2012 Cadillac Escalade Total Car Score Analysis

The 2012 Cadillac Escalade earns a top Total Car Score in the Ultra Luxury SUV and Crossover segment.  
 
Reviewers praised the Escalade for its powerful V8, luxurious interior, plush ride and abundance of standard features. It was also noted for its bold styling. 
 
Negative feedback for the Escalade included a tight third-row seat with no power folding feature, very low fuel economy and poor braking performance. 
 
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade was fully redesigned five years ago. It is currently in its third generation. For 2012, the Escalade remains virtually unchanged. 

2012 Cadillac Escalade Model Line-Up

The 2012 Cadillac Escalade is a seven- or eight-passenger SUV offered in four trim levels: Base, Luxury, Premium and Platinum. The Escalade Hybrid model is covered separately. 
 
Standard equipment for the base Escalade includes 18-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, xenon headlights, a power liftgate, heated power-folding mirrors, leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable pedals, heated and ventilated 10-way power-adjustable front seats and heated second-row captain’s chairs. In terms of technology, the base Escalade brings a back-up camera system, Bluetooth, touchscreen navigation, a premium 10-speaker stereo and USB connectivity. 
 
The Luxury trim adds 22-inch aluminum wheels, a sunroof, blind-spot warning system and heated steering wheel. The second-from-the-top Escalade Premium brings visual enhancements like dual exhaust pipes and painted wheels.  
 
The range-topping Platinum Edition gets distinctive wheels and grille, unique leather upholstery, heated and cooled cupholders and a twin-screen rear DVD system. 
 
Standard safety features include ABS, stability control, traction control, six airbags and OnStar emergency telematics. Blind-spot warning is standard with all trims except base. The 2012 Cadillac Escalade earned above-average crash-test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 
 
Power comes from a 6.2-liter V8 producing 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. Energy is managed by a six-speed automatic transmission which feeds either the rear wheels only or optional all-wheel-drive. 
 
EPA-estimated fuel economy for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade is 14 mpg city, 18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 13/18/15 with all-wheel drive.

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