Now in its fourth generation since its 1999 introduction, the Cadillac Escalade remains one of the automotive world’s patron saints of conspicuous consumption. Checking in 1.5 inches wider, 1.4 inches longer, and about 100 pounds heavier than the model it replaced, the large-livin’ 2015 Escalade makes no excuses for its imposing presence.

Built on the same truck-based underpinnings as the rest of GM’s full-size SUV fleet, the 2015 Cadillac Escalade initially launched with the recently updated 6.2-liter V-8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, the engine eagerly shouldered its substantial load, hustling the six-speed-equipped Escalade around town and down the highway with ease. But while we were busy flogging the six-speed Escalade on the test track, GM was finalizing plans to put its new eight-speed gearbox (essentially the same transmission that handles gear-swapping duties in the Corvette) into the Escalade, as well as in the 6.2-liter-equipped Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon Denali. GM figured that transplanting the eight-speed into the ’Slade would be a relatively simple way to improve performance on a number of fronts. Curious to see if the General’s hunch paid off, we re-upped for an Escalade equipped with the new ’box and strapped on the test gear.

View Photos MICHAEL SIMARI

As was the case with the eight-speed-equipped GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Silverado we drove earlier, low-speed drivability is dramatically improved with the new transmission. A numerically higher first gear facilitates seamless takeoffs, and the more tightly spaced ratios mean the transmission stays busy even under light acceleration. Yet it shuffles between gears with a precise, almost imperceptible action, rarely letting the revs climb above 3000 rpm. Mat the accelerator at any speed, however, and the tach swings for the cheap seats, the transmission letting the beefy V-8 rev to around 5700 rpm before grabbing another gear. Thanks to the tighter gap between ratios, the engine spends more time in the meaty portion of its torque curve, making the most of its output and lending a more fluid feel to the proceedings.

Playing the Numbers

First impressions formed, we set off for the track in search of confirmation that our finely honed seat-of-the-pants meter was properly calibrated. First up was the zero-to-60-mph dash, where the eight-speed Escalade posted a 5.6-second run, laying waste to the 6.1-second time of the six-speed truck. The rest of the data continued to fall in favor of the eight-speed, with the quarter-mile passing in 14.1 seconds at a trap speed of 99 mph­­, edging out the six-speed’s run of 14.7 at 96 mph.

View Photos MICHAEL SIMARI

Unfortunately, the eight-speed Escalade remained just as thirsty as our six-speed test vehicle, returning the same 14 mpg in mixed driving. To be fair, neither GM nor the EPA were claiming otherwise; the newer version’s 15/21-mpg city/highway estimates are barely better than the six-speed model’s 14/21 mpg (that’s for four-wheel-drive examples like ours; rear-drive Escalades pick up 1 mpg on the EPA highway cycle with the eight-speed). Grip on our 300-foot skidpad remained unchanged at 0.75 g, GM’s Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension toiling to keep the big girl on the level.

Fans of the Escalade’s opulent interior and brassy exterior will be pleased to know that very little has changed outside of the powertrain. The giant Cadillac still brandishes its glitzy grille and fascia with pride, our latest version riding high on optional 22-inch wheels ($600). Accessing the leather-lined, clubroom-like, Kona Brown interior is made easier by the optional power retracting side steps ($1695), a feature we’d leave off unless we were hampered by stature or lack of flexibility. We really took a liking to the natural matte-wood interior trim, which looks a tad more organic sans the usual ladled-on gloss finish. Needless to say, virtually every creature comfort and gadget in the GM catalog makes an appearance here—heated and cooled front and rear seats, all manner of safety assists and blind-spot warnings, a four-color head-up display, Bose audio, and much, much more. It’s as you’d expect of an $89,360 SUV—which now has a transmission more befitting of its lofty sticker.

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