2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT

2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT
A Better Pickup Truck Than It Is A Cadillac
By Mark Williams

As it has in the past, GM is using Cadillac as the early technology adopter, giving its buyers the chance to get first crack at some cool features that'll eventually trickle to the wider lineup over the next several years. The most obvious example of this early adopter strategy is the all-new 6.2-liter all-aluminum V-8 that makes 403 horses and 417 pound-feet as well as the new 6L80-E six-speed automatic, which does a commendable job of making the heaviest player in our test run like a sprinter.

In fact, the EXT may be the heaviest light-duty pickup truck out there, yet it scoots to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. With two overdrive gears, a strong first gear, and a clever thumb-shifter switch on the column-mounted shifter, the 6L80 would be a strong contender if we offered a "Part of the Year" award. Other cool details include the plush, soft-ride suspension, with its smooth ride on choppy dirt road and load leveling when we tested near maximum payloads--a huge help to other drivers when we had to drive at night at three-quarter payload (all Cadillac trucks have HIDs). The EXT also offers seat coolers as well as a backup camera. However, although much is new on this truck, some personality-defining features have stayed the same, like the EXT's manual midgate (allows the vehicle to convert from a five-passenger SUV with a big trunk to one with a cavernous, open cargo bed), cumbersome hard bed cover, uncomfortable rear seats, and the two side-bed lockable storage cubbies.

Our biggest criticism, though, is a direct result of the midgate--however much chassis stiffening you do, there's still a big hole that can flex and twist, producing creaking and squeaking while cornering or on bad roads. With a base price close to $55,000, it doesn't take many options to get to $65,000--for a pickup truck! This also hurt the Caddy's standing in our competition, especially when you consider the rear seats you're stuck with because of the midgate.