At first, taking the full-size SUV Cadillac Escalade and turning it into a hybrid variant seems, well counter productive. But the GM produced SUV is actually one of the more coveted hybrid trucks on the road today.

But the Escalade Hybrid has more then a few tricks up its sleeve: a big 6.2-liter V-8 stops sending fuel to half its cylinders while cruising at speed. But the engine mode indicator showed that this feature is kind of sensitive.

At 5,726 pounds, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid comes with a gas engine is a 6.2-liter V-8 assisted by a 300 volt hybrid system. The engine itself puts out 332 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 367 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm, resulting in ready acceleration with the Escalade Hybrid.

Two electric motors are built into the transmission and powered by a 300 volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. These motors can run the truck at low speeds under electric power only, and do a good job of assisting the engine when acceleration is needed at speed.

Cadillac's hybrid contains regenerative brakes recharge the battery pack, which also provides energy to run the air conditioning compressor and power steering.

Fuel economy from the EPA comes in as 20 mpg city and 21 mpg highway - impressive figures for a big SUV like this and 50 percent better in the city than the gas-only version, according to GM.

The 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has a base price of $73,475. That comes fully equipped with navigation, OnStar, Bluetooth, and blind-spot detection.

You can check out the all new Cadillac Hybrid Escalade now at Dave Smith Motors.