2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: The Stunning Electric Return of the Ultimate Luxury SUV

There is hardly a better expression of excess and opulence than the Cadillac Escalade. One could even argue that this “full-size” SUV needs a new category all of its own. With a history that dates back to 1999, the Escalade has been around the block a few times, but never strayed away from being one of the biggest production cars you can buy. The fifth generation of this behemoth was introduced in 2020, and its next big innovation hit the scene in 2023 as the Escalade IQ, the first electric Escalade ever.

Prices start at $129,990 for the base Luxury 1 model and go as high as $150,490 for the Sport 2 with no options. Even if you don't tick any of the boxes, though, the Escalade IQ gives you so much bang for your buck that you likely won't wish you added on more.

The Escalade IQ is a ludicrous machine

Let’s start with some numbers to give you an idea of how impressive Cadillac’s engineering is here. The Escalade IQ is a nearly 9,000-lb beast, just under 3,000 lbs heavier than the Hummer H2, with a length of 224.3 inches (18.69 ft). Unlike the H2, however, that mass does nothing to detract from its sheer performance. In “Velocity Max” mode, the Escalade IQ boasts 750 hp, 785 lb.-ft. of torque and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. Drive modes include Tour, Sport, Tow/Haul, Snow/Ice, Off-Road, Terrain, and a customizable "My Mode." They all do what the name says, but "Sport" is likely the one to pair with Velocity Max mode as it tightens steering response, and makes the suspension and engine calibration more responsive. Don't expect Miata-like handling, but it does help with curvy roads.

Its 24-module Ultium battery sports a capacity of over 200 kWh and a range of 460 miles on a full charge. On a 350 kW DC fast charger, it can add over 100 miles in 10 minutes. Hell, it can even tow up to 8,000 lbs if you really want your own convoy on the interstate. All-wheel drive is, of course, a standard feature.

Cargo space? Up to 119.1 cu. ft. behind the first row, 69.1 cu. ft. behind the second row, or 23.6 cu. ft. behind the third row. It even has a frunk, which Cadillac calls the “eTrunk” that can accommodate up to 12.2 cu. ft. of cargo. As for how comfy the seven passengers will be, front legroom sits at 45.2 inches, second row legroom at 41.3 inches, and third row legroom at 32.3 inches. It can get a bit cramped for taller folks in the very back, but it’s not the worst either.

If a regular second row is just not opulent enough, you can also opt for the $9,495 Executive Second Row package, which extends your legroom to 45 inches, includes a snazzy tray table, your own entertainment system, and 14-way power heated and ventilated seats with lumbar massage.

If you want to ensure that your third-row passengers don’t feel excluded, the Escalade IQL adds four more inches of legroom (36.7 inches vs. 32.3 inches) to the third row and an additional inch of headroom (38.2 inches vs. 37.2 inches).

Technology is right at home in the Escalade IQ’s cabin

The interior is as luxurious as you’d expect from something of this tax bracket, and feels distinctly on the cutting-edge of technology. Front occupants benefit from a 55” curved pillar-to-pillar touchscreen in crystal clear 8K resolution for the driver and 4K resolution for the passenger. That same passenger can enjoy plenty of infotainment on long journeys, ranging from YouTube to Hulu, to any HDMI-connected source. Rest assured, though, the screen polarizes itself when the car is in motion so the driver won’t be distracted by your content. Audio for the passenger screen can only be streamed to headphones, as well.

Other audio is blasted through either an AKG 19-speaker audio system for Luxury 1 and Sport 1 models or an AKG 36-speaker audio system on Luxury 2 and Sport 2 models. Even at loud volumes, the AKG system delivers crisp, clean sound with no distortion. It’s damn impressive, and both the 19-speaker and 36-speaker models effortlessly fill the cabin with music. It’s a personal, mobile concert hall!

But there is such a thing as too much technology

Unfortunately, Cadillac has not learned from customer complaints and continues to hide certain key functions like HVAC behind a touchscreen. Yes, they are displayed on the center console screen, but the age-old annoyance of having to take your eyes off the road to adjust your temperature or fan speed continues to apply here.

While on the topic of the all-too-heavy focus on touchscreens, I have to mention the strange split screen ratios. When I use Google Maps navigation, I like to have my infotainment screen split between that and Spotify so I know what I’m listening to. Rather than have the windows evenly split, like on many other systems, the Escalade IQ instead decides to make both windows uneven squares, thus wasting space on the massive screen and forcing you to look at a smaller map than would have been possible.

This likely has to do with GM’s decision to forgo Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and instead opt to have Google service built-in. Other than that annoyance, the infotainment system itself is snappy and smooth, with a pleasing minimalistic aesthetic that fits right in.

And that technology doesn’t always work well

Three of the Escalade IQ’s best party tricks are the standard GM Super Cruise, Night Vision for better forward visibility in the dark, and 4-wheel steer with “Arrival Mode,” which will have you driving at an angle up to the curb at social functions to make sure you’re noticed by the populace.

Let’s talk a bit about that technology. Super Cruise works well, and is a great way to relieve some of the stress in a daily commute as long as it knows what road you’re on. Cadillac has also instilled all of the standard safety features we’ve come to expect from new cars, including Blind Zone Steering Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, and HD Surround Vision. Even the rearview mirror is connected to the rear camera, ensuring that you can always see a clear image of what's behind you without a headrest or the car's sheer length getting in the way. The Turn Signal Activating Camera is also neat, and definitely helps with blind spots.

The Escalade IQ also features self-park, a feature that uses its many cameras to find a parking spot and maneuver itself without the need for any driver input. At least in theory. In practice, we found it to be a different story.

We had brought the Escalade to a beachside parking lot by Half Moon Bay, where only four or five cars were parked, leaving the rest of the parking spaces empty. The Escalade did not want to park in any of the dozen empty spaces, instead choosing one right next to a Dodge Ram that had also parked away from everyone else. After a few more minutes of looking like CIA agents rounding the parking lot in our black Escalade, we realized that yes, the system needed another parked car to use as a reference. Even when it did manage to park itself, it not only did so painstakingly slow, but it got so close to the Ram that if I wore an Apple Watch, it would have given me a heart rate warning.

The Escalade IQ excels at opulence

When I turned off Escalade IQ’s self-driving brain and used my own hands and feet, it was an impressive experience, to say the least. Putting your foot down and getting slammed into your seat by an SUV that’s the equivalent of two Hummers is something I don’t think I’ll ever quite recover from. Don’t forget, however, that the Escalade was never meant to be a car you drive, it’s a car you get driven in.

The real enjoyment of the Escalade comes from being chauffeured in it. Sure, the driver has a lot of power on tap to play with, but the focus here was not on driving engagement. Rather, it was on making sure that whoever is sitting in any other seat forgets about the outside world and is pampered to their heart’s content with massaging heated seats and enough infotainment for any road trip.

The interior finishes depend on the trim, and it would be nice if Cadillac offered more options and levels of customization. The Luxury 1 and Sport 1 are limited to grayscale leather seats paired with equally dark accents.

The Luxury 2 and Sport 2 get more interesting, adding a darker tan looking leather dubbed “Camelia” with black accents or a dark blue dubbed “Harbor Blue” with the same black accents. Imagine how stunning it would be to step into an interior fully finished in burgundy, deep green, or even a lighter shade of blue. Even the wood trim, of which there is plenty and is unequivocally gorgeous, is only offered in black. I think a more natural, open-pore shade of wood would look right at home in an Escalade and brighten the cabin at the same time.

A lot of the exterior colors are attractive, with Deep Space Metallic (dark blue-ish gray), Black Cherry Tint (sexy burgundy), and Midnight Steel Frost (silvery blue) taking top points. Flare Metallic (silver), Black Raven (black) and Summit White (white) are also available. A wider range of exterior colors would also be welcome and I feel they would really make the Escalade pop. Perhaps a deep green yet again or a tan matching the interior’s “Camelia” leather would further enhance its on-road presence while maintaining the VIP SUV aesthetic. The roof can also be finished in black if a two-tone look is what you’re going after.

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, the Cadillac Escalade IQ does what it was always intended to do. It’s a plush, high-tech monster that caters to the elite who want nothing to do with the outside world when they’re on the road. And that’s fine. These kinds of things do sell like hotcakes. Cadillac reported that its Escalade sales were up 3.5% in 2024, and the model has remained the #1 selling car in its segment since 2014.

For the past 26 years, the Cadillac Escalade has been the quintessential luxury SUV for executives, rappers, and anyone with equally deep pockets. The electrified IQ continues that legacy without breaking a sweat, while adding eye-popping power into the equation. If a plush mansion on wheels that could gap some performance cars is what you had on your 2025 bingo card, the Cadillac Escalade IQ delivers on all of that, and then some.