Cadillac’s First Escalade EV Has Impressive Range and Handling

Most EVs seem to have a superpower of some kind: They accelerate faster than a subatomic particle, dazzle with tech, or charge in a flash. For 21 years, the Cadillac Escalade SUV has been the marque’s most successful luxury Hulk: big and brazen, powered by a bellowing V-8, and ready to dominate any diminutive car on the road. But after a transformational zap of electricity, the supersized Escalade IQ flaunts an unexpected superpower—the most driving range of any large electric SUV, at least that’s what Cadillac claims with its own estimate of 460 miles.

I’m driving this plush, tech-laden behemoth in and around my former hometown of Detroit, where a remarkable transformation of a once-bedraggled downtown echoes the electric renaissance Cadillac has mapped out. The automaker suddenly has five electric models, from the compact Optiq SUV to the roughly $350,000, largely hand-built Celestiq sedan, and more than half of Cadillac’s sales in California are now EVs. Setting aside the rare Celestiq halo car, the Escalade is the range-topper. It amasses up to 750 hp and 785 ft lbs of torque, setting itself up as a (relatively) greener alternative to a 682 hp Escalade-V that guzzles premium unleaded like it’s 1999.

What’s New for 2025 and 2026

The big news for 2025 is that the Escalade model has gone completely electric with the IQ variant. As for the 2026 model year, it will bring the Escalade IQL, with four additional inches of legroom in its third row, and a less-sloping roof that carves out an extra inch of headroom in the way back. It’s perfect for trend-conscious NBA forwards, their families, and friends. Just make sure you have a garage to accommodate its massive 228.5-inch length. That’s 28  inches longer than a Rivian R1S SUV. 

Design

The standard Escalade has left a cultural footprint in some quarters, but let’s be honest, these days, it’s about as design-forward as an airport black car in NYC, and often serves a similar purpose—a big box to load up with disinterested passengers. The IQ announces itself as an entirely new and intriguing proposition. From a distance, you might see a homegrown take on a Range Rover Sport, especially in its down-sloping roof. Get closer, and the sheer scale becomes apparent, including a front end that soars like El Capitan, and a 136-inch wheelbase. Yet somehow, the IQ manages to look more streamlined than ponderous. Inside, the IQ is more luxurious than its gasoline counterparts, with higher-quality materials beneath their shared 55-inch diagonal HD display, which includes a passenger screen. 

Move back a row, and an optional package integrates a handsome console between a pair of massaging seats, along with airliner-style flip-up dining tables. Rear-seat riders can watch Hulu, YouTube, or Amazon Fire Stick content on a pair of entertainment screens. That package also ups the speaker count for an AKG Studio Reference audio system from 38 to 42, with the latest Dolby Atmos helping fill this space with lush, concert hall–like sound. Yet considering its Shaq-sized footprint and electric-packaging efficiencies—for one, there’s no transmission tunnel—the IQ’s cabin doesn’t feel as spacious as one might expect. This is especially the case in the third row, where stingy window glass and limited legroom create a feeling of being in a shadowy confessional. That’s where the even-longer IQL model comes in, with its roomier rear quarters. And Apple fans won’t find onboard CarPlay, as GM is committed to its (excellent) Google Automotive ecosystem, including its onboard Maps and Assistant.

Power Train and Other Hardware

The Escalade IQ is built atop the same skateboard platform as a GMC Hummer EV and GM’s electric pickups. It also shares the same 205 kWh battery pack stuffed with GM Ultium cells, enough to power two—or even three—conventionally sized EVs. The upside is that aforementioned 460-mile range estimated by Cadillac. The downside is an SUV that plops more than 9,100 pounds on the scale in fully equipped guise, which is 2,850 pounds more than a comparable gasoline-powered Escalade-V. 

Two electric motors move this battery-powered brute, one for each axle. Pressing the “Velocity Max” button on the steering wheel unlocks the 750 hp and 785 ft lbs of torque for as long as you keep your foot in it. The Escalade also has towing strength to spare, with an 8,000-pound maximum. 

Charging power is up to this tall task, with a 350 kW maximum rate, which is as quick as that of any EV around. Replenishing this large battery will still take at least an hour on a public charger, but the Escalade can add more than 110 miles of range in about 10 minutes, and about 250 miles in 30 minutes. 

Performance

GM engineers have an impressive knack for making big-bodied trucks feel smaller and more agile than they should. That trend continues with the Escalade IQ. From a Motor City freeway in the pouring rain to the bucolic streets of the Grosse Pointes, the Escalade feels cushy and in command.

With a press of its “V” button, the IQ can hustle from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Engineering sleight-of-hand includes four-wheel steering that can pivot rear wheels by up to 7.5 degrees in the opposite direction as front wheels. That makes for magically easy parking and maneuvering at low speeds, and gives the vehicle a turning circle that’s just 1.5 feet longer than the compact Chevy Bolt EUV.

As speeds climb, the rear wheels begin turning in tandem with fronts, palpably boosting the Caddy’s ability to switch lanes in a flash and glide through corners. It’s no sport sedan, of course, but the Escalade IQ never feels clumsy or tippy. Regenerative brakes feel strong and natural, though the IQ could use additional, driver-selectable gradations of regenerative power—akin to that found with models from Genesis—versus a maximum one-pedal model that feels too grabby around town. 

Where its Hummer sibling can do the Crab Walk, the Escalade’s trick is an “Arrival Mode” that lets it glide diagonally like a chess bishop—its four wheels turning in tandem. Those 24-inch wheels do tend to clomp a bit over ruined pavement at around-town speeds, intruding on Cadillac’s “isolated precision” ethos that otherwise shines through. 

Finally, GM’s Super Cruise is simply the best semi-autonomous driving system in the American market. Combined with a hushed electric cabin, Super Cruise makes for an almost surreally relaxing drive in Detroit, as I’m able to negotiate traffic completely hands-free. The functionality allows the vehicle to manage its own lane changes with an automated flick of its spear-shaped LED turn signals. 

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Is It Worth It? 

If you’re buying an EV by the square foot, the Escalade IQ feels worth its $129,795 base price for an IQ Luxury edition. That price rises through several versions and will peak at $153,595 for a stretched IQL Luxury Sport. The Escalade IQ looks sleeker and more sophisticated than its blocky, square-backed gasoline siblings. And while there’s nothing efficient about the IQ’s electric operation, it produces zero tailpipe emissions and doesn’t gulp premium gasoline like its siblings, including the Escalade-V that gets around 14 mpg in real-world driving.

Lavish interior tech makes a big impression on passengers, but a keener eye will find some parts-bin components and craftsmanship that aren’t up to Range Rover or Mercedes standards. This profligate SUV also charges a stiff premium over those old-school V-8 Escalades, considering a standard 420 hp AWD model starts from about $93,000.  

Specifications