2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Combines Utility and Luxury
“Chic, powerful, fun to drive,” those are some of the descriptors given by reviewers who drove the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. The Escalade offers all the benefits (interior space, power, seating and towing capacity) of a full-sized gasoline-powered SUV, but boosts the fuel economy with an assist from a pair of electric motors.
You can also add luxurious to the list of adjectives for this SUV. Base models of the eight-seater include numerous high-end amenities. Exterior features include 22-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, roof rack, sunroof, and remote start capability. The interior is bundled with many standard features that would be considered luxury add-ons with other SUV lines. These features include leather-trimmed seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and new to the 2011 model is an updated navigation system with real-time traffic information.
If that’s not enough luxury, a Platinum model adds a rear-seat entertainment system, heated and cooled cup holders, powerized retractable running boards, and premium leather upholstery.
You would expect such things from a Cadillac. What you might not expect is the Escalade’s fuel economy, especially in a vehicle this large. This nearly 6,000 pound SUV gets 20 mpg city, 23 mpg highway.
That’s not great compared to other hybrid SUVs like the Ford Escape Hybrid. However, considering the Cadillac Escalade’s size, this fuel economy is about 5 to 7 mpg better than the gasoline-only version, which is considered to offer a decent mpg.
The fuel economy is the result of two factors. First, the gasoline engine uses fuel saving technology to boost its mpg numbers. That engine is a 332-hp 6.0L Vortec V8 engine with Active Fuel Management. Active Fuel Management is a General Motors technology that lets the engine turn off half the cylinders when extra power is not needed. Depending of the type of driving a person does, this improves fuel economy by between 5.5 and 7.5 percent.
The second factor, naturally, is the role of the two electric motors. The Cadillac Escalade is a two-mode gas/electric powertrain system. At low-speed city driving, it can run on just the electric motors. When accelerating, towing heavy loads (the SUV has a 5,800 pound towing capacity), or driving at faster speeds, the V8 engine kicks in.
The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid comes in two- or four-wheel drive versions. The Base model has a MSRP starting at $73,840; the MSRP for the Premium Edition starts at $85,640. For those interested in last year’s model, see our review of the 2010 Escalade hybrid.
> View a GM photo gallery of the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid here.
> View a WheelsTV AOL Autos test drive video here.
great car