Test drive Cadillac Escalade 2000 - 2006 SUV

Going into infinity

American national idea: a lot of work to become rich and buy a fashionable house, a chic yacht, a large car.
Here they are cars of overseas dreams. The new qx-56 infinity all-terrain vehicle, which debuted at the Detroit car dealership, is an American, if not by origin, then in spirit. By the way, this is the first model of the prestigious infinity brand, which will be assembled at the Nissan factory in North America. After all, the car is primarily intended for the US market. His substantive American American Cadillac Escelle.
A cure for claustrophobia
In the USA there is where to turn around, and even the economic and energy crises of the last century could not exterminate the love of large cars. In this world, cars are less than five meters long. Our duelists are not one of those. By the way, the Japanese overtook the American in length and wheeled base. True, the attack aircraft (Escalade assault) has an elongated version of Esv ESV here.
Modern large parking lots are akin to a minibus in size: three rows of seats on which eight sides, even very well -fed. What would you complain about?
In the width of Infinity, a little loses to Cadillac. At the bottom of the fifth point of 1557 mm versus 1560, and in the shoulders 1654 and 1656 mm, respectively. However, the inhabitants of the endless (infiniti infinity) are unlikely to feel constrained. Moreover, Eskeleid is inferior to fifty -sixth in height: from the seat pillow to the ceiling of the American only 1034 mm, the Japanese has 7 mm more. Yes, and in the legs of infinity is more frequent than 15 mm.
All this arithmetic is not bored with you yet? That's right: let the owners of small -leafers consider crumbs, everyone will sit to the inhabitants of such cars, and with comfort!
It is curious that as an option they offer to simplify the salon. In the infinity, two comfortable passenger chairs with armrests are installed behind the front seats, followed by a three -seater bench (the second row can be made the same). The same in Cadillac. Only here in the base not two chairs in the second row, but three.
There are many options for folding seats and shops in both cars. As a truck, Eskeleid a little ahead of the QX-56: with the last row of seats 1801 liters against 1733 liters. But, again, the difference for such numbers is not at all great.
Hotel five stars
It is unlikely that the owners of huge all -terrain vehicles will often have to use their freight opportunities. Comfort is more important here. Marketers and designers clearly worked together more painfully the assortment of standard and additional equipment.
The driver's seats of Cadillac and Infinity have 10 adjustments, of course, with electric drives. The neighbor has smaller opportunities, but eight adjustments, apparently, are enough to sit at home. Have you adjusted mirrors and seats? In order for the brain to remove these settings from the memory, just press a small button.
Now duelists will fight on the stage. Melodies and rhythms are pouring from nine (at Cadillac) or ten (in infinity) columns. By the way, while the elders are listening to their favorite blues, children, armed with headphones, can see cartoons or militants on DVD.
Road maps on paper, apparently, will soon become the property of archives. And the owners of Cadillac and Infinity can abandon them today. In the basic configuration, satellite navigation with DVD software. All America on two discs!
Particularly demanding buyers will certainly look into the list of additional equipment. For example, for fifty-six, they offer smart cruise control to order (it maintains a safe distance) and a rear view camera to facilitate parking.
The heroic sizes of machines do not mean that designers may not take care of passive safety tools. The inhabitants of the first row of seats are held by belts with pretense and effort limiters, intellectual frontal airbags are hidden in the steering hub and dashboard, taking into account the weight of a person and the length of an elongated belt, and side air bags are in the backs of the seats. The rest of the riders is three -point belts, even, as manufacturers sitting in the middle persistently resemble. Infinity protects inflatable curtains from the lateral blow of the head of passengers. Cadillac's avenues do not mention such protection. But on the inner mirror of Eskeleid, icons light up, confirming the performance of security systems for the driver and the front passenger.
There is strength
Diesel modifications are not provided. In the USA, the demand for such would be small. The womb rumbling gasoline V-shaped eight with a working volume of 5.6 liters (infinity) and 6 l (Cadillac) here are units for one hundred percent Americans!
Vortec engine (Vortec), installed on Eskeleid, is not distinguished by bold constructive solutions: a cast -iron block, one camshaft, two valves per cylinder. The Japanese unit is more progressive: a lightweight unit made of aluminum alloys with steel sleeves, pistons with wear -resistant molybdenum coating, four valves per cylinder. In terms of power, the infinity motor loses, but it develops a greater torque, and at lower speeds.
In Cadillac, the moment to the wheels goes through a four-speed hydromechanical automatic machine (Hydra-Matic 4L60 HD). In the Japanese unit, as in many modern cars, one step is more.
The transmission schemes for duelists are similar. The torque from the box is distributed to wheels through the hand -down with a lowering nearby. When slipping, Wyskoft throws up to 50% of the effort from the rear axle to the front. In addition, electronics, simulating the blocking of interdosseous differentials, slows down the slipping wheels.
And another feature that unequivocally hinting at the overseas orientation of cars: in addition to all -wheel drive, there are also modifications with the drive only to the rear axle. The all -terrain opportunities in the country of highway are not the main thing, and a monopyle car is noticeably cheaper and easier.
The Cadillac is similar to a conservative who is reluctant to go to the principles and adapted to new trends. However, many Americans still sin by this (by the way, Eskeleid has the same platform as Chevrolet Tahoe and Ji-Em-Si Yukon). Take at least a steering mechanism such as a screw ball nut with a hydraulic wiper: similar ones worked on the grandfathers of the current cadillacs. But on Eskeleid, the force on the steering wheel changes with speed. The rear suspension is dependent, but with automatic adjustment of the road clearance.
Infiniti tries not to quarrel with advocates of overseas traditions, gently accustoming them to the new. The Japanese chassis looks more modern: independent pendants, a compact steering mechanism. For brakes, cars are almost twins: all wheels, ventilated discs, in the ABS drive, of course, is four -channel.
Still, they have more similarities than differences. In the main thing, they are very similar: infinitely spacious, powerful, impressive outside and luxurious inside. These are loved by Americans and ... Russians. We also have a lot in common, although less than Cadillac with Infinity.

Cadillac received this panel of the devices in 2003 model year.
Infinity, perhaps, will not please the Americans in only one gearbox selector on his floor, and not on the steering wheel.
Only all -wheel drive versions of Escelle are equipped with a six -liter engine. Models with a drive to the rear axle are equipped with a more modest engine with a volume of 5.3 liters.
The interior of Cadillac is white leather, expensive wood, armchairs with armrests and integrated seat belts.
A 5.6 liter gasoline eight is the only motor that is installed on the QX-56 infinity.
Under the ceiling of infinity, a monitor for watching films and climate control unit for rear passengers.

 
 

Maxim Sachkov
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"