Complain about a product or service

Cadillac Touts Huge Green SUV Machine

Escalade Hybrid goes on sale next year

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 9, 2007

The luxurious V-8 powered 2009 Cadillac Escalade hybrid is not only an eye catcher, GM promises the opulent SUV will produce a 50 percent increase in fuel economy in the city, jumping from 12 miles per gallon to almost 20.

The hybrid Escalade is scheduled to go on sale at Cadillac dealerships next summer.

GM is yet to announce a price for the humdinger of the hybrid world but you can bet the hybrid Escalade will be expensive. A 2008 Escalade retails for almost $60,000. The hybrid version will cost at least another $10,000, if not more.

"No other manufacturer offers a hybrid that can seat eight luxuriously while simultaneously carrying or trailering lots of cargo comfortably," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac's general manager, in a news release.

The hybrid Escalade will use the GM 2-Mode Hybrid system with a 6-liter V-8 but can cruise on only electric power at speeds up to about 25 mph.

The Escalade's braking system is similar to the braking design in the Toyota Prius and will enable the Caddie to recharge a 300-volt battery pack when the driver uses the SUV's brakes.

The Escalade hybrid system is equipped with electric motors located in the in the transmission to assist the gasoline powered engine while cruising on the highway. The Escalade also uses GM's Active Fuel Management system which shuts off four cylinders when less power is needed to allow the monster to cruise the highways in a more efficient style.

Escalade sales have remained strong throughout the run up in gasoline prices. GM sold more the 30,000 of the SUVs through October, according to industry data.

Nevertheless, a hybrid version of the behemoth is a risk for GM.

Critics of the large SUV accuse GM of missing the point of the hybrid movement while grandstanding in a effort to cloak the company with a green label.

GM insists that the hybrid Escalade will be a fuel efficient SUV that does not compromise any of the capabilities buyers of large vehicles want.

“GM plans to introduce a new hybrid system annually for the next several years, each offering different levels of affordability, fuel savings and performance,” said Tom Stephens, GM group vice president, GM Powertrain. “This strategy will allow more consumers to benefit from our hybrid technologies, while providing the opportunity to reduce our country’s petroleum consumption.”

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Back to the top |