Video: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Up Close
By Cars.com Editors
February 13, 2024
Share
About the video
Join Cars.com News Editor Stef Schrader as she takes a closer look at what may be Cadillac’s most important EV yet, the Escalade IQ, at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show.
Transcript
Here is the brand new Cadillac Escalade IQ. It's Cadillac's first ever all electric Escalade and if you'll notice something, usually the Escalade's about like here on me hood wise, this one's a lot smaller.
They've moved to a rounder, friendlier, three row, crossover kind of shape as opposed to the big body and frame SUV that they've had in the past. Only time will tell if this will really woo over the Escalade faithful. It's a big departure in styling, as well as a big bump in price. Cadillac says it's estimated to start at around 130,000, but it kinda gives us budget Rolls vibes and we'll see more of that when we look at the interior. As you can see up here, it's still very imposing. It's got this cool grill that looks much cooler in person than it probably does in the press pics. All of this lights up, there's all of this kind of detailing with the lines. One of the only good looking light-up crest and yeah. But aside from that, it still has this very rounded off aerodynamic shape. Aero is very important for this thing as it's said to be one of the longest range EVs when it is released. GM says they expect it to get about 450 miles of range and it's also gonna be stinking quick. It rides on the Ultium platform like many of GM's other EVs and it's estimated to make up to 750 horsepower and up to 785 pounds feet of torque. So while it's big, it should move. It hasn't completely ditched the bulling either. It's got these beautiful 24 inch wheels on this display example. They're this really cool fan kind of shape and because this is an EV, it has a frunk as we've come to expect. You have to kind of raise your cargo up into what Cadillac calls its e-trunk pretty high because of everything riding on the batteries and drivetrain here. But it will, per Cadillac, fit two whole golf bags. It's very deep and it's also kinda cool. It's got little Cadillac crust sticking up on the top. So as you're walking up with those two golf bags, it will greet you with this cool light show. Look at that, kinda has this stacking effect, these side lamps as well. It's very, very cool. Back here, as you can see, it's still got whole height taillights like we've come to expect on an Escalade. It's just kind of interrupted with this body panel situation. Cadillac has kind of traded some of their 2000 shiny bling for more tech bling in here. It's got the spectacular full width, 55 inch touchscreen and almost next to no physical controls. You get a couple dials here in the middle. You get touch sensitive controls on the wheel along with a couple little physical buttons. And a few buttons controlling doors and frunks and sort of car functions. But aside from that it's largely touchscreen based. You are going to have to step up a little bit to get in it because again you are riding on the battery and are a little concerned with how narrow this is. Seeing up over all of these sensors and speakers and shiny screen. But once you're in the seat you are going to be very comfortable. It has this cool perforated stitching pattern. It's also got these pretty neat looking speaker grills in the headrest. It's very, very impressive and you've got a lot of neat storage options as well here. Good hole for a purse, good big center console and of course American car. Gotta have the cup holders. Back here is where I'm really getting Rolls Royce for the rest of us vibes. Doesn't have a starlight headliner but it does have this big beautiful panoramic sunroof. This is the executive package, so you get dual captain's chairs, this wonderful center console, screens on both sides of the car. These are touch screens, they're 12.6 inches. They're bigger than a lot of stock, like front touch screens to be honest. And you know this kind of cool panel here where you can control, open, close doors. It's also fold out trays and another convenient little bin. My one concern back here is if you are taller, you do sacrifice a little bit of headroom up here. Both because of the battery, because of the sunroof and just kind of this puff might be in your way. And that's even more so if you've got third row occupants who kinda look like they're sitting in a black hole. Back here you do get quite a bit of room even more so with the third row down. It's a power folding third row and it's pretty spacious. The only issue though, if you're taller. You have a Brian for scale. You might hit your head. I'm 5'4 and I'd be a little nervous about wearing a hat. But if that's not enough space in the rear it will tow 8,000 pounds. So all good, get a trailer. And if you have trouble maneuvering said trailer. It also comes with four wheel steering and the ability to move diagonally. It's kind of its version of the Ultium crab walk from the Hummer AV. All in all, we're pretty impressed with how Cadillac brought kind of its 2000s bling era icon into the present day. It's very techie, very beautiful inside. We also like that they kept kinda an iconic nameplate and didn't replace it with one that gives us the icks. Still got the IQ as part of the model name to make us know it's electric. Production is set to begin this summer, summer 2024. And if you'd like to know more, tune in to cars.com.
Featured stories

By Aaron Bragman
January 23, 2025

By Cars.com Editors
January 21, 2025

By Cars.com Editors
January 17, 2025