Today’s large premium SUV is at the top of its class. There is no more comfortable way to move 7 passengers while still retaining enough space and utility for their luggage, and manufacturers have loaded today’s award-winning models with technology and innovation formerly reserved for luxury sedans. Leather and wood-lined cabins, multi-zone climate control, and tinted windows are expected in this popular segment.
This 2009 Large Premium SUVs Buyer’s Guide is a compiled list of the top-performing large premium sport utility vehicles from J.D. Power and Associates three key automotive studies. The studies include the 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), the 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, and the 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS). In addition, we have also noted any models in the guide that have earned “5-star” crash test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), or have been chosen as “Top Safety Picks” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). All models are listed alphabetically by manufacturer.
2009 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV
The Cadillac Escalade was introduced in 1999 as a response to Ford Motor Compay’s Lincoln Navigator. Like the Lincoln, the Cadillac was built upon an existing full-size truck platform—GM’s Yukon/Suburban—that was modified for the role. The current Escalade was released in 2007. It is a traditional body-on-frame truck with rear- or 4-wheel drive and a powerful V-8 engine. In EPA fuel-economy testing, the Escalade returned 12 mpg city and 19 mpg highway (with E85, the mileage figures are 10 mpg city/14 mpg highway). The Escalade is the standard version, while the Escalade ESV is stretched (both offer seating for up to 7 passengers). In our 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS), that asks owners about vehicle quality during the first 90 days of ownership, the Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV ranked among the top three models in its segment. The luxurious Cadillac has also proven itself reliable after three years of ownership, as demonstrated by its top-three ranking in our 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). When looking at safety, the Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV earned 5-star crash test ratings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). New for 2009 is a hybrid version of the Escalade, and flex-fuel capability.
Get more information on the 2009 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV
Other 2009 Large Premium SUV models:
