Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid SUV comes with one of the higher price points in the crossover sports utility vehicle market today. Yet, it remains one of the top sellers in its class. The idea is to determine what drives the price up so high, aside from a name that is synonymous with luxury. There are certainly many more affordable hybrid SUVs available, and some of it depends on what your individual needs are for owning a sports utility vehicle.

What the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Signifies

The newest edition comes with improved mileage and reduced CO2 emissions. That makes those who want hybrid SUVs to actually be green, as well as save on money at the gas pump, a little relieved. It is of course, considered one of the ultimate in luxury hybrid SUVs. So, it is important to know a little about what is under the hood and the details of the cabin.

What has been called the world’s first and only full-size luxury crossover SUV comes with an impressive 6.0 liter V8 engine. Compared to the Cadillac’s non-hybrid Escalade, the difference in city fuel economy is a surprising increase of 54%. The EPA estimates indicate that this hybrid SUV gets 20 miles per gallon on city streets and 23 miles per gallon for the highway. Not nearly as impressive as some of the competition, but what the Escalade crossover lacks in fuel economy, it makes up for in its division by having more power and towing capacity.

 The Escalade has a whopping 332 horsepower and 367 of torque. Like most SUV hybrids, Cadillac’s version includes the regenerative braking feature that captures energy expelled during braking and stores it in the battery pack. One feature that helps make the Escalade a top seller is the Active Fuel Management technology. What this system does is sense when not as much power from all eight cylinders is needed and adjusts to cut back and run on just four. This, in turn, helps with the consumption of fuel.

Some Other Features

That sticker price mentioned earlier is $74,135 for the standard package, without any upgrades. The features mentioned here are on the all models, so it should be what you would be getting, no matter what version hybrid SUV you get. Things such as the Side Blind Zone Alert, the power liftgate with remote access and the 22 inch chromed wheels are on all models of the hybrid Escalade. Additionally, you can count on having a navigation system and rearview backup camera.

For more luxury items, you will enjoy the heated and cooled front seats, the Bose 5.1 surround sound system and the XM radio, with three months free as part of a trial subscription. There are also certain OnStar features already in place, in addition to the standard plan for a full year.

The Other Basics

 For the brakes on the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, you get four wheel antilock, four wheel disc and elector-hydraulic power. You also get a differential with heavy-duty locking rear. Though it is good and important to have, the Stabilitrack is also becoming standard for most crossover sports utility vehicles. This system is a stability control system with rollover mitigation.

On the Inside

For one thing, with the crossover Escalade, you get Adaptive Remote Start. As for the airbags, there is plenty of coverage in this area, making this an extra safe choice for airbags. There are airbags in the dual-stage frontal, driver and right side passenger, head-curtain for side impact and seat mounted side-impact. This is in addition to a rollover sensor and Passenger Sensing System.

There is also the tri-zone automatic climate control, which is also fairly standard in most modern day crossover SUVs. The rear parking assist and remote keyless entry are in place, and also on the list of most of the competitors out there. The theft deterrent system and the tire pressure monitoring system are slightly less common, but great standard features to have.

In Conclusion

The Cadillac name alone symbolizes luxury. So, it is no surprise you would see a higher price tag on the SUV version. Of course, add the word hybrid in the mix and you are obviously going to see an even steeper increase in the price. The thing is, when compared to other hybrid SUVs, it is difficult to determine if the standard features and power, paired with the luxury driven name, are worthy of the MSRP. If it isn’t just about luxury, GMC and Chevrolet make a crossover SUV that might be close to meeting your needs, versus the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.

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