2015 Cadillac Escalade is bigger, brawnier and makes no apologies

Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door hatchback

Engine type: Pushrod 16-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Power: 420 hp @ 5600 rpm

Torque: 460 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

Wheelbase: 116.0 in

Length: 203.9 in

Width: 80.5 in Height: 74.4 in

Passenger/cargo volume: 120.8/15.2 cu ft

Curb weight: 5887 lb

EPA city/highway: 15/21 mpg

Make no mistake: Cadillac’s redesigned beast-of-an-SUV, the Escalade, has tons of competitors. Heck, its own kin, the GMC Yukon Denali, compares favorably — and costs tens of thousands less.

Then there’s the smoother-riding Mercedes GL-Class, the Lexus LS570 and Infiniti QX80.

But the Escalade offers a quality none of the others do: It’s an Escalade. Dang it, people like ‘em and rumors are that Cadillac can barely make them fast enough.

So it’s no surprise the beast is back for 2015 and Caddy, never timid about its heft, is making no apologies: It is even bigger — about an inch-and-a-half longer and wider, heavier by 100 pounds or so, and more powerful than last year, too.

The fourth-generation Escalade is all Caddy, with its chiseled physique, sharp angles and imposing attitude. It is peppered with LED lights to make the elegant creature a must-look at night.

Of course, propelling a 5,870-pound SUV requires lots of muscle and Escalade has it. A re-engineered, fuel-injected 6.2-liter engine ups the horses this year to 420 while torque figures jump from 417 to 460 pound-feet.

The power is strong and smooth, especially on the open highway. It’ll chew up miles so fast and comfortably you’ll miss your exit.

From the stoplight, it is impressive, too, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds, according to Cadillac. That would rank it one of the quicker heavyweight SUVs.

Escalade offers a wonderfully quiet ride. With minimal road and wind noise, conversation is easy and no one needs to shout from the third row.

But this body-on-frame truck stays true to its roots: Despite its Magnetic Ride Control suspension system, the Escalade treats you to many of the road’s imperfections. It’s better when you switch from Sport to Tour mode, but not by much. The beefy truck’s 22-inch wheels, I suppose, don’t help.

Light-weighted steering at slower speeds means the Escalade drives smaller than it is. It also makes parking manageable at the mall. And, Escalade is surprisingly stable on corners for such a tall, heavy vehicle.

Earlier 2015 Escalades received 6-speed transmissions, but now they’re produced with 8-speed trannys that offer manual shifting via a button on the steering wheel. The rear wheels do the work here but 4-wheel-drive is available.

The Escalade, when properly equipped, can tow up to 8,300 pounds.

Now all this power takes a toll on mileage, as you might imagine, but the figures are still competitive with its foes. In fact, they’re slightly better than some at 15 mpg city, 22 highway, for a combined 17 mpg. The 4WD version is slightly improved over last year at 14 city, 20 highway. The boosts come from a cylinder deactivation system that operates the engine with 4 cylinders when the full 8-cylinder bundle is not needed.

Unlock the doors and the power side steps (optional on Premium and Platinum trims) come out to assist your entry. Once inside, you’ll hear the steps retract as you take in the premium materials and elegant look of the redesigned interior.

It is flush with real wood trim and brushed metal accents. All of the panels and pieces fit snugly and have a soft, rich feel.

Seats covered in leather and Alcantara can massage your bottom while heat and cooling systems keep the seats just the right temp. A heated steering wheel helps on frigid mornings.

There’s plenty of head and leg room in the front and middle rows for adults, not so much in the third row. The seats are mounted lower and rob passengers of leg room. Best suited for the kids.

The good news is that those seats are now power-operated by a trunk-mounted button and fold flat. That means easier access to a cargo area that grows to 51.6 cubic feet with the third row down. Stow the second row, too, and it opens up 94.2 cubic feet of space. The hands-free liftgate can be opened with a swipe of the foot under the rear bumper.

Beware: The big and luxurious Escalade, often the SUV of athletes and celebs, will attract attention. “I feel like everyone’s staring at me,” said my wife.

No offense, dear, but they may be staring at the Escalade.