Review: 2013 Escalade Hybrid
One phrase sums up Cadillac’s 2013 Escalade Hybrid: No compromise.
The Escalade offers everything you would expect from a large SUV. It has three rows of seats easily accommodating eight passengers. It also has about 110 cubic feet of cargo space and a 5,800 pound towing capacity. Further, the hybrid offers about a 33 percent improvement in city fuel economy over gasoline-only versions. And you get the standard luxury of a Cadillac.
Depending on a family’s driving pattern, buyers have a choice of two- or four-wheel drive and two trims: Base and Platinum Edition. All versions share the same powertrain. This includes a 6-liter Vortec V8 engine paired with GM’s 2-Mode Hybrid system. With the hybrid system, the SUV can start and drive at slow speeds on electricity alone. In situations were more power is needed, the engine kicks in.
The 2013 Escalade Hybrid leverages other technologies to help improve fuel efficiency. Like many hybrids, the SUV makes use of regenerative braking, which converts the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electric energy. This helps extend the time during which the SUV can run under electrical power. Additionally, when the gasoline engine does not need to deliver maximum horsepower, Active Fuel Management technology deactivates 4 of the 8 cylinders to further reduce fuel consumption.
Cadillac says its 2-Mode Hybrid system, automatic transmission, and these additional technologies help the Escalade Hybrid realize what the company claims is the best fuel economy in its class. Specifically, the Escalade Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 20 MPG city/23 MPG highway. As noted, that represents about a 33 percent improvement in city fuel efficiency.
While some large SUVs drive like trucks, Cadillac tries to make the ride more comfortable using Magnetic Ride Control, which replaces mechanical shock absorbers with electronically-controlled shocks. GM says these shock absorbers react to the road more quickly, offering a smoother ride.
Being a Cadillac, the Escalade Hybrid includes many luxury features as standard gear. For instance, owners get 22-inch chrome wheels, a power liftgate, remote start capability, Bluetooth compatibility, and a rear-view camera. The standard interior includes all-leather seats, power front seats, heated and cooled front seats, and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The Platinum Edition adds features such as LED headlights, power running boards, and a rear seat entertainment system with two monitors.
Unique to the hybrid is an additional instrument gauge to monitor fuel efficiency. The SUV also offers a graphical display of the hybrid system’s operations.
The MSRP for the 2013 Escalade Hybrid is $73,850 for the Base trim and $83,295 for the Platinum Edition.
View Cadillac’s exterior photo gallery of the 2013 Escalade Hybrid here.
Watch a video overview of the 2013 Escalade Hybrid’s features here.
'Review: 2013 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
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