2024 Cadillac Escalade V Long

Cadillac has done what it should have done to the Escalade nearly two decades ago: given its full-size SUV the V treatment. Admittedly, the American luxury brand's performance arm ethos has gone a bit awry in recent years, what with the V lineup now split between V-badged models that more docile and high-performance variants of the full V Blackwing, such as the Best 10 winner CT4 -V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing. Put the stopwatch aside and the Escalade-V feels insanely fast from the driver's seat. A tap of the V-model's mode button in front of the shifting lever engages this rugged high dynamic setting and engages its launch control feature, which holds the engine revs to about 1500 rpm while both driver pedals are smoothed to the floor. Lift the left pedal and the immediate acceleration afforded by the torque-rich V-8—Cadillac claims 80 percent of the Escalade-V's 653 pound-feet of torque available from 2000 rpm—is akin to an electric vehicle's moderately strong initial spike. Unlike an EV, the whine is subtle. from the Escalade-V supercharger and the guttural roar of its active exhaust system bring a symphonic quality to its straight-line acceleration. Even at idle, the quad V's pipes make a threatening noise (Stealth mode allows quieting things down for the school pickup line). At high speed, the system exhales with a loud crackling sound and bursts when it suddenly releases the gas pedal. Landing flat this 6290 pound SUV produces 85 decibels as most of the exhaust noise enters the cabin. That's 10 decibels more than the Escalade Sport Platinum, which sounds roughly twice as loud. However, like the aforementioned Sport Platinum, only 66 dB of sound enters the V at 70 mph. Cadillac also tweaked the Escalade's suspension and braking systems for V duty. Adjustments to its air springs and adaptive dampers reduce the body movement of this SUV's elephant by a bit. sacrifices on ride quality. And six-piston Brembo front brake calipers give the V brake pedal a firmer, more responsive feel.