5. Cadillac Escalade
Manufactured by General Motors and marketed under the Cadillac brand, the Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV that started its production back in 1999.
Introduced for the 1999 model year in response to German and Japanese competitors and to Ford’s 1998 release of the Lincoln Navigator, the Escalade was Cadillac’s first major entry into the popular SUV market.
The first generation was a five-seat SUV with interior features including leather seats, and a Bose surround system, which was a first for an SUV.
The second generation came with three engine variants: a 5.3L LM7 Vortec V8 for the 2002–2003 model, producing 285 horsepower, a 5.3L LM7 Vortec V8 for the 2004–2006 model, producing 295 horsepower, and a 6.0L LQ9 HO Vortec V8 for the 2002–2006 model, producing 345 horsepower.
