The Escalade-V is a genuine contender for a very large, fast, luxurious three-row SUV. Its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 makes 682 horsepower, and Cadillac estimates 4.4 seconds to 60 mph. Its cabin and overall footprint are considerably larger than an X7.
The harder decision is comfort over imperfect pavement, third-row practicality and the visual presence of a huge SUV. A five-minute test drive can hide the differences that matter over ten years.
Action: add it to the test-drive list and verify the desired second-row captain’s-chair configuration. Drive it on ordinary roads, not just a short acceleration loop.