After a week in the all-new Cadillac Escalade I have now reviewed each of GM's full-size SUVs, including the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. The Escalade is the top fish in the pond, complete with a more powerful V-8 engine, high-end leather appointments and plenty of flashy chrome.

It's too bad the Escalade has such an established reputation as a show-off vehicle, because I found the look of my dark blue test vehicle extremely elegant. It's as utilitarian as its less expensive siblings, but it adds what the others can't: style.

For such a large SUV, the Escalade — like the Yukon and Tahoe — is easy to drive, but unlike the slightly less powerful Yukon Denali it packed plenty of punch. Its spirited launches, though, are taken in from the extreme comfort of heated and cooled front leather seats, making the Escalade a fine place to be. The problem only comes when you check the sticker price and realize there are a lot of fine luxury SUVs on the market that offer as much or more for the money. Our all-wheel-drive tester started at $56,405; after almost all of the available options were tacked on, we were north of $65,000.

• Exterior & Styling
• The Inside
• Ride & Handling
• Going & Stopping
• Safety
• Cargo & Towing
• Escalade in the Market