M/T large SUV comparo: Escalade vs. QX80 vs. Range Rover, etc., etc.

[CJ]

The GL is a better value simply because it's not a gaudy Escalade.

[12,000 RPM]

GL looks like it costs half what they charge for it. Name stands for "Good Lawd that thang ugly"

[SVT666]

I don't understand why an Escalade isn't worth $90K but a GL is.

[Tave]

An SUV comparo with zero mention of off-road capability, foul-weather performance, or cargo capacity?

[SVT666]

Virtually no one takes any SUV off road let alone an SUV that costs $100K, and they can only mention foul weather performance if they had foul weather during the test.

[RomanChariot]

I'm just amazed that in just over 15 years Cadillac was able to take the Escalade from being a Yukon with an atrocious nose job to a vehicle capable of winning a comparison against the likes of Mercedes Benz and Range Rover. It may not be everyone's cup of tea and I would never buy one but that is a pretty impressive feat.

[GoCougs]

Putting aside the massive flaw in your argument ( the 550 contains more standard shit and needs less options), I still can't imagine the buyer that says "Oh, I can only afford $95k for a car purchase - $105k is just out of our price range".

So just so you realize, your argument is a $105k vehicle with a twin turbo DOHC V8, unit-body chassis and IRS is "better" than a $90k vehicle with a pooprod N/A V8, BoF chassis and live axle .

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I don't understand why an Escalade isn't worth $90K but a GL is.

   

[giant_mtb]

I'm just amazed that in just over 15 years Cadillac was able to take the Escalade from being a Yukon with an atrocious nose job to a vehicle capable of winning a comparison against the likes of Mercedes Benz and Range Rover. It may not be everyone's cup of tea and I would never buy one but that is a pretty impressive feat.

True that.

[ifcar]

I'm just amazed that in just over 15 years Cadillac was able to take the Escalade from being a Yukon with an atrocious nose job to a vehicle capable of winning a comparison against the likes of Mercedes Benz and Range Rover. It may not be everyone's cup of tea and I would never buy one but that is a pretty impressive feat.

I liked its nose job. The best-looking generation of Escalade in my opinion (on the outside, anyway).

[Submariner]

I don't understand why an Escalade isn't worth $90K but a GL is.

Meh.

Sitting in an Escalade, I get the feeling that everything I see and touch is a veneer over a cheaper car.  The materials look nice and everything (well, according to this article.  The one I sat in was a different story but W/E) feels good to the touch, but after a while the whole truck feels like the 45k Suburban it is. 

And for what it's worth, I quite like the new Suburban.  I just wouldn't pay 100k for what amounts to a high-spec/trim version of it. 

[2o6]

I'm not sure what the big deal is; it's not like the new Luxury cars are head over heels better than Cadillac these days. Most BMW cars are fairly mediocre inside

[Lebowski]

I don't understand why an Escalade isn't worth $90K but a GL is.

They just look and feel like a vastly cheaper/inferior car inside and out to me. I haven't driven the new ones but have seen them including the interior. Plus, Cadillac depreciation and GM customer service.

Like I said, I like the Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban. If I wanted the GM offering I'd go for one of those, but if I'm buying a $90k SUV it won't be a GM/Cadillac, sorry.

[12,000 RPM]

They just look and feel like a vastly cheaper/inferior car inside and out to me. I haven't driven the new ones but have seen them including the interior. Plus, Cadillac depreciation and GM customer service.

Like I said, I like the Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban. If I wanted the GM offering I'd go for one of those, but if I'm buying a $90k SUV it won't be a GM/Cadillac, sorry.

I dont think any of these things aside from the Lexus hold their value

[RomanChariot]

I liked its nose job. The best-looking generation of Escalade in my opinion (on the outside, anyway).

Style preferences aside, the first time I saw the first generation Escalade I literally thought someone had grafted on an aftermarket kit on the front. The build and fit were pretty bad. Of course the Surburban and Yukon of that era weren't exactly pinnacles of quality. GM has come a long ways with these trucks in terms of quality in the last couple of generations.

[Submariner]

They just look and feel like a vastly cheaper/inferior car inside and out to me. I haven't driven the new ones but have seen them including the interior. Plus, Cadillac depreciation and GM customer service.

Like I said, I like the Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban. If I wanted the GM offering I'd go for one of those, but if I'm buying a $90k SUV it won't be a GM/Cadillac, sorry.

New Range Rovers seem to be holding their value quite well. 

[Rich]

[giant_mtb]

I was never a big fan of the Escalade until the GMT900.

[SVT666]

I would like the Slade much more if they ditched the chrome.

[CALL_911]

I was never a big fan of the Escalade until the GMT900.

Same and even then, I'd just take a Suburban or Tahoe LTZ (or better yet, a Yukon Denali)

[ifcar]

Style preferences aside, the first time I saw the first generation Escalade I literally thought someone had grafted on an aftermarket kit on the front. The build and fit were pretty bad. Of course the Surburban and Yukon of that era weren't exactly pinnacles of quality. GM has come a long ways with these trucks in terms of quality in the last couple of generations.

Sorry, I meant the second generation. The first generation didn't even have a different nose from the Yukon Denali.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Same and even then, I'd just take a Suburban or Tahoe LTZ (or better yet, a Yukon Denali)

i hated the headlights on the Denali!

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Sorry, I meant the second generation. The first generation didn't even have a different nose from the Yukon Denali.

in the pics above the first Gen looks better than the second Gen Slade IMO.

[BENZ BOY15]

Lol a privately chauffeured car anywhere in the U.S. means big money.

Yes, if you're going to have a chauffeur I agree the escalade is the choice out of this group. I don't think all that many consumer escalade buyers have private chauffeurs.

Most people that buy an SUV like that want to be in charge and driving it....not sitting in the backseat observing somebody else.  Sure, some ultra rich people want to be driven around but I'd venture a guess that most don't want that with these types of cars, even if they could afford it.

But man. Almost $100K for an Escalade.

One does wonder how many are all cash and for the financed ones, what the terms are.

[Tave]

Virtually no one takes any SUV off road let alone an SUV that costs $100K, and they can only mention foul weather performance if they had foul weather during the test.

I don't think anyone forced them to do a late-spring test.

They're still selling the idea/image of the ruggedly-capable SUV regardless of what people use them for, I'd much rather read about hilarious stories of them being tested off-road rather than mag racing .1 second 0-60 splits and negligible mpg variances.

Crowning a "winner" based in large part on microscopic differences between 13-15 mpg and 5-6 second acceleration runs is just silly.

[CALL_911]

You can't turn your head in this town without seeing a Mercedes GL. Shit, like 3-4 familes on my block alone have GLs. I actually don't mind the 1st gen, but I really dislike the 2nd gen.

[Cookie Monster]

I don't think anyone forced them to do a late-spring test.

They're still selling the idea/image of the ruggedly-capable SUV regardless of what people use them for, I'd much rather read about hilarious stories of them being tested off-road rather than mag racing .1 second 0-60 splits and negligible mpg variances.

Crowning a "winner" based in large part on microscopic differences between 13-15 mpg and 5-6 second acceleration runs is just silly.

I get what you're saying and would have liked to see an offroad or utility test as well, but I think they're testing what these SUV's are more catered towards.

Plus, foul weather tests are pointless. What car, other than sports cars, can't stand up to some crappy weather? Pretty much any new mainstream car on decent tires will get through most snow and rain since they all have all the electronic nannies and whatnots. I don't think you'd see a huge difference between the field in crappy weather tests.

[Submariner]

You can't turn your head in this town without seeing a Mercedes GL. Shit, like 3-4 familes on my block alone have GLs. I actually don't mind the 1st gen, but I really dislike the 2nd gen.

The first, especially in G550 trim looked really good.  The second one...I'm not so sure.

[r0tor]

I would have loved to see the Rover and the Lexus offroading compared to the rest

[Morris Minor]

Consumer Reports did not like the Escalade - main complaints were ride ruined by big rims, & occupants cramped for space between the overstuffed seats, doors & console. They thought a loaded Suburban LTZ was nicer/better/cheaper.