Whether traversing rugged off-road terrain laden with obstacles or maneuvering a city street with limited street parking, navigating a large SUV has its challenges. Cadillac has introduced Arrival Mode on its new Escalade IQ all-electric SUV to navigate such situations. This innovative system with a curious name helps drivers get to where they're going, no matter what lies in the way.
Much like Crabwalk Mode on GMC's new Hummer EV Pickup and Hummer EV SUV, Arrival Mode is a 4-wheel steering system that pushes capability to new limits. Four-wheel steering allows the driver simultaneous control over the angle of the front and rear wheels, so you can turn them together for either diagonal movement or pivot-point turns. Standard steering limits the driver's ability to determine a vehicle's direction only by pointing the front wheels and letting the rear wheels follow.
Arrival Mode allows the Escalade IQ's rear wheels to turn as much as 10 degrees in either direction—in or out. When the driver cuts the rear wheels opposite the front wheels, the vehicle can make very tight turns around sharp corners, approximating a tank's ability to turn perpendicularly.
When the rear wheels swivel in the same direction as the front wheels, the vehicle moves diagonally instead of circularly. This 'surprise and delight' feature is eye-catching, especially when witnessing it for the first time. Diagonal movement lets the large Escalade IQ around tricky obstacles or into a curbside parking spot that would otherwise require impossibly good parallel parking skills, even for a smaller vehicle. And considering the IQ is nearly 19 feet long—with an even larger model on the way—a feature like this will prove invaluable. GMC likens this diagonal movement to that of a crab.
Arrival Mode is intended for maneuvers at low speeds. The system will not engage at higher velocities.
At first glance, Arrival Mode's diagonal movement will make you think your eyes are playing tricks on you. The Cadillac IQ will effortlessly glide from side to side, almost as if the pavement or ground beneath is moving along with it.
Diagonal movement allows the driver to get around an obstacle instead of doing a multi-point turn to avoid it. It will enable a change in direction without changing the vehicle's heading. The Escalade IQ will continue to point forward, even when moving to the left or right of an obstacle. In the wild, that could be a ditch, a fallen tree, or a large boulder.
A diagonal move in the city and at higher speeds could help the vehicle make more stable lane changes. But again, Arrival Mode is a slow-speed maneuver to get the vehicle from point A to B by way of the shortest path, despite having things blocking the way. Overall, it makes the big Escalade IQ feel nimbler and more athletic. It can also make the vehicle feel like it has a smaller footprint than it does, especially when moving along narrow paths and roadways or squeezing past obstructions.
Four-wheel-steering is not a new concept. General Motors introduced this feature about 20 years ago with its Quadrasteer function. Quadrasteer was available on large vehicles like the Chevrolet Suburban 2500 and GMC Sierra 1500, among others, to make towing easier. However, Cadillac's Arrival Mode brings a more refined and practical approach to large-vehicle maneuverability.
Arrival Mode allows the Cadillac IQ to change direction and get around objects that could otherwise be impassable, allowing the vehicle to arrive safely at its destination. Hence, the name.
Jessica Shea Choksey is an experienced writer in the automotive field. In addition to JDPower.com, she was a correspondent for PBS's MotorWeek. Her work has also appeared in AutoTrader.
The Ford Transit is the automaker’s full-size cargo and passenger van offering, designed to serve a wide range of commercial and lifestyle applications. With 37 available configurations, the platform ...See More
Read the Full Article
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size, three-row SUV with a standard V8 engine and available diesel power. Built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup, the Tahoe benefits from its ...See More
Read the Full Article
It is the end of the line for the Ford Escape. After 25 years as a fixture of Ford’s lineup, 2026 will be the compact SUV’s last model year.
Read the Full Article
The Colorado is Chevrolet’s midsize pickup. It ranks among the segment’s most capable trucks for payload and towing, and can be configured for both work and off-road adventures. For 2026, the ...See More
Read the Full Article