Originally set to hit sales lots for the 2008 model year, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid had a few last tweaks to make and will not be available until the fall of 2008 for the 2009 model year. Though many hybrid SUV models on the market only boast a slight increase in fuel economy, the Escalade Hybrid is said to have a 25% overall improvement in its fuel efficiency. Also, the two-mode hybrid system emits significantly fewer pollutants into the environment.

It was an uphill battle for Cadillac to create the first ever full-size luxury hybrid model for the American market. Concerns regarding the rapid advancement of hybrid technology and widespread appeal caused the maker to put a hold on the model's release. Nevertheless, the development team for the Escalade Hybrid weathered the storm and ended up with an environmentally friendly model that is sure to please both the common consumer and eco-conscious buyer.

Equipped with the most advanced in hybrid machinery, the Cadillac Escalade surpasses the existing alternative fuel models. The two-mode hybrid transmission can run on either electricity or gasoline. Not only that, when necessary, it will power itself by using both. With regenerative braking the Escalade Hybrid virtually powers itself. This system creates energy and stores it in the battery every time the brake pedal is pressed.

However, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid does not sacrifice power for environmental friendliness. A 332 horsepower V8 engine provides ample power for this full-size SUV. Nevertheless, there are some critics that say that a V8 engine is not truly hybrid. Also, some reviewers claim that Cadillac is being self-aggrandizing by placing large HYBRID badging on either side of the model.

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has made the celebrity circuit by showing at the world-renowned Tribeca Film Festival. Several clever short films starring the Escalade Hybrid have been released on YouTube.com, giving the Escalade Hybrid an already solid younger fan base. Overall, the general take on the new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has been hesitant. Some are concerned that branding a full-size SUV that gets 20 city MPG and 21 highway MPG as "hybrid" is misleading, and others are worried that potential buyers will think they are making a smaller imprint on the environment by purchasing this model. Though, in reality, the amount of metal that is used to make the model and the cost to repair this particular hybrid system far exceeds that of the modern compact car.