2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum: What a Cadillac Should Be

By Joel Feder

Cadillac latest advertising campaign pegs the brand as “The New Standard of the World.” But are they really? Over the past 10 years, there is no question that they haven’t been. But do vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade Platinum stand to change that?

The Cadillac Escalade Platinum stands for all the right things at the wrong time. With 22″ wheels, three TV screens and a 6.0-Liter V8, the Escalade is what many would say is wrong with America. Wait a second, what’s this? It’s a hybrid!

GM launched its two-mode hybrid system in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon full size SUVs. Both of those full size SUVs share the GMT-900 platform with the Cadillac Escalade, making an Escalade hybrid model a no brainer.

The exterior of the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and the GMC Yukon Hybrid both feature slightly tweaked exteriors for enhanced aerodynamics. The Escalade hybrid does not feature a different front end or body work, but the Platinum edition does.

The grille is an egg crate-like design that is more in-line with the rest of the Cadillac line-up. The headlights are fully LED with a unique design exclusive to the Platinum edition. I actually like the grille design on the Platinum better than the regular Escalade.

While the headlight design is certainly unique, I’m not sure if they are better or worse. The LED headlights flood the road with natural blueish white light. This clashes with the yellow light that hits the road from the halogen fog lights. I wish Cadillac has fitted LED lights in the fog lights along with the headlights. This would give the front end a much more cohesive look at night.

The Platinum also features 22″ chrome multi-spoke wheels which put the Escalade up in the air. To help get into this land barge you have automatic step bars. They deploy as soon as any of the doors open. Around back, the Escalade Platinum features all-LED lighting.

Visually the Escalade is already an in your face, over the top vehicle. The Platinum edition takes that all one step further and in reality it looks better than the regular Escalade in many regards.

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Accelerate Mpls - 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum: What a Cadillac Should Be

A gawdy, tacky, overpriced Tahoe. That is not what a Cadillac should be.

From talking with Joel on the Autobird Podcast and reading the article, what he means by the statement SMK is that all Cadillacs should come equipped like the Platinum series instead of having so many levels of options available.

I am all for lots of standard equipment, but you don't need "Platinum" badges all over the car to make it a luxury car. Cadillac as they go up the price scale just seems to get more tacky and more outlandish, rather than getting more classy and more refined.

It should have a bespoke steering wheel also...that's just a corporate wheel w/ a Caddy badge stuck on.

I like the way there is only 1 exterior badge & one interior badge. And the Cadillac Crest doesn't fill the entire grille like so many mercedes do. Classy.

I think the steering wheel looks fine. Also instead of saying Platinum on the dash it should say Escalade instead.

I think the steering wheel looks fine. Also instead of saying Platinum on the dash it should say Escalade instead.

It looks fine... but it's not exclusive to Cadillac... and Cadillac should have exclusive stuff, at least visually.

Agreed on the wheel: looks nice as is, but should absolutely be exclusive.

I'd be more impressed if it rode on an AWD Zeta platform.

I still strongly believe that this Escalade's days are numbered.

They shouldn't be in that it's a Cadillac... but you're prolly right.

The assembly quality could use work.

I wonder if Cadillac plans to introduce a Lambda based CUV, either to replace the Escalade or to supplement it...

I wonder if Cadillac plans to introduce a Lambda based CUV, either to replace the Escalade or to supplement it...

A Lambda will replace the SWB Escalade with the LWB surviving on the next truck platform.

A Lambda will replace the SWB Escalade with the LWB surviving on the next truck platform.

That would make sense, the Suburban isn't going anywhere..but I could likewise see the Traverse replacing the Tahoe.

A Lambda will replace the SWB Escalade with the LWB surviving on the next truck platform.

Ugh.

Not a good answer IMO.

Ugh.

Not a good answer IMO.

Inevitable, though...can't meet the CAFE regs by building 6000lb SUVs that get 15 mpg..

Escalade volume is not CAFE-significant.

Besides, there's the image factor, and any guzzler charge can easily be absorbed by the Escalade sticker.

Inevitable, though...can't meet the CAFE regs by building 6000lb SUVs that get 15 mpg..

My answer would solve that problem.

I see the Lambda/ next gen GMT offerings as two wrongs that fail to make a right.

There's a better way.

On the subject of full size SUVs vs. full size CUVs, I'm wondering where Ford is thinking of going w/ the next Expedition...the Flex hasn't really been a big hit, maybe they are thinking of replacing it with a more SUV looking CUV to also replace the Expedition? Kind of how they replaced the Explorer w/ an SUV-looking CUV...

Flex was 32K thru Nov '10- not traditional 'Ford-esque' volume, but pretty good for a wagon with no SUV/CUV overtones, IMO.

Escalade volume is not CAFE-significant.

Besides, there's the image factor, and any guzzler charge can easily be absorbed by the Escalade sticker.

GMT900 total volume is CAFE significant though. But GM uses the excuse of CAFE to not make a V8 Cadillac sedan, but then a V8 truck that gets 5 mpg worse than a V8 sedan is okay.

We got a V6 XTS, I would guess a V6 Lambda is going to replace the Escalade at some point.

Some GMT900s are CAFE-exempt (2500HD & 3500- not sure about 2500).

Other GM trucks can increase the truck average via a 'C/K-1000' model, or GM just keeps increasing truck efficiency overall, which they have been.

We 'don't got' ANY XTS yet, but what would be more significant is 'we got a 350-HP XTS'.

We 'don't got' ANY XTS yet, but what would be more significant is 'we got a 350-HP XTS'.

Then Cadillac can compete with the 365 hp Ford Taurus that came out a year ago, nice!

Then Cadillac can compete with the 365 hp Ford Taurus that came out a year ago, nice!

Don't be daft. The Cadillac was a hybrid the Taurus is not and the Cadillac's interior, even removing the "concept" bits, still blows away the Taurus.

The CTS-V is what Cadillac should be, the Standard of the World.

Then Cadillac can compete with the 365 hp Ford Taurus that came out a year ago, nice!

Yet both blow the 295 hp s-class out of contention, right?

Those headlights bewilder me.

An insider (of unknown degree to me) on another board posts that the XTS will debut with the 3.0TT "pushing 400 hp". I just don't see anyone (well, maybe a few people) whining about cylinder count with that kind of power.

An insider (of unknown degree to me) on another board posts that the XTS will debut with the 3.0TT "pushing 400 hp". I just don't see anyone (well, maybe a few people) whining about cylinder count with that kind of power.

That would be boss.