.
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Triple-sealed doors, acoustic laminate glass and Bose Active Noise Cancelation cut wind and road noise. The latest version of OnStar includes 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi. A new four-wheel-drive system has an Auto mode that automatically engages the two-speed transfer case when road conditions grow iffy. There are separate, driver-activated modes for difficult (4 Hi ) and normal (2 Hi) conditions.
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A two-mode air suspension helps control the Escalade’s bulk but never really tames it. Roll stiffness dialed into the chassis reduces body lean during cornering but contributes to a ride that can grow brittle on rough surfaces, a tendency exacerbated by the optional 22-inch wheels. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Escalade’s 420-horsepower V-8 returns EPA ratings of 17 mpg combined (15 city/21 highway); 4WD trims are rated at 16 mpg combined (14 city/21 highway).
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