Journal-News

Cadillac has been at it again.

Reinforcing its rank as a leader in automotive technology, Cadillac has done what no other automaker has done: introduced the world's first luxury sport-utility vehicle in hybrid version. And what a version it is.

They've taken one of my all-time favorite vehicles — yeah, I know it's an SUV, I know it takes up quite a bit of asphalt, I know some folks might be critical of my preference — but I can't help it. I don't want to get over it.

I'm partial to the Escalade's consider- able stature, handsome exterior and imposing grille. Love the power liftgate, too. Inside, its sumptuous roominess, elevated driver position and intriguing techno features make me feel pampered and on the cutting edge at the same time. How can you argue with that?

And now that its big V-8 engine can be fed regular unleaded gasoline and come tied to a battery pack that doesn't require a plug in, so much the better. Where you got 10 miles per gallon in city driving, you're now going to get about 20. When cruising, the engine's active fuel management feature shuts down half of the cylinders to save gas. It's sophisticated, economical machinery that gets us driving greener incrementally. That's a good thing.

Cadillac, ever the division to show off the latest in General Motors' technological advances, also has introduced as an option a feature that lets the driver know audibly and visually if something is in the Escalade's blind spot. That's handy for a big rig like this.

There's more than one luxury SUV, certainly, but the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, classy as it is, stands in a class by itself.

Amy Rollins is Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-6901 or arollins@coxohio.com.