NOTE: Pricing based on data collected June 2009. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology
Vehicle Summary
Cadillac introduced the Escalade Hybrid in model year 2009 as a two-wheel-drive (2WD) luxury hybrid. The full-size SUV seats eight people and gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg. The Escalade Hybrid uses General Motors’ (GM’s) two-mode hybrid system and has a slightly downsized engine compared with the conventional Escalade. The Escalade Hybrid is a full hybrid, offering electric-only operation under certain conditions, idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.
Environmental Score
The Escalade Hybrid’s 25 percent reduction in global warming emissions (compared with the conventional Escalade) is a solid accomplishment. Yet two conventional seven-passenger SUVs—the Toyota Highlander and the Mitsubishi Outlander—are more fuel-efficient than the Escalade Hybrid. In addition, the smog-forming emissions performance of the Escalade Hybrid is among the worst of all hybrids on the market earning it an EPA air pollution score of 6. In comparison, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid rates a 9 on the EPA’s scale, and even the conventional Toyota Highlander merits a 7. These two factors give the Escalade Hybrid an Environmental Score of 5.2. Hybrid technology and modern emissions control systems offer the unique quality of providing a “no compromise” vehicle that does not trade smog forming emissions for global warming emissions, and vice versa. The Environmental Score of the Escalade Hybrid could be greatly improved if GM focused two-mode hybrid technology on maximizing fuel economy, and made an effort toward reducing smog-forming emissions akin to the rest of the hybrid manufacturers.
Scorecard Environmental Score methodology
Hybrid Value
A very bright spot for the Escalade Hybrid is that Cadillac is charging a modest $3,600 for the hybrid system. Despite its poor smog-forming emissions performance (which earned it a low Environmental Score), the 25 percent reduction in global warming emissions puts the Escalade Hybrid in the “High” range for Hybrid Value. Unfortunately, Cadillac undermines this value by adding thousands of dollars of forced features to the hybrid (see below).
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
Luxury vehicles are defined by their features, but the Escalade Hybrid takes it to another level. Cadillac piles on $7,330 worth of extra features to the Escalade Hybrid compared with the base model Escalade—already a luxury vehicle in itself—giving the Escalade Hybrid a Forced Features rating of “$$$$$,” the worst rating in this category. Sample Forced Features include: Automatic electronic rear-level control system; magnetic ride control; DVD entertainment system with roof-mounted flip-down 8" diagonal screen, two 2-channel wireless headphones, auxiliary audio/video jacks, and remote game plug-in; heated and cooled front seats; and a sunroof. While luxury SUV buyers may be more easily able to afford all of these features, the fact they are standard in the price of the hybrid lends to the artificial impression that hybrid technology is prohibitively expensive. Click to see full list of forced features.
Scorecard Forced Features methodology
Hybrid Scorecard Home
Additional Info
Visit the Who’s Got Hybrids section to read comments and stories from actual hybrid owners.
Visit the Reviews page to see what popular automotive websites think of this hybrid.
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