2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid receives an updated navigation system but is otherwise unchanged.The Escalade Hybrid is great for shoppers who want to up their green cred without sacrificing the performance, interior luxury or space of a luxury large SUV.
Reviewers don’t quite know what to make of the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. It gets better gas mileage than the conventional model, but its fuel economy is terrible when compared with other hybrid SUVs like the 30/27 mpg city/highway of the Ford Escape Hybrid. The Cadillac Escalade is the only full-size luxury SUV with a hybrid powertrain on the market now. If you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly people-hauler with lots of cargo space and all-wheel drive, you should check out the Escalade’s corporate cousins: the GMC Yukon Hybrid and the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. The GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid is the model’s premium trim and starts at $58,515, cheaper than the Escalade Hybrid by $15,535.
The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has no competition from brands other than GM, although the smaller Lexus RX 450h hybrid and Porsche Cayenne Hybrid are reasonable alternatives as long as towing isn't required. The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is an eight-passenger, full-size luxury sport-utility vehicle offered in two trim levels: base and top-of-the-line Platinum.
Inside the cabin you'll find all the expected amenities, including leather-trimmed seating, heated and ventilated power front seats with driver memory, second-row 60/40-split-folding bench seat, a removable third-row 50/50-split bench seat, power-adjustable pedals, tri-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth and a navigation system with real-time traffic. The Escalade Hybrid is powered by a 6.0-liter V8 (E85 compatible) working in conjunction with a battery pack mounted under the second-row seat and a pair of 60-kilowatt electric motors located inside the unique automatic transmission. In Edmunds performance testing, the Escalade Hybrid went from zero to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds; the regular Escalade does it in 7.5.
A cylinder-deactivation system helps reduce fuel consumption, while regenerative braking replenishes the batteries while coasting or stopping. Estimated fuel economy is excellent for a large truck-based SUV at 20 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive or 4WD.
Other advanced safety features on the Escalade Hybrid include a blind-spot warning system, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera and OnStar communications.
The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid exhibits two distinct personalities depending on your motoring mode.
If you're in the market for a spacious SUV with power yet still capable of healthy fuel savings, then you will definitely want to take a look at the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.
The Escalade Hybrid has a classic Cadillac interior with leather upholstery, a navigation system, memory driver’s seat, and rear seat video entertainment. Front seats are heated, ventilated and power-adjusted. As would be expected, the hybrid scored well above others in its class in fuel economy.
On the pro side, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has well-designed controls, and plenty of passenger room, both for the legs and head, along with ample cargo space.
On the con side, the Escalade Hybrid is not very quiet, and the 22 inch wheels and high vehicle weight limit the ride quality.
The hybrid provides Cadillac luxury but with fuel economy and a respectable price tag. As a value within its class of large SUVs, the 2011 Escalade Hybrid was rated by Consumer Guide at 7 compared to a class average of 5.4.
