We haven't driven a 2WD Escalade with the 5.3-liter V8, but based on driving Tahoes and other GM products with that engine we suspect it's more than adequate to propel the Escalade.

The four-speed transmission shifts smoothly, particularly around town. Like other full-size SUVs from GM, the Escalade is equipped with a Tow/Haul mode. Press a button on the end of the shift stalk and the Tow mode reduces hunting among gears by delaying upshifts and downshifts. The shifting is also harder and more abrupt. This reduces heat buildup in the transmission when towing reducing wear.

Rear Park Assist makes parking these rigs, particularly the ESV and ESV, much easier. By using the small row of lights at the rear of the headliner, along with an audio tone that varies in frequency, the driver can accurately judge how much room is left behind the rear bumper. The system can also sometimes warn the driver of a child or person behind the vehicle, though GM is careful not to make this claim, which can be helpful when backing in a crowded parking lot.

The computer-controlled all-wheel-drive system directs engine power where it's needed and compensates whenever and wherever wheel spin occurs. In dry conditions, the front wheels get 38 percent of the driving torque, and the rear wheels get 62 percent; as any wheel slips, torque is transferred away, until it can be restored to regain that 38/62 optimum split. This increases stability and performance in slippery conditions.

The computer-controlled self-leveling suspension with extra large high-tech Bilstein shock absorbers sounds impressive on paper ("through a complex software algorithm, it computes the individual optimal shock demand for each wheel"), but paper is easy, the road is rough. In simpler words, we think the Escalade feels floaty. In the Columbia River valley where wind reigns supreme, the Escalade did not feel as stable as it should be. And you can feel the patches on the freeway more than you might like to. On two-lanes with curves it doesn't feel as agile as a BMW X5 or even a Ford Expedition, but at least there isn't a lot of body roll. That said, the Escalade feels stable on on-ramps and off-ramps. Likewise, the Escalade ESV feels stable on the highway at high speeds, but it is a little softer than a Suburban, and there is a distinct impression of being in control of considerable mass. Perhaps it's because the ESV weighs 5,820 pounds, about 600 pounds more than a Suburban 1500.

Brakes are four-wheel disc with ABS, 12-inch diameter front, 13-inch rear, not ventilated. That doesn't sound impressive for such as big vehicle, particularly if it's headed downhill with a trailer at maximum towing capacity. But they felt good in hard use on winding roads and delivered stable performance under hard braking. The brakes are an enormous improvement over the brakes that used to come on Suburbans.

The Escalade, ESV and EXT are superb choices for towing. The Escalade AWD offers the highest towing capacity at 8100 pounds. The big ESV is rated to pull 7200 pounds, while the EXT can pull 7400 pounds.