2006 Cadillac Escalade New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2006 Cadillac Escalade?
Having received a host of changes for 2005, alterations to the 2006 Cadillac Escalade border on the miniscule. The illuminated vanity mirrors and PRNDL instrument panel display are updated with revised lighting, the latter using LEDs for overall clarity and reliability. Other changes include relocating the outside temperature display from the rearview mirror to the climate controls. Lastly, rest assured that the body-to-chassis bolts have been beefed up from 12mm to 14mm. An all-new 2007 Cadillac Escalade arrives in the spring of 2006.

Advantages of the 2006 Cadillac Escalade:

• Stout power from the 6.0-liter V8 engine
• Comfortable seating front and rear
• High-amperage alternator for powering plasma TVs
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Pop-culture icon status

Objections to the 2006 Cadillac Escalade:

• Awful fuel economy
• Sometimes haphazard build quality
• Lacks serious off-road capability

Editor's Advice:
So many Cadillac Escalade owners have replaced the boring brushed aluminum wheels from the factory with twenty-two-inch spinners that these luxury SUVs just look silly doddering along on the stock seventeens. But, since the 'Slade is equipped with a 160-amp alternator, adding an audio system that rivals Carnegie Hall isn't an issue. Fuel economy is terrible, build quality sometimes haphazard, and forget about doing any serious off-roading – with no low range transfer case, the toughest trails this SUV should see are those to the local mall. If you can live with these detriments to ownership, the 2006 Cadillac Escalade is an excellent choice. For proper ownership rights, shell out some extra dough for a set of bigger wheels and you'll fit right in parked next to rap-music moguls or real-estate millionaires.