2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT Driving Impressions Review at Automotive.com
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Cadillac
Escalade EXT
2002

2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT Review: Road Test

Below is a full, detailed 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT review and road test from New ...     more
Resale Price: $9,028 - $16,700 / Used Value Calculator
Value Rating: Excellent / Maintenance Costs
Fuel Economy: 12 MPG city / 16 MPG highway / Engine Specs
 

2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT Review

Black tie pickup.
Driving Impressions
How did we like this truck when we climbed behind the wheel and turned the key to on? Overall, it's a winner. We drove the EXT recently in northern California on secondary roads with tight and twisty turns, as well as on freeways. There's plenty of engine power for passing at speed and to carry it gracefully up hill and extremely capable suspension dynamics that allow it to hunker around hairpins despite its size, weight, and an empty bed. (Most pickups ride and handle better with a little weight in back.) It has confidence-inspiring, well-modulated brakes, and a comfortable, well-appointed interior that's a pleasure to call your home on the road. On the side of niggling complaints: it's a tall step up to get in without a grab handle at the driver's door (all other doors have them); there's noticeable engine noise on exertion; and it's an expensive fill at the pump.

Under the hood is a 6.0-liter V8 and four-speed automatic transmission which provides segment-leading 345 horsepower and 380 pounds-feet of torque. This powerful combination provides plenty of in-town scoot and the towing power of a draft horse - thanks to GM's Heavy-Duty Trailering Package, which includes a 12,000-pound weight-distributing hitch platform.

The heart of its handling, though, is an electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system supported by a viscous coupling case that provides surefooted performance aided by a computer-controlled road-sensing suspension called Stabilitrak. This system brings stability and ride comfort by controlling the wheel motion; it improves the skills of even the best drivers with its quick response to sharp corners, emergency lane changes, and panic braking. As with GM's other full-size trucks, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock control are standard, unlike the Blackwood, which offers ABS only as an option.

Of note were the EXT's large greenhouse (good visibility in all directions), its quiet cabin and its suprisingly surefooted handling despite its large footprint. Additionally, we enjoyed the fact that the rear glass can be removed, allowing for an open-air experience that's unlike anything else, except the Avalanche. Next Page


Community Comments
s.johnson_1  (06/25/08 08:34 AM)

The first car I ever owned (in 1972) was a '69 1/2 2 door Datsun 510.  I still miss that car!  You could either use the brakes or turn on the a/c to slow it down.  I stripped the under dash a/c system out and patched the firewall holes with duct tape and spray undercoating on the engine side of the firewall.  I added a front BRE spoiler, bigger front sway bar and added a rear sway bar.  I cut the shifter down to make the "throw" shorter and installed a 13" steering wheel and a tachometer.  I found out that 4 lug Corvair wheels (pre '65 I think) had the right offset but were much wider than the stock 4.5" rims and worked really well with a set of Goodyear Polyglass A-70's (about as high tech as we had back then).  It had a free flow exhaust system so it sounded faster than it actually was but it was fun to drive and handled better than most (cheap) cars at the time.  At the time I crewed for a friend (my employer) who raced E Production with a Porshe Speedster and I drove to a number of tracks in the SE.
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