- 1. The 2022 Cadillac Escalade suffers from subpar agility
- 2. The 2022 Cadillac Escalade has terrible fuel economy
- 3. The 2022 Cadillac Escalade has a high step-in
- 4. The tall hood hinders visibility
The 2022 Cadillac Escalade is one of the premier luxury SUVs on the North American market, alongside the BMW X7, Lincoln Navigator, and others. Notably, the Escalade generally impresses critics, including Consumer Reports, which likes the luxurious cabin, excellent ride quality, comfortable seats, quiet interior, and other pluses. However, the consumer site still found problems.
1. The 2022 Cadillac Escalade suffers from subpar agility
2022 Cadillac Escalade | Cadillac
A three-row full-size SUV, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade is hulking. The Premium Luxury trim measures 211.9 inches long, 81.1 inches wide, and 76.7 inches tall, Autoblog reports. Those generous dimensions allow the vehicle to have wide front seats, spacious second-row seating, excellent headroom, and even plenty of leg space for second-row passengers.
However, its size costs the Escalade agility, making it a liability in tightly packed parking lots with multiple obstacles. Also, like most large SUVs, the Escalade has significant body lean, especially when cornering too fast. Furthermore, the steering feels disconnected from the wheels, resulting in little driver feedback.
According to Consumer Reports, its saving grace is a well-calibrated electronic stability control system that provides timely intervention whenever the driver pushes the SUV hard around a corner.
2. The 2022 Cadillac Escalade has terrible fuel economy
Although Cadillac offers an optional 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, the Escalade is primarily available with a 6.2-liter V8 harnessing 420 hp. It allows the luxury SUV to get off the line quickly, resulting in a 6.5-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph. That’s impressive for such a large vehicle.
Nevertheless, a powerful engine in a large, heavy vehicle doesn’t equate to good fuel economy. In fact, CR notes the 2022 Escalade gets only 16 mpg. Even the engine’s automatic start/stop system, which should make the SUV more frugal, doesn’t do much good.
Consumer Reports lists a few alternatives that offer better gas mileage. They include the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS, 2022 Buick Enclave, and BMW X7. It’s also worth noting that the Escalade’s smaller 3.0-liter diesel engine available in the lowest trim gets 22 mpg, a considerable improvement. However, it also means a significant dip in power at only 277 hp.
3. The 2022 Cadillac Escalade has a high step-in
Notably, Consumer Reports highlights a couple of things Cadillac has done to ease entry into the vehicle. For instance, the second-row seats slide forward while folded to allow passengers into the third row. Nevertheless, riders still need to duck while boarding. Another example is the large, well-positioned door openings on the front and back with running boards.
There’s even the optional air suspension that can lower the ride height while the SUV is at a standstill. However, all of that doesn’t change the fact that the ride height is still high. And though that might be good for off-roading, it makes getting into the vehicle problematic.
4. The tall hood hinders visibility
Cadillac designed the 2022 Escalade with large windows, which greatly help outward visibility. Nevertheless, some elements still work against the SUV’s overall visibility. One is the tall hood that hampers front visibility, and according to CR, the issue is especially problematic in urban areas.
Drivers might be unable to see smaller people such as children if stopped too close to a pedestrian crossing. The standard pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking systems might help prevent accidents, but driving a vehicle with such a tall hood is still somewhat risky.
Furthermore, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade comes with big side mirrors and thick windshield pillars that get even thicker at the base. Those features make it challenging to see around the vehicle’s front end. Consequently, drivers will need to be careful when turning.