I’ve always been fascinated by the Escalade whenever I see one on the streets. However, I’m wondering if there’s an Escalade hybrid, is there one? I’m sure the people in Texas would love to see more of these driving down the street than purely gasoline-fed models.

Owen

Houston, TX

Good day, Owen! I am in complete agreement with your statement regarding having more hybrids around our state. Let there be more Escalade Hybrids in Texas. Lesser emissions mean clean air and a better environment for the generation that will follow us.

After I first read about the Cadillac Escalade, I already appreciated its features as an SUV. That was until I found more about the Escalade Hybrid. The Escalade Hybrid maintains pure SUV power characteristics, as Cadillac claims it can still tow 5,800 pounds. After all, it still has a 332 hp 6.0 liter V8 engine that kicks up 367 lbs-ft torque at 4,100 rpm. I agree with the Cadillac people. These things you won’t expect from a hybrid. I am also fascinated with the technology applied on the Escalade Hybrid. There’s regenerative braking, a system that charges up the battery. There are two electric motors that run the car in low power situations and when more power is needed the gasoline engine helps the car move along. And when real muscle is needed, the car automatically switches itself to pure gasoline engine mode. When it’s at a full stop, the gas engine shuts off to limit emissions. With these systems in place, the Escalade Hybrid’s EPA ratings reach up to 20 to 21 miles per gallon on city and highway drives, respectively.

Escalade, Escalade, Escalade. Would driving this car give me more “street cred” here in Houston, Texas?

Frankie

Houston, TX

Why, Frankie, the Escalade will give you more than “street cred” in Houston, Texas. The Escalade is definitely more than just a souped-up Tahoe. That’s why you see the car in a lot of movies. Before you go to a Cadillac dealer, let’s go beyond the bling, alright?

If we talk about the 2009 model, I’m particularly excited about the Escalade hybrid that can do about 20 miles per gallon. Considering that this thing is an SUV that packs a 6.0 Liter V8, that is definitely worth looking at. Safety features are also important to me, and Cadillac put in a lot of really good features like OnStar. With the OnStar system, you will be sure that you have protection even in cases of emergencies. If you get into a super fender bender, the emergency response system on OnStar gets you 911-like assistance right from your car. Of course, the Escalade comes with all the necessary airbags. You’ll also get a voice-activated phone system in your car; that’s already doing a lot in terms of safety on the road. For luxury, I think the 5.1 surround sound system should be enough to let you know how delightful driving can be when you are inside an Escalade. I think these should be more than enough than “street cred.”

Have fun driving the Escalade, Frankie.