2003 Cadillac Escalade Luxury

This is the full-size luxury SUV that put Cadillac's badge on a truck platform, the one that defined the big American SUV for a generation. It drives surprisingly car-like for something this size, with a smooth, confident feel that hides its bulk on the highway. The cabin is a proper luxury lounge, with wood-grain trim, plush seats, and room for eight, plus a huge cargo bay behind the third row. Expect it to drink fuel and to pay a premium for parts, but owners say the comfort and space make it worth it. The Luxury trim gives you the full leather interior, heated front seats, and a Bose audio system that the base model skipped. Its 6.0L V8 pairs with automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, so you get a confident launch from every stop and sure-footed traction in rain or snow, but expect 13 mpg combined. This trim also came with the Autoride air suspension, which keeps the ride pillow-soft over bumps but can be expensive to replace when it ages.