A couple of weeks ago I got the chance to test out one of the most amazing vehicles on the market..the 2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV Full Size SUV. My family and I were headed on a 5 hour road trip to attend a blogging conference in Dallas, Texas and we were really able to test the Escalade and all of it’s features out.
When the Escalade was dropped off, I was in awe at how gorgeous it was. The Color, the size and all of the details on the Escalade made this SUV really stand out among all of the others on the road. My initial impression of the vehicle was that it was massive and I knew that even with five people traveling (3 adults and two kids) we were all going to be very comfortable and I was right. There is so much room in this vehicle not only with seating and legroom but also the storage. This SUV features three rows that seats up to eight comfortably and still leaves 45.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind that third row seat. The back of the Escalade was able to fit about three suitcases, an ice chest and a few toys and we still had more than enough space. If for some reason you needed more room and you weren’t using the third row, the seats can be folded down for extra space.
The Cadillac Escalade itself is beautiful, drives like a dream and has all of the features that I would want in a vehicle but I wondered just how safe it was. When traveling it is very important for me that my family be as safe as possible. I was extremely happy to see that the Cadillac Escalade scored a 4 out of 5 stars with the Government 5-Star Safety Ratings.
Features I Loved About the Cadillac Escalade:
–It rides so smoothly and quiet– I own an SUV and the one thing that I don’t like about it is that it is so loud inside, you can hear everything when your on the road. This is not the case with the Escalade, you don’t hear anything outside and it feels like your riding on a cloud.
–Heated and Cooled Leather Seats and Heated Steering Wheel. Not only does your seats heat up when it’s cold outside but they heat up fast. We were able to really use this feature while in Dallas and I loved that little extra luxury.
–Rearview Camera-I am going to admit that I have backed into numerous things that I did not see behind my car over the years. I love the added sense of security with being able to see behind the SUV.
–OnStar Navigation System which is only available in GM Vehicles. This made getting from point A to Point B so much easier with just the push of a button. The OnStar operator would input the address, town or landmark that we requested and send the directions directly to the Navigation system. When your in a big city like Dallas this can be a life-saver and it was.
–Remote Vehicle Start-When it’s cold outside in the morning, the last thing I want to do is walk outside to heat the car up. With remote start I can start the car with the remote without leaving my living room.
–Rear Seat DVD Entertainment System-This was one of my kids favorite parts about the whole trip. They were able to watch their favorite movies on one of the two screens in the back of the Escalade. Also included were headphones for each of the kids so that my husband and I could still listen to the radio while their movie played.
–Powerlift Gate-I can’t tell you how many times I have had my hands full and need to unload something into the back of my SUV. You don’t ever have to worry about this problem with the Escalade because with just a push of a button the back door opens up and goes back down.
Final Thoughts:
After driving the Cadillac Escalade ESV for a week I am completely sold on this SUV. While I am not currently in the market for a new vehicle if I were this would be one of my top choices. It’s a great family vehicle and gives a mom all the space that she needs without having to sacrifice for the “mom van”. There is plenty of room for all of the kids, groceries, animals and whatever else you need to make life more comfortable. I am also pleased with the gas mileage of the Escalade, we were able to go around 350 miles on one tank. I was really sad when I had to give my loaner back because I felt like the Queen of the Road while driving the Escalade. It’s an amazing vehicle and one you should definitely consider on your next SUV purchase.
For more information on the Cadillac Escalade ESV and other GMC Vehicles be sure to visit http://drivingtheheartland.com/. You can also stay updated by following Cadillac on Twitter www.twitter.com/Cadillac.
*Cadillac loaned us the above vehicle for an extended test. No other compensation, gas or gift cards were received for this review. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own.