A 2021 Cadillac Escalade is one of the last vehicles that you'd expect on an off-road trail. The folks at TFLoffroad have access to the big SUV, though, and they want to know how it performs when things get rocky.
This Escalade has a retail price of $102,000, but it lacks the $600 heavy-duty trailering package that includes a two-speed transfer case. While there's no low-range, there's a terrain mode that somewhat simulates it by using the brakes to control the vehicle's speed. The air suspension lets the driver raise the ride height for a little more clearance. It's riding on Bridgestone all-season tires that aren't exactly ideal for off-roading.
Gallery: 2021 Cadillac Escalade
This Cadillac packs the 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower (313 kilowatts) and 460 pound-feet (623 Newton-meters) that runs through a 10-speed automatic. It has four-wheel drive, although rear-drive comes standard. The 2021 Escalade is also available with a new 3.0-liter inline-six turbodiesel good for 277 hp (207 kW) and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm).
Things start pretty easy by challenging the Escalade to go up a steep, although short, grade. After spinning the driver-side front wheel while it's in the air a little bit, the drivetrain shifts the power to the rear, and the Cadillac gets over the berm.
Get Better Acquainted With The 2021 Escalade:
Next, the Escalade climbs two, much steeper rocky trails. The Cadillac's camera system does a lot to help. It can use the instrument and infotainment display to provide multiple angles of what's going on outside the vehicle.
For a vehicle with a far greater emphasis on luxury than off-road ability, the Escalade does pretty good here. It's unlikely that most Cadillac owners are going to try to do anything this rugged with their SUV.
Source: TFLoffroad via YouTube