2009 Cadillac Escalade

Cadillac has long been the flag-barer of American luxury. It didn't matter how outrageous the style was, or how much chrome it had, people knew you had money. But tail fins and electronic bobbles do not make a great car, and in the last 20 years, Cadillac's image has suffered. Cheap materials and laughable build quality didn't help either.

But Cadillac has seen the light, and lately, their cars are improving. Cheap plastics have been replaced with expensive plastics, and Cadillac now uses Super Glue to hold its cars together (scotch tape proved unpopular for some reason). And no more fake wood either! Praise the car gods!

Bold styling has returned too. There are sharp, progressive lines and TASTEFUL chrome. Super-bright head and taillights help complete the futuristic look nicely. The flagship model is now an SUV. Which ironically is about the same length and weight as a '59 Fleetwood. America's taste has changed, and Cadillac is changing with it.

The top-of-the-line Cadillac Escalade comes in three flavors; Escalade (similar to the Chevy Tahoe), Escalade EXT (a Chevy Avalanche in a tux) and Escalade ESV (a really expensive Chevy Suburban). They all have the latest features as standard equipment, and their engines make a lot more power than their corporate cousins. But what makes these trucks worth so much more than a similar Chevy? One word; Presence.

You KNOW you're looking at a Cadillac. They exude wealth and style in a way that a Chevy can't. So you're paying to look good essentially. With that out of the way, lets look at the basic differences between the Cadillac and the Chevy.

Escalades get a 6.2L V8 that makes a whopping 403-hp. Thanks to this angry power plant, the Escalade can scream by everything but a gas station. It emits a satisfying growl and makes you feel like you own the road. AWD is available, but unlike the Chevy, it has no low-range. But off-roading in a motorized penthouse suite would be undignified. Standard equipment includes a six-speed automatic with a shift-lever button for manual operation, heated first-and second-row seats and automatic-adjusting shock absorbers. 22-inch wheels are available along with a spring-release option that flips the second-row seats down to provide third-row access. Front-seat cooling, a navigation system with rearview camera, and power-retractable running boards are also available.

Other than the added power and smoother ride, there isn't much difference between the Escalade and its corporate twin. But if keeping up with the Joneses is important to you, a Cadillac Escalade would certainly one-up them. . COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE CADILLAC ESCALADE: Coolant leaks; in 05-07 models, a broken connector clip can cause a leak. While 07 models are known to leak because a drive belt pulley can rub a hole in the radiator vent hose. Electrical problems; 2007, various power equipment can stop working because a wiring harness can get damaged by the seat belt. The backup camera and rear DVD monitors can quit working due to a loose connection. A bad oil pressure sensor can cause an oil leak (2006-2007).