2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT Vs. 2002 Lincoln Blackwood

Debate continues over whether or not Lincoln and Cadillac belong in the truck business. The former has been around since 1917, the latter was founded 100 years ago. And if you don't count the Escalade and Navigator SUVs or the odd custom-bodied special here and there, each has managed to last this long without building trucks. Why now?

Simple: Times change, as do people's wants, tastes, and needs. At the moment, the market wants trucks and sport/utilities to the tune of one out of every two new vehicles sold. And, like it or not, Lincoln and Cadillac are in business to move metal and earn a profit. So while '55 Continental Mark II and '59 Eldorado convertible collectors may feel the very notion of rigs like the Blackwood and Escalade EXT is blasphemy, they're here. With the aforementioned profit notions clearly in view. If people want, like, and buy them, they'll be proven as good product ideas. If they tank, well then, the collectors were right all along.

For the sake of this exercise, we're not here to further debate brand heritage or talk philosophy: We're here to drive, test, evaluate, and pick a winner. Both lux trucks are new for '02 and clearly stem from developments of Ford's and GM's full-size pickups. But there are distinct differences in their platforms and how they handle cargo-or don't. And that defines what each is ultimately about.

You don't have to squint to see the Blackwood's commonality with the Ford F-150 SuperCrew. It employs a full-size cab with four front-hinged doors, though its separate 56.3-in.-long bed is different from that of the Ford. The cabin's rear bulkhead is fixed, as is its rear window, and there's no access to the bed area from inside. Its claim-to-parking-lot fame is the way that bed is decked out: Ya got yer plush carpeting, yer aluminum trim, and ya got yer neon lights, too. The topper, in this case, is the topper: the Blackwood's nicely finished hard tonneau cover is power-operated and opens and closes via a key fob remote. Your neighbors and car-club buddies will be blown away, and your golf clubs will never be happier.

The EXT, on the other hand, evolved from GM's full-size sport/utility platform (Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade). The full-size-cab-with-four-front-hinged-doors part is the same, though the rear bodywork flows into the sides of a non-detached bed structure with a 63.3-in.-long floor. Its trick feature is GM's patented Midgate. This device functions as a hinged rear bulkhead and allows the load floor to be expanded to a full 97 in. Fold the rear seats forward, then remove the rear window via a quick-release latch. The window stows neatly in the Midgate, which then folds down, creating that extended floor. If you wish, you can also leave the rear window in place with the Midgate lowered or remove the window with the Midgate up for more fresh air.

Doesn't this whole setup-virtually the same as on Chevrolet's new Avalanche-sound like a recipe for squeaks, leaks, and wind noise? Yes-but GM has effectively engineered all the above right out of it. This setup is functional, versatile, and cleverly executed. Unlike the Lincoln's street-rod-inspired bed, the EXT's is set up for heavy-duty use, with rubberized floor matting and two lockable side stowage bins. Unlike those on the Blackwood, they are accessible from outside the bed and are also at least twice as large as the Lincoln's. The Cadillac's bed is approximately 20 in. tall-a full 5 in. taller than the Blackwood's, and that means a lot in terms of additional overall volume.