2009 Hybrid Cars, Trucks and SUVs: Cadillac

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
Base MSRP: $72,865 (RWD); $75,415 (4WD)
EPA fuel economy (city/highway): 20 mpg/21 mpg (RWD); N/A (4WD)

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is an apparent vehicular oxymoron. The Escalade is big and heavy and lavish. Its purpose in the world is to not make any obvious sacrifices for efficiency. How big and heavy and lavish is it? Well, the 4x4 version is so heavy that it falls outside the bounds of the EPA's fuel economy testing for passenger cars. But yes, there is a hybrid version, which uses the same two-mode system as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. The Caddy uses a 6.2-liter V8 instead of the lesser ute's 6.0-liter version. The V8 and two electric motors deliver 20 mpg in city driving. That might not sound that great, but it is 8 mpg higher than the standard Escalade. To guarantee that no one mistakes your hybrid Escalade for a standard one, Cadillac has plastered the body with "HYBRID" stickers.