Sterling Heights — With 420 horsepower and a satisfying roar, the 6.2-liter pushrod V-8 engine under the hood of my 2026 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Sport tester would usually be my obsession.But eight is a trivial number in the Platinum Sport model.What has my attention in the Platinum Sport are the dozens of buttons that operate a cornucopia of automatic functions on this rolling condominium: auto doors, seats, tailgate, drawers, TV screens and Super Cruise hands-free driving. At $131K, Platinum Sport is an expensive automobile — but an affordable condo.AdvertisementAdvertisementLet’s start in back and move forward. Our first button is the functional Cadillac shield on the rear tailgate.Press it and the rear hatch automatically opens, revealing a palatial, 121 cubic-feet of space with the third-row seats down for your cargo (142 cubic-feet if you option the Extended Stretch Vehicle (ESV)). How big? Throw a mattress topper back there in the ESV model and you’ll have the dimensions of a king-size bed — about 7 1/2 feet of length. Not a bad hotel bed if you’re towing, say, your race car to a track weekend.Push twin buttons under the right rear hatch, however, and the third-row seats (split 60/40) automatically deploy for one of the most comfortable third rows in the segment. For its latest generation mega-utes (including the Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon), General Motors changed to a space-efficient independent rear suspension, freeing more footwell room (compared to a solid-axle Toyota Sequoia).That means my knees weren’t under my chin — and my 6’5” frame could enjoy the 35 inches of third-row legroom (more than the Cadillac CT4 sedan’s second row).The imposing, Mandalorian front end of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade includes mid-headlights.Better yet, I could convert the second-row seat into an ottoman and get some work done on my laptop. Just pull the tab (OK, technically not a button) at the base of the second-row captain’s chair and it automatically flops forward into ottoman mode.AdvertisementAdvertisementWant to exit the third row? Push the button on the Caddy’s C-pillar and the second-row seat pivots forward. Or exit via the center aisle like an airplane (though if you’ve optioned the Escalade’s rear refrigerator, the aisle will be blocked).Pull the big silver tab on the door armrest and the rear power doors swing open. Power doors — standard on the Platinum trim — are especially useful in parking lots since they will automatically stop shy of nearby objects (cars, trash cans). All that’s missing is a red carpet.Row two brings more amenities.Screens, screens everywhere in the 2026 Cadillac Escalade, including two in the backseat. A fridge is also available back there.I climbed into my (fridge-less) model and pressed the button on the back of the front center console — revealing twin cupholders. I secured my Snapple bottle, pressed a button to heat my rear seat, then turned on the 12.6-inch screen on the back of the front seat and accessed the YouTube app to watch the 12 Hours of Sebring. I pulled the wireless headphones (Bluetoothed to my phone) from the seat pocket and slipped them on.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe front seats are accessed with power doors as well. Squeeze the button on the side of the handle and the big door swings open at the same time a step automatically deploys from below the rocker panel for easy access. Much appreciated, says wee Mrs. Payne.Hop inside, pull the door handle tab, and the door automatically closed behind me.A massive 38-inch-screen housing three displays arches across the dash from A-pillar to A-pillar. The far-right screen — like the twin screens in the second row — can be used for video, games and other passenger programming. The other two screens are for the driver.I punched the Android Auto apps icon and Google Maps took over the center screen.AdvertisementAdvertisement“Navigate to Zmash Padel, Sterling Heights, Michigan,” I barked, and the route filled the display complete with lush Google Earth details. Escalade’s electric twin, the Escalade IQ, uses Google Built-in lieu of Android Auto/Apple CarPlay so it can integrate Google Maps with charging station stops. Map directions are also projected to the instrument and heads-up display in front of me.The steering wheel is your button-palooza:Pull a tab to get a middle-seat ottoman in the 2026 Cadillac Escalade.1) Steering-wheel left spoke rocker button to select my instrument display of choice (Google Maps View, Super Cruise View, rpm/mph view)2) Button behind the right spoke for radio volumeAdvertisementAdvertisement3) Button behind the left spoke for radio station selection4) Rocker button for adaptive cruise control5) Button to activate Super CruiseEntering I-75, I pulled the rearview mirror button for a full 360-degree view behind the boat. I set ACC to 75 mph and the steering wheel glowed green, indicating that my land yacht was on autopilot. I took my hands off the wheel and grabbed a Snapple with my right hand. With my left, I pulled on the turn signal and Escalade steered automatically into the middle shipping lane.From there, I let Super Cruise do its thing. When it sensed slower traffic ahead, it moved automatically to the left lane. Like Tesla’s Autopilot, Super Cruise is nervous about pulling back into the right lane after passing, so I often had to prod it with the right stalk.AdvertisementAdvertisementExiting I-75, Escalade turned driving duties back to me. As it did on I-696 West on my drive later in the day to 910 AM in Southfield.I-696 was under construction, with only the eastbound lanes open ... for, ahem, westbound traffic. Super Cruise is mapped only for properly functioning east- and westbound lanes, so only ACC was available for my route.The 2026 Cadillac Escalade is capable of towing up to 8,000 pounds.All these buttons make the Escalade Platinum a supreme road trip vehicle. It relieves trip fatigue for passengers and drivers alike. For all its luxury, the big Caddy is still a driver’s car. Below decks is GM’s superbly engineered truck chassis paired with adjustable shocks. I took the long way home over Oakland County’s two-lane roads.I pressed the DRIVE MODE (on the left dash) to SPORT, which stiffened the springs and maximized the 10-speed automatic transmission’s gear ratios. Exiting a corner onto a long straightaway, I pressed the biggest button of all — the accelerator pedal at the end of my lead foot.AdvertisementAdvertisementROOAAAAR! Love the new electronics, but the V-8 never gets old.Next week: Value face-off, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid vs. Honda Civic Sport2026 Cadillac EscaladeVehicle type: Rear- or-all-wheel-drive, six-passenger SUVPrice: $93,995, including $2,895 destination charge ($131,370 AWD Platinum Sport as tested)Powerplant: 6.2-liter V-8Power: 420 horsepower, 460 pound-feet of torqueTransmission: 10-speed automaticPerformance: 0-60 mph, 6.0 seconds (Car and Driver); towing capacity, 8,000 poundsWeight: 6,014 pounds (as tested)Fuel economy: EPA 14 mpg city/18 highway/16 combinedReport cardHighs: Electronic palace; V-8 roarLows: Costs as much as a condominiumAdvertisementAdvertisementOverall: 4 starsHenry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or @HenryEPayne.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Review: In the Cadillac Escalade, there's always a button for that
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