Green Gangster: The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

On any given Monday, automotive journalists around the country walk outside, and begin the arduous and process of “car swapping.” Consisting of a few select steps, the process is in and of itself quite simple, and yet bewilderingly time-consuming, as we scheme and consort with our cohorts to cajole rides from one place to another to drop off and pick up press cars. Add in the required gassing up, washing, vacuuming, and checking for any personal effects remaining in the door pockets/center console/glove box/under seat/CD changer, and the simple task of dropping off Car A at Location A can start to consume your entire morning. Add in the complexities of picking up Car B at Location B at Time C, and you can see how Mondays are, for most journalists, a complete write off (no pun intended) in terms of getting much writing done.

But of course, it always seems worth it when you arrive at your final destination, ready and eager to accept the keys to another week’s worth of four-wheeled fun and excitement, especially when the particular vehicle in question is a gleaming black Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, fresh from the detailers. Having already had extensive experiences with the other 2-Mode Hybrid SUVs in GM’s lineup, I knew what to expect in the simplest terms, but having just gotten out of a week behind the wheel of a Honda Fit, was still anticipating a luxurious week behind the wheel of one of the biggest on-road presences available.

It wouldn’t be long before I would start to regret that excited anticipation.

Sidling out on the macadam of the roadway, the Escalade Hybrid was expectedly polite. The big 6.0L V8 and hybrid transmission felt identical to those I’d encountered in the Yukon and Tahoe, and the increase in girth didn’t seem to saddle any powertrain component with any sort of untoward hesitation. The same amazing transmission provided both CVT-like action and fixed-gear performance depending on the conditions, while the familiar two-motor system encased in the transmission assisted with the engine’s struggle to overcome the Escalade’s relatively ponderous mass. Moving down the on Vancouver’s broken pavement, the Escalade’s suspension soaked up nearly any and all bumps, however, the larger chrome wheels did provide an interesting counterpoint to the smaller wheels and larger sidewalls found on the Yukon and Tahoe. Although capable of isolating the driver from the biggest of potholes without any crashing or jarring, there was always a continuous hum throughout the interior cabin as the low sidewalls transmitted far more feel for rocks, roots and asphalt repairs into the wheels and suspension. Far from unpleasant, it was barely noticeable, and definitely shouldn’t be a problem for any potential buyers.

Likewise, the well appointed interior shouldn’t disappoint. Perhaps best referred to as an experience, the first hint towards the Escalade’s lavish cabin comes with a tug of the large, easily gripped door handles. Triggered by the door opening, running boards slide out from beneath the rocker panels to ease ingress and egress from the relatively tall vehicle; a handy showpiece that never got old. Furthermore, by remaining tucked underneath the body during normal driving, the running boards can be made wider and lower than average, since they only ever protrude when stopped. This means that unlike many other luxury SUVs (read: the BMW X5), the running boards can actually fit properly sized feet and provide a decent step into and out of the cabin. However, being exposed to all the road salt and spray, the passenger side step mechanism was already showing signs of wear, and opened with a terrible grinding noise, which did cause some concern. However, once seated in the captain’s chairs, neither driver nor passenger could fault the Escalade for being at all noisy. With doors that seem to be the offspring of a bank vault, and massive swathes of leather, there’s not a lot of resonance in the Escalade’s cabin, and it was noticeably quieter than that of its Tahoe brethren. Unqieu touches for Escalde owners include larger amounts of leather adorning the door panels, center console and other select areas, however, the brushed metal dashboard appliqué with the classic “Cadillac” script laser-etched into the airbag cover was my particular favourite.

But as nice as it was to be in, it was definitely better to be seen in. Being a young man not yet 30, the Cadillac Escalade carries more clout within my social circles than nearly any other SUV, and is easily the strongest Cadillac badge extant. Pulling up to red lights and parking lots in a freshly waxed black Escalade with massive 22” chrome wheels gleaming in the sunlight, the Escalade turned more heads than even I had predicted. Even though they’re relatively common in Vancouver, they’ve managed to retain their curb appeal, and I received many compliments from passerby. However, the compliments were not the most entertaining comments the Escalade elicited. Take, for example, the assumption from a fellow lacrosse player that “that guy in the Escalade must be a drug dealer.” Or, perhaps the relatively entertaining occurrence of one particular night out on the town in which myself, and two friends following in a separate car were all pulled over by no less than 5 RCMP officers who’d taken the liberty of closing the most populated road in a suburb of 188,100 people to assist in the tactical takedown. Given absolutely no reason for the anything-but-routine traffic stops, both myself, and the other driver were let off after forking over our drivers licences and insurance information. Humorously, after the police officers had ascertained that neither myself, nor the 24 year-old ultimate Frisbee-playing, video game software engineering cohort following me were gangsters, the Escalade’s Hybrid badging was noticed and questioned at length, with all seven officers eventually clustered around the open hood with yours truly delivering an in-depth explanation of the transmission’s hybrid componentry.

However, as chuckle-worthy as that first run-in was, it was repeated no less than four times in the course of the next seven days. And trust me, by the fourth unwarranted traffic stop, it had gone from entertaining farce to annoying delay. Whilst other buyers may not suffer the same stereotyping, there’s simply no getting around the Soprano-inspired assumptions people reach when they spot an Escalade. That said, there’s also no getting around the number of buyers that have purchased an Escalade simply for that stereotype and the associated image. But, although I would place the Escalade at, or near the top of my list of best looking SUVs, and the Hybrid model specifically allowed me to enjoy that awe-inspiring on road presence for a fraction of the running costs, I think I’d take my 2-Mode Hybrid drivetrain underneath a well-equipped Tahoe in federal-issue dark blue, and enjoy both tens of thousands of dollars in savings, and a certain assumed association with various police forces.