Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

Let’s be clear: the 2009 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Hybrid is 17 feet long, weighs almost 3 tons, costs $73,000, and gets about 20 miles per gallon. That’s not what most people think of when they hear “hybrid.”

But this is the hybrid for you if you need a vehicle that can tow 5,800 pounds, seat 7 people, and still maximize your mileage. It boasts fuel economy of 20 city / 21 highway; those aren’t Toyota Prius numbers, for sure, but the city mileage is 50 percent better than a non-hybrid Escalade. You also get far more luxury than in the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (and its twin the GMC Yukon Hybrid); all three are essentially the same vehicle, underneath various levels of fancy dress.

After an afternoon of fairly aggressive driving, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid's dashboard mpg display told the story: 16.3 mpg. (Photos: John Voelcker. All rights reserved.)

Positioning

Launched in August 2008, the Escalade Hybrid is unquestionably the world’s blingiest hybrid. GM’s characteristic hybrid-logo-with-green-leaf is rendered in large, garish chrome letters in a fender vent the size of your fist—which sits at chest level to a standard-issue human being.

And some of its customers bask in the bling. One is Santonio Holmes, the 2009 Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player, who was awarded an Escalade Hybrid 2WD Platinum Edition. GM didn’t publicize the award—bad form during the bailouts—but he got the top-of-the-line model. The Platinum Edition denotes unique front styling, LED headlights, four DVD screens, and more, and runs you $85,000.

It’s worth pointing out that adding the hybrid option to an Escalade actually saves more gasoline than replacing an economy car with a hybrid Prius. It’s because Americans measure mileage rather than consumption. Here’s the math (roughly): The Hybrid improves the Escalade’s mileage from 16 mpg to 20 mpg, so over 100 miles, fuel usage falls from 6.25 gallons to 5—saving 1.25 gallons. Switching from a Toyota Corolla at 33 mpg to a Prius at 50 mpg, on the other hand, saves only 1 gallon for that same 100 miles—from 3 gallons to 2. Still, it’s hard to make the case with a straight face that something this huge actually helps cut US oil imports.

Equipment

The Hybrid version of this big SUV is a complete option package that incorporates a raft of options offered on lesser Escalades. Those include 22-inch chromed aluminum wheels, remote starter, heated and cooled front seats—all rows are fragrant leather—and an “AM/FM/XM/CD radio with MP3 capability and 6-disc charger and 10-speaker Bose Studio Surround.” Phew. Other standard features include a backup camera, powered tailgate opening and closing, and a blind-spot detection system in each side mirror, which proved very useful in a truck this tall.

All of which is to say, this is a large dollop of luxury laid on what is, in the end, a very large station wagon built on a pickup truck frame. But unlike the Tahoe Hybrid (see our drive report) on which it’s based, the Escalade takes no extreme measures to reduce weight and increase mileage. The front air dam is subtly different, but there are no other aerodynamic changes or mass reductions. It even has the standard Escalade roof rack. Cadillac buyers like their features, and this Hybrid is meant to minimize compromises.

We tested a “standard” Escalade 4WD Hybrid in maroon metallic. The total sticker, including delivery, was $75,330. It came with just one option, power retractable running boards ($1,095). Normally they’re handy; I’m six feet tall, and I would have used them—except that they were promptly covered in filthy slush during our upstate New York winter, and stayed that way. All passengers welcomed the front and rear seat heaters in the chilly winter weather.

Driving Impressions

This is one really, really large vehicle, and its truck heritage is never too far from the surface. During an autumn drive over the rough country road surfaces of Bear Mountain, New York, it was obvious this 5,700-pound vehicle had a live rear axle. The rear wheels wanted to twist and hop rather than soaking up the bumps individually, as they would have with independent rear suspension like that on the Ford Expedition, its competing full-size SUV. In other words, the ride hardly evoked “luxury” in the traditional sense of a fast, comfortable, elegant sedan.

Over a full weekend, though, the ‘Slade proved itself quite competent despite the sky-high seating position and truck-like handling. Interior noise was commendably muffled, and the thick layer of luxury almost blots out the challenge of driving something this large. It’s so large, in fact, that it’s intimidating in a rear-view mirror. Traffic ahead often moved over as we approached; you can decide if that’s good or bad, but it rarely happens in a Honda or Toyota hybrid.

Inside, wood and leather dress up a conventional, somewhat plastic-y dashboard with the usual complement of controls. The “efficiency gauge” is confusing, as it uses an unmarked green bar—so it’s not immediately clear whether drivers are supposed to keep the needle to the right or the left. I had to experiment to learn that the left side meant engine low or off (high efficiency) while the right side was power on (low efficiency). A couple of pictograms could go a long way here.

With the plethora of electric gadgets, we heard random noises as the navigation system searched its DVD, accessories switched on and off, and power locks clicked as we moved away. Admittedly, this impression was exacerbated by the hush when the engine wasn’t running.

During driving, the engine switched itself off and on seamlessly, with the electronic control system’s magic guaranteeing a smooth flow of power from any combination of battery and engine. Last fall, with careful driving we got the big truck up to 25 mph on electric power alone; this time, in the colder weather, we couldn’t get much past 12 mph.

Braking was occasionally grabby as the vehicle slowed, presumably as the disks kicked in on top of the regenerative brakes. Passengers didn’t notice it, though, and the problem was intermittent.

Summary

True to the ratings, we measured exactly 20.9 miles per gallon over more than 300 miles of mixed local and highway driving. And we gave the truck high marks for effortlessly climbing a snowy logging trail in the Catskills on its way to a remote mountainside cabin.

So is the Escalade Hybrid for you? It’s no Prius, but then it was never meant to be. If you need a really big seven-seat vehicle—and have a taste for luxury and the cash to match—this $70,000+ hybrid truck may be your cup of tea. If you need that same big vehicle, but like less bling and want to baby your wallet, the Tahoe Hybrid or Yukon Hybrid may do you almost as well.

Note: The Two-Mode transmission system in the Escalade is also used in the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid SUVs on which it’s based, and the system will appear this spring in the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid full-size pickup trucks. Later, it will launch in the BMW X6 Hybrid and a future Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid SUV as well.

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