2002 Cadillac Escalade review from North America

An electrical malfunction involving the driver's seat. It was an easy fix but took a lot of diagnostic work that GMAC wasn't willing to pay for, so I had to pay out of pocket.

Some sun bleaching of the black non-slip material on the top of the back bumper.

One of the front rotors warped while under warranty, it was replaced at no cost to me.

I did a lot of research before buying an Escalade and it paid off. It has been a fantastic vehicle for the family.

It has lots of room, I like that the third row of seats is on rollers and easily comes out when you want to remove them for extra cargo space. Lots of plug ins for various electronic gadgets, good pulling power, very quiet cabin, lots of cup holders, love the real wood steering wheel, - except for the gas mileage there is really nothing about this vehicle that I wouldn't recommend. What I like about the '02 in particular is the middle row bench seat. Newer models have 2 Captain seats in the middle but I have a family of 5 and often take the third row of seats out when we go away on longer distances so I needed the bench to fit everyone.

Keeping in mind that I am thoroughly happy with the vehicle, what follows are some rather nit picky observations:

On 2002 vehicles On Star service will no longer be available after 2008.

The black non-slip material on the top of the back bumper has faded in the sun. Easy fix though.

Gas mileage varies, but according to the on-board computer it ranges from 15 MPG in town to 24 MPG on the highway.

The emergency brake pedal is just a bit too close to my shin for my liking, but it has never touched my shin. The proximity of the e-brake pedal will, of course, also depend upon your seating position.

Self closing/opening tailgate; coffee cup warmer; rain sensitive wipers; and side view mirrors with the signal light were options not available until subsequent years.

The third row seat is a bit low to the floor, and to get to it you have to lower the middle row seat and actually climb on the back of the middle row seat. Not particularly elegant or befitting such a luxury vehicle.

I would recommend putting a sheepskin on the driver seat to preserve it, as it gets the most wear.

I have had many Cadillacs before this one going back into the early '80s. I have seen the highs and lows that Cadillac has produced and this is definately one of the highs. As it is a fairly popular vehicle I also like the aftermarket products that are avaialble for it like the real wood accents (why those can't come on the vehicle direct from the factor I don't know, but fake wood seems to be the way that most manufacturers have gone.)

Perhaps the saddest part of owning this Escalade has been the depreciation over the last year as fuel prices have risen. The actual price of the gas doesn't bother me too much as I only live 10 kms away from work and the Escalade doesn't need premium fuel like BMW or Mercedes, but I do notice the price of gas on longer trips. Given the depreciation over the last year, now is the time to buy an amazingly comfortable and reliable vehicle. 116,000 kms and I haven't even replaced the brakes yet (except that one rotor under warranty). I will be replacing the tires this week.