Cadillac is known for a variety of styles of cars from two-door coupes to four-door sedans to ambulances and hearses. Trucks and vans, however are the domain of Chevrolet and GMC. It was not unusual for Cadillac to take a car from another division, rebadge it and sell it as a Cadillac as was done to create the Cimarron and Catera. This time, the Cadillac borrows a GM SUV which it had a Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, or Yukon Denali flavor and creates the Escalade as an answer to the Lincoln Navigator. The Escalade appears more boxy than other SUVs. Although similar to the Tahoe and Yukon, the Escalade has lower body cladding, running boards, chrome wheels and a big, chrome-trimmed, Crest-bearing grille.

Escalade's power delivery system, called AutoTrac, has four modes. The driver can choose rear-wheel drive, or conventional four-wheel drive in high or low range, via buttons to the right of the steering column. The fourth mode is automatic and suitable for all types of driving. It uses an active transfer case and delivers power primarily to the rear wheels, but will shift power to the front wheels to improve traction and maximize tire grip as road or weather conditions dictate.

The interior features soft leather-covered seating front and rear, electrically heated. An overhead console holds reading lights, a rear fan switch, the garage-door opener, a compartment for sunglasses and the buttons and microphone for OnStar. The back of the center console has audio controls, headphone jacks and a cupholder. The rear side windows roll down only a third of the way.