Cadillac's Crown Jewel

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General visibility is good, though seeing out the back can be awkward—not because of any obstacles per se so much as for the sheer distance between the front seat and the very back of the car. Consider the optional rearview camera, a part of the $2,495 information package and an absolute must if you ever plan to parallel park.

Exterior styling is all Cadillac. Sharp, technophile angles define the front and rear lamps. As Cadillac began introducing this new design language a few years ago, I was unconvinced. But now, seeing the company's entire product lineup skinned this way, one gets a distinct idea of what a Cadillac is supposed to look like these days. It remains to be seen how the look will age.

Whether the look attracts you or not, the detailing is solid and everything feels well built. The chrome-laden front grille and wheels complete the Escalade's now trademark iced-out looks. The Cadillac badge on the trunk is larger than my face. That's to say, quite large for an automotive insignia. No wonder Tony Soprano drives one of these.

The cabin hosts by far the best improvements, though. It's a study in what domestic companies can do if only they choose to. The wood and metal trim and blue-lit gauges coalesce as they would in any high-luxé import. Buttons feel solid and on par with interiors from Land Rover, though the styling is dramatically different.

I'm usually an unrepentant cabin snob, but Cadillac has managed to thoroughly impress me. Case in point, this interior is, in my opinion, better than those in the new Lexus models I've recently test-driven. Yes, there are a few lousy legacy plastics here and there—what's up with the chintzy-feeling glove compartment drawer, GM?—but you have to look long and hard to find them.

The onboard entertainment is extremely well executed as well. The Bose 5.1 surround-sound system dutifully pumps out audio from satellite radio, compact discs, or DVD movies. The DVD-based navigation's graphics look great and are on par with competition from Mercedes-Benz. The touch screen is, in fact, easier to use.

The Escalade's Achilles' heel is, of course, its gas mileage. GM says new variable valve timing allows the vehicle to get up to 19 miles per gallon on the highway. In my tests of mixed highway and city driving, though, I averaged 9.3 miles per gallon. The company says its Active Fuel Management technology, which deactivates cylinders under certain driving conditions to improve economy, will show up in 2008 Escalades. But don't hold your breath for a fuel-efficient ESV any time soon.

Buy It or Bag It

The Escalade—whichever version you're considering—is outsized, outlandish, and over the top. Not everybody has the ego or hubris to drive one of these, let alone lay down nearly 70 large for a vehicle that drinks so much premium gas. In fact, I found myself blushing embarrassedly more than once as passersby gawked at my politically incorrect loaner.

Cadillac fans can rejoice, however, since the Escalade's interior and general execution is leading the way for all its future models. A stable of CTS, STS, and DTS models this well made is something worthy of anticipation. In the meantime, if you're simply in the market for a luxury SUV in this segment, the Escalade has no equal.

Matt Vella is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in New York.