The Cadillac Escalade is currently in its fifth generation and is one of the most assorted products in the full size luxury SUV segment due to its luxury, space and many other factors making it almost perfect for family buyers. The Sport Platinum trim, the highest trim of the Escalade, is also the most enticing and feature-packed of the trim configuration. With the arrival of the 2022 version of the Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum, this American luxury brand has managed to introduce even more technology, features and optional extras.
Offered for a base MSRP of $104,240, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum comes standard with the impressive Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology and automatic front and rear emergency braking. There are also a few minor upgrades to the interior features list. Competing with the likes of the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and Lincoln Navigator, here are 10 things you should know before buying the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum.
10/10 Bold exterior styling
Being the pinnacle of the Escalade range, we loved the little changes this trim brings, especially compared to the lower end Luxury and Premium Luxury trims. The black mesh and grille surround look great, and standard full LED headlights and LED daytime running lights add to the bold character of the SUV. The front is also emphasized by its impressive width and height.
The profile is given the aggressive 22″ wheels with a gray finish, and the square wheel arches give it much-needed attitude. The massive mirrors, black pillars and the long length and wheelbase give it more presence than its direct rivals. The rear retains the beautiful LED taillights, hidden wiper under the spoiler and twin exhausts.
9/10 Good looking cabin
Step into the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum and you will be impressed by the overall design and quality of this interior. Being a premium build, the interior is filled with quality materials throughout. The beautiful semi-aniline leather upholstery combined with neat stitching and contrast piping looks beautiful, making it feel more premium than its European rivals.
The leather-wrapped chunky steering wheel and beautiful digital instrument panel and touchscreen infotainment system neatly integrated into the dash heighten the appeal of the interior. The built-in speaker in the headrest, aluminum accents and a heavy dose of leather and wood on the dash and door cards will cut the deal if you’re in the market for a super premium SUV.
8/10 Many driver assistance functions are standard
For this 2022 iteration, the Cadillac Escalade Sport Premium comes with most of the driver assistance bells and whistles imaginable. This includes enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, pedestrian braking, enhanced automatic park assist, surround vision, blind spot monitoring, super cruise and forward collision warning.
Aside from that, all basic safety features like StabiliTrak, tire inflation alert, tire pressure monitor, automatic seatbelts, Cadillac connected access, OnStar services and airbags are also standard. All of this helped the Cadillac Escalade achieve a 4-star overall crash safety rating in the NHTSA crash test.
7/10 Ride quality is not the best
With the adaptive air suspension with magnetic ride control, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum should have been great in terms of ride quality. However, it’s not quite as comfortable as the BMW X7 and the Lincoln Navigator, as the ride is a bit stiff even in comfort mode.
This full-size luxury SUV won’t handle all the bumps and potholes on city roads. Even though it won’t be a deal breaker, you should notice the difference on back-to-back test drives. However, when you’re out on the open highways, the Escalade Sport Platinum’s air suspension completely absorbs everything thrown at it on the road, making it very comfortable.
6/10 Mediocre gas mileage
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Coming with a naturally aspirated V8 engine with no mild-hybrid assistance and a heavy curb weight of 5,356 lbs, fuel economy will be mediocre at best. The RWD variant of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum gave 14 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on the highway, for a combined gas mileage of 16 MPG.
If you get the 4WD variant, the fuel economy will see no drop from what is offered with the RWD variant. With a 24-gallon fuel tank capacity, this full-size SUV had a highway range of 456 miles. By comparison, the BMW X7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS gave a combined gas mileage of 22 MPG and 21 MPG, respectively.
5/10 Excellent level of sophistication
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The fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade was fantastic in terms of its overall level of refinement, and this 2022 iteration is no different. The 6.2-litre V8 engine is super smooth and sounds great throughout the rev range. The excellent sound deadening on offer also keeps engine and exhaust noise from entering the cabin too much.
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Even if you get the nuts out of this engine, the sound is pretty sweet and won’t tire the passengers. The 22″ wheels wrapped in 275-section tires don’t produce much tire noise, which is very similar to the Lincoln Navigator. The wind noise isn’t too high either.
4/10 Sharp braking performance
If you expected the 2022 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum to be terrible in terms of braking performance due to its sheer weight and overall size, you would be very wrong. The 4-wheel disc brake setup with automatic vehicle lock, Duralife rotors, ABS, EBD, hill assist and automatic emergency braking system ensure you stop without a hitch.
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Hit the brakes hard and you’ll be impressed with the excellent initial bite and braking progression this SUV has to offer. Front dive is well controlled, and the 10-speed automatic applies hard engine braking to effectively reduce speed. The 70-0 mph stopping distance of 176 feet is also one of the shortest in the segment.
3/10 A spacious three-row SUV
Like all three-row full-size luxury SUVs out there, the Cadillac Escalade Sport Premium’s first and second rows offer excellent space, making it a suitable tool for long road trips. The head and legroom offered for the first row of seats exceeds all rivals in the segment. Even in the second row of seats, no compromises have been made in terms of space.
We also liked the wide armrest, multiple bottle and cup holders, large door pockets, magazine holders and a convenient glove box. The semi-aniline leather upholstery is super soft and offers heating, ventilation and electrically adjustable front seats. There’s a rear seat entertainment system and the third row of seats offers some of the best leg and shoulder room in its class, while the under-thigh support is great too. There is also 25.5 cubic feet behind the third-row cargo area.
2/10 Infotainment is very intuitive
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The 30-inch curved touchscreen infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster form a single unit and are by far the most versatile and intuitive system available. The display quality easily tops the list and we were also very impressed with the excellent touch response, no lag and stuttering and excellent viewing angles it offers.
The instrument panel offers a 3D camera view and is stunning to look at. The resolution is second to none and the live view of the road makes the Escalade very easy to drive. It also displays all other relevant information on the smaller 7-inch display on the side of the instrument panel. The infotainment offers all features such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, Bluetooth, wireless charging and AKG with 36 speakers audio system. An optional night vision device is also available.
1/10 Comes with a smooth and powerful V8
The 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and you can get it in a RWD variant or a 4WD variant. If you get the 2WD variety, you can tow up to 8,200 lbs. However, the 4WD variant reduces towing capacity to 7,500 lbs.
While the initial acceleration isn’t the best, meaning it’s not as fast as some turbocharged rivals, this V8 engine makes up for its excellent mid-range torque. This SUV can easily cruise at the highway speed limit all day without breaking a sweat, and a light tap on the accelerator is all it takes to overtake. The 10-speed is responsive and offers seamless shifting throughout.