The Escalade defines Cadillac luxury, and one can confidently call it the brand's flagship model. Even so, it's far from efficient, putting the hulking full-size luxury SUV at odds with its parent company's goals of going all-electric. Cadillac is looking to sidestep that problem with a new version of the Escalade: the fully electric Escalade IQ. On its way for 2025, the SUV features evolutionary styling changes, an estimated 450 miles of range, 800-volt architecture, and GM's powerful Ultium electric-vehicle (EV) platform.
Cadillac will offer the new IQ in two trim levels: Luxury and Sport. It will build the SUV at GM's Factory Zero, where it currently produces the GMC Hummer EV. The new Escalade IQ will enter production in the summer of 2024 ahead of its release for the 2025 model year. The automaker says pricing will start around $130,0000, including the destination charge.
Without the need to follow a traditional body-on-frame SUV body shape, Cadillac had more design freedom with the Escalade IQ than the gas model. The IQ's hood is long and sculpted, and the grille now features unique LED lighting patterns instead of open grates for airflow. Looking at the side profile, it's clear that the IQ's roof slopes more dramatically than the gas model's, and the flush glass gives the SUV an almost seamless look.
"When you see it in person, it has a presence, " said Tyson Jominy, JD Power vice president of data and analytics. "It’s got a very unique shape. You know that it’s an Escalade, but you know that there’s something radically different about this."
According to Cadillac, reshaping the electric Escalade yielded better aerodynamics, too. The automaker says the IQ has a 15-percent lower drag coefficient than the gas model.
The wheels are further out to the corners, measuring a massive 24 inches. An available power door system enables push-button opening and closing of all four passenger doors, and there's a front trunk ("frunk") under the hood with 12 cubic feet of storage. Exterior styling accents vary between trims, with the Sport getting darkened metal finishes and the Luxury offering brushed aluminum.
The current gas Escalade's interior is a work of luxury art, and Cadillac promises similar plushness in the electric model. The automaker offers interior themes with unique color combinations and contrasting materials, with four choices between the two trim levels. An Executive Second-Row package offers stowable tray tables, massaging seats, and headrest speakers. The third-row seats are power-folding, and the SUV seats up to seven people with all rows upright. Finally, the panoramic fixed glass roof covers the first and second rows, bringing a UV filter that helps keep the cabin cool on hot days.
As of this writing, Cadillac hasn't shared detailed specs for the IQ's electric powertrain but has hinted at some impressive numbers. Cadillac says the SUV can deliver up to 750 hp using the driver-selectable Velocity Max feature, which also boosts torque to 785 pound-feet. According to Cadillac, those specs enable a 5-second zero-to-60-mph time and an 8,000-pound towing capacity when properly equipped.
The IQ gets a 24-module Ultium battery pack with more than 200 kWh of usable energy for a range of up to 450 miles on a charge. The battery pairs with the SUV's 800-volt architecture for a super-fast charging time of just 10 minutes to recover 100 miles of range. Like other GM EVs, the Escalade IQ will come from the factory with vehicle-to-home technology, which allows the SUV to act as an emergency generator, but the feature will come later via an over-the-air update.
Adaptive air suspension provides adjustable ride heights, which can lower the IQ up to 2 inches. It also enables a Low Ride mode, which lets you drive the SUV at low speeds with the suspension in its lowest setting. Four-wheel steering is also on board, shortening the long SUV's turning radius to just 39.4 feet. Additionally, the Arrival Mode turns the wheels to move the IQ diagonally when maneuvering tight spaces.
Cadillac equips an array of safety tech as standard on the new Escalade IQ, including blind-spot steering assist, which can steer the vehicle away from others, intersection automatic emergency braking, an HD surround-view camera system, active parking assistance, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and more. Super Cruise is also standard and comes with a 3-year trial through OnStar. It works on more than 400,000 miles of road and uses Lidar map data, cameras, radars, and GPS to navigate the world.
The current Escalade's interior is a circus of screens and tech, and the IQ will carry on with that tradition. It gets 55 inches of screen stretching between the pillars, and the system runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, which brings virtual adaptive controls, a 5G modem, and high-end graphics processing. Like other recent GM models, the IQ gets Google Built-in, which brings Maps, Google Assistant, and other features, along with a more responsive interface in general.
General Motors announced that it would no longer offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its vehicles starting with the 2024 model year, so it's unlikely the electric Escalade will get the tech. The available second-row seating package adds 12.6-inch personal touchscreens, a rear control touchscreen, dual wireless charging pads, USB-C, and HDMI ports. Cadillac also offers a 40-speaker AKG Studio Reference sound system with the package, while the standard system is a 19-speaker AKG setup.
The 2025 Escalade IQ will see tough competition from electric SUVs that beat it to market. The list includes the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, which is equally impressive on the tech front, and brings strong electric performance. The Rivian R1S is another player, though it takes a more rugged, outdoorsy approach to electrification.
Cadillac is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of August 9, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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