The Cadillac Escalade has long been regarded as an American icon of success as the flagship, luxury sport utility vehicle of General Motors. Now the new, facelifted Escalade has touched down in the Korean market with its incomparable aura.

The Korea Herald had a chance to get behind the wheel of the new Escalade for a 120-kilometer test drive in Seoul and Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces last week.

The test drive began at the parking tower of the Grand Walkerhill Seoul. The five-star hotel is no stranger to guests with expensive, high-end vehicles, so the parking spaces were filled with pricey models. However, once the Escalade came into view, its larger-than-life presence captured all the attention.

The Escalade ESV, the longer version of the SUV, made the parking space seem much smaller than it was. With a length of 5,790 millimeters, a width of 2,060 mm and a height of 1,930 mm, the Escalade is truly the biggest SUV available in the Korean market. The 24-inch wheels -- the biggest in the Cadillac brand’s history -- combined with a 3,407 mm wheelbase intensified the car’s already imposing exterior.

The buttons on the door handles opened the large doors automatically with a soft click, while the running boards along the side of the tall SUV made it easy to get in.

The first part of the test drive was an opportunity to ride in the second row -- what the brand officials called a VIP experience with an executive package. The second row was beyond spacious, resembling seats on a first-class flight or premium long-distance coach. The two stowable tables in the center console of the second row were a pleasant surprise.

The riding experience in the second row of the new Escalade felt more like gliding through the air than riding in a car due to the vehicle’s higher position and the comfort of the seat. A passenger in the second row might relate to the comfort that can come with power, wealth or fame.

Taking the wheel of the Escalade during the second part of the test drive was almost like becoming a truck driver for the day. The bulky SUV was not tailored to maneuver through tight parking structures -- every corner required extra care for a driver not used to such a large car. There was noticeable noise in the driver’s seat, but not enough to distract with music playing on the state-of-the-art surround sound system.

The Escalade’s 6.2L V8 engine proved powerful enough to accelerate the large SUV with ease in the sport driving mode on the highway. Atop the 24-inch wheels and an adaptive suspension, the SUV’s smooth ride continued through a series of speed bumps on rural roads with no need to come to a near halt at each one.

The new Cadillac Escalade starts at 166 million won ($116,000). According to GM Korea, the first batch of the iconic American SUV sold out on the first day of orders earlier this month.