Cadillac Escalade EXT Review

The Cadillac Escalade EXT is a luxury pickup truck, which at first might come off as a strange vehicle classification. But when Cadillac was revamping the Escalade in 2002, the company explored different ways to take advantage of the luxury SUV's street cred and runaway popularity. So it spun off the model every which way to maximize the Escalade badge -- hence, the EXT.

One part full-size luxury SUV and one part crew-cab pickup, the Escalade EXT is the only vehicle of its kind in the mid-$50,000 luxury market. Overwhelmingly massive and surprisingly functional, the EXT is the ultimate niche vehicle, and it has found a healthy audience for the limited number that Cadillac builds each year.

Current Cadillac Escalade EXT

Mechanically related to the Chevrolet Avalanche, the Cadillac Escalade EXT comes in three trim levels (base, Luxury and Premium) and one body style: a four-door crew-cab pickup. From the rear doors forward, it is essentially a standard Escalade and is equipped with the same suspension and powertrain. The latter consists of a 6.2-liter V8 (403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque) mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

From the rear doors back, the EXT is a pickup. A special "Midgate" system allows greater cargo capacity -- the rear seats and rear window fold down, which enables the storage of longer items. An automatic tonneau cover protects items from the elements. The EXT is also equipped with 18-inch wheels, HID headlights and automatic suspension damping.

Inside the cabin, the EXT is all luxury, with leather upholstery, wood trim and 14-way power and heated seats. Tri-zone climate control and a 10-speaker Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system with in-dash CD changer are also standard. A navigation system with touchscreen operation, real-time traffic and rearview camera is also included. Moving up through the trim levels brings even more luxury features such as a heated steering wheel, 22-inch chrome wheels, adaptive suspension, power-retracting side steps and a rear-seat entertainment system.

In road tests, we found that the Cadillac Escalade EXT offers a gratifying driving experience, especially for a large luxury truck/SUV. Given its size and mass, you'd expect some difficulty in the handling department, but the EXT's steering is light and predictable. By no means is it a nimble vehicle, but it's stable and controlled over all but extremely rough surfaces. With its big-time V8, acceleration is brisk from nearly any speed, which is remarkable for an SUV that weighs nearly 6,000 pounds. As one would expect, gas consumption is quite poor.

Used Cadillac Escalade EXT models

The current (second) generation Escalade EXT was introduced for 2007. Two years later, the EXT received E85 fuel compatibility, newly standard navigation (with real-time traffic) and other features such as a side blind-spot alert system, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity and adaptive dampers (for models equipped with 22-inch wheels). For '10, the Escalade EXT gained two new trim levels (Luxury and Premium), a USB port for the audio system and Active Fuel Management for the big V8. The latter technology improved fuel mileage by 1 mpg compared to the earlier model years by shutting down up to four cylinders under light demand conditions.

The original 2002-'06 Cadillac Escalade EXT wasn't as refined as the current model but it did establish itself with its innovative Midgate. In terms of passenger room and cargo bed versatility, this truck is very similar to the current one. It was powered by a smaller 6.0-liter V8 that made 345 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission was standard. And while the new EXT is equipped with rack-and-pinion steering, the first-gen model had a recirculating-ball setup, which meant the vehicle had a less responsive steering feel.

Because of a number of upgrades in 2003, passing on the '02 model might be wise. The '03 and up EXTs came with an improved interior, better safety equipment and new features like HID headlights and an optional rear-seat entertainment system. The power-operated tonneau cover first appeared in 2006.