Why mess with perfection? That's the basis of a common argument concerning elite luxury and performance vehicles. Last year, CarBuzz posed the question, "Is tuning a Porsche ever a good idea?" We brought up the same question in the context of Lamborghinis, and each time, there's been a huge diversity of opinions. With the Cadillac Escalade improving each year, we've reached the point at which people will surely argue over whether the vehicle looks better stock or with "tasteful" modifications done.

These Escalades with Lexani wheels seem to provoke the polarizing question of "to mod, or not to mod?" We'll let you be the judge of this largely subjective debate. All we can say is that we're excited about the 2016 Escalade and its nearly ideal blend of luxury and performance characteristics in an SUV. All this style, comfort, and horsepower, comes at a price, of course. A brand new Escalade in "Standard" trim (base trim) costs $72,970 in the US. If you want all-wheel-drive, which is extremely desirable if you're already shopping in this price range, you'll be forking up at least $75,570. Again, those are just the "Standard" models. Above that, there's a "Premium Collection" that starts at $81,145. Repairs aren't cheap, either.

Finally, Escalades from the top-of-the-line "Platinum Collection" have an MSRP of $89,350 for the "Platinum" and $91,950 for the "Platinum 4WD." The 6.2L V8 is the heart of this Cadillac, putting out 420 horsepower while still attaining 15 city mpg and 22 highway mpg. Is it worth spending more to customize this icon?