Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study, the Cadillac Escalade received an Overall Initial Quality Power Circle Rating of 3.5 out of 5.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), the Cadillac Escalade received an Overall Performance and Design Power Circle Rating of 3 out of 5.

Vehicle Dependability – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures dependability of 2006 model-year vehicles, the Cadillac Escalade received an Overall Vehicle Dependability Power Circle Rating of 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Fuel Economy – The 2009 Cadillac Escalade is powered by what General Motors calls a Two-Mode hybrid system. The 6.0-liter V-8 engine is equipped with Active Fuel Management technology that shuts down up to four of the eight cylinders to conserve fuel while cruising, and is supplemented by a rechargeable battery pack that can power the SUV without engine assistance at low speeds.

The EPA has assigned fuel economy ratings only to the Escalade Hybrid with two-wheel drive: 20 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Our review vehicle was the Escalade Hybrid with all-wheel drive. We averaged 17.1 mpg driving primarily on the highway, though it should be noted that for approximately 450 of the 1,150 miles we put on the Escalade Hybrid, the vehicle was towing a trailer. With the 26-gallon fuel tank, that gave us a range of nearly 445 miles between fill-ups.

Safety – According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade gets 5-star ratings in frontal- and side-impact crash tests, and a 3-star rollover rating with rear- or all-wheel drive.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not performed crash tests on the Cadillac Escalade.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid with two-wheel drive consumes 17.1 barrels of petroleum annually, resulting in a carbon footprint rating of 9.2. The Escalade Hybrid’s national and California/New England air pollution score is 6 out of 10.