Folding the rear seats flat and releasing the midgate gives the EXT enormous cargo space.
The cabin is where you spend your time, and while driving the Escalade EXT, we spent it wrapped in luxury. Heated and air-conditioned upgraded leather seats, heated woodgrain and a leather steering wheel, a huge 8-inch in-dash DVD and navigation touchscreen head unit, and a backup camera are just a few of the newly updated improvements to the interior. Other accoutrements inside include an 8-inch flip-down monitor with noise-canceling headphones for the rear-seat passengers, a sunroof, power-folding mirrors-and new for '07: a Bose 5.1 surround-sound system for the ultimate in movies on-the-go.
Add to that list of features a pair of HID headlights, power-retractable running boards, a power-locking tailgate, and the aforementioned 6.2L with its 417 lb-ft of torque, and you have a home run, right? Yes, without question. Getting to the big leagues comes with a cost; the fully-loaded EXT costs $64,025. That large chunk of change doesn't include the added cost of filling up the tank with premium fuel and during our first road test we received 13.8 miles to the gallon. Not bad, considering the added performance; but not the best, given the new six-speed tranny. The only other areas of concern are the absense of an MP3 jack and the lack of a light under the hood, although we don't expect most owners to be working on the 6.2L
Overall, if each editor chipped in and paid monthly payments, we could rotate riding around in the world's most luxurious truck. Until then, we'll start saving as the Escalade EXT is worth the price you pay for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Check out next month's '07 Cadillac Escalade EXT update as we add new wheels and tires from Cadillac Genuine Accessories and GM Performance Parts.This is part one of a five-part series where we'll show you how using only Genuine Cadillac Accessories and GM Performance Parts, we turn our '07 Cadillac Escalade EXT from a run-of-the-mill Caddy into a bon-a-fide Truckin' ride.