When Cadillac first revealed the all-electric 2025 Escalade IQ, the brand made it clear that the EV would be the proverbial next chapter for the model as Cadillac attempts to bring flagship status and the luxury that comes with it to the EV realm. While the IQ will initially be sold alongside its ICE-powered counterpart, the EV will eventually have the Escalade legacy all to itself, but does the IQ have what it takes to bring the iconic moniker to the next level?
Expressive styling will be a love-it-or-hate-it affair
To find out, Cadillac invited us to come out to San Francisco to experience the IQ first-hand and see for ourselves what it brings to the table. The first thing buyers will undoubtedly notice before they even set foot inside the SUV is the exterior styling with the IQ’s exterior being a noticeable departure from the ICE model. Unlike that model, the big Caddy is more streamlined than before with the front grille panel getting LED lighting which features animated welcome and goodbye sequences ( a party trick that we have also seen on the Celstiq and Lyriq.) However, the canvas here is bigger, and Cadillac designers were given free reign to do whatever was necessary without compromising aerodynamics.
The side profile has a more athletic tone to it than past Slades but the most controversial elements of the design are found in the rear of the SUV. Here, the lighting takes some of its core DNA from the Lyriq and is a two-piece design with the upper half being running lights with the actual taillights themselves being located further down. While Cadillac is insistent that lighting will continue to be a prominent pillar of the ownership experience, the rear end will undoubtedly create debate when viewed by observers, some will like it while others might cry foul. Thankfully, 24-inch wheels provide a potent styling statement and the Escalade IQ will have two distinct trims (Luxury and Sport) with the latter adding more darkened accents but at the cost of losing some of the chrome brightwork.
Buyers looking for more length will have to wait for the “L” version which adds a few more inches to the rear of the SUV. Spotting these models is easy thanks to some of the minor changes Cadillac made at the back including a new squared-off design for the side windows as well as minor tweaks to the rear end to make it work.
Tech and comfort define Escalade IQ driving experience
Slip inside the Escalade and you’ll find that the cabin is awash in premium materials and technology. Unlike its ICE-powered counterpart, the IQ doesn’t use formal leather upholstery and instead uses a recycled leather substitute. While this means no cows sacrificed their hides in the making of the cabin, the seats in our tester still felt comfortable and the seats have an impressive amount of suppleness that will make owners think that they are real leather seats. In addition to the novel upholstery, a large 55-inch screen stretches from one end of the dashboard to the other.
This is similar to what you see on the Celestiq, and it makes a powerful statement when you’re viewing it for the first time. A smaller central screen mounted below the display serves as the hub for some of the IQ’s other features including the seats, climate control, and other core systems. A large BMW-style controller is mounted in the center console and allows owners to navigate their way through various menus and windows. However, during our time with the IQ we drove in San Francisco, we noticed that some menus required more steps to access than they should be with controls for the one-pedal driving feature being buried under two layers of menus. The second row is arguably where the party is at though, with Cadillac listening to feedback from its customers very carefully when crafting the accomadations back there. Our IQ had the standard power-release second-row captain’s chairs with occupants getting a large screen of their own to operate the rear climate and seat controls. However, things get outright bespoke if you go for the Executive Second Row seats.
Cadillac says that this option was made for owners who get chauffered in their IQs and this extra layer of passenger comfort is reflected in the ways the brand made the seats back there more enjoyable. A set of 14-way power-adjustable seats are added and they not only come with massage and heat but also cooling capability for hot summer days. The space even comes with dual rear-mounted screens and a set of foldable tables but the latter are heavier than similar ones we have experienced from Rolls-Royce and come out of the rear console instead of being mounted on the seatbacks themselves. This can make putting them away a bit awkward at times due to the way the arms are when they are sideways.
A 19-speaker AKG premium audio system is standard but buyers can also go for a beefier 36-speaker version of the system with Cadillac enlisting the audio wizards at Dolby to infuse it with the firm’s Atmos immersive sound technology. The Atmos system enhances the audio experience and allows the sound system to make listeners feel like they are immersed in the song itself thanks to strategic tuning and shifting of select sounds during a song. The system works on Amazon Music and other digital platforms but it does have limitations including a music library that puts a strong focus on modern music with some older tracks being left out (including ones from this author’s favorite band Missouri.)
Escalade IQ prefers the sportier side of life
After we had a chance to get acclimated to all of the Escalade IQ’s charms, we took it out on some of San Francisco’s busiest streets and freeways to see how the big 9,000 lb EV handled the rigors of daily commuting. The SUV is powered by two electric motors and while these motors, the platform, and the battery pack are shared with the GMC Hummer EV, Chief engineer Al Oppenheiser said that there are still plenty of differences to help the IQ stand out on its own.
The electric motors work together to produce 680 hp when the IQ is placed in its default driving mode but will go all the way up to 750 hp when Velocity Max mode is activated. This mode allows the Slade to have deceptively fast acceleration with Cadillac saying it can make the sprint to 60 mph in under 5 seconds which is lightning fast for a vehicle weighing 9,000 lbs. When you’re not impressing your friends with Velocity Max mode, the IQ also offers several other drive modes but we found that the IQ was best in Sport mode. Touring mode is the equivalent of comfort mode but on the freeway, some of the undulating concrete befuddled the adaptive suspension and made our tester feel like a floaty 1970’s era Deville or Eldorado. Firming up the suspension helps solve this problem and allows the steering to be sharper which also offsets some of the heft that you feel when pushing the SUV through sharp corners.
Cadillac says that the Slade is capable of going up to 460 miles between charges with Oppenheiser saying the battery was tested in extreme cold weather with internal heating features helping to minimize some of the drain that can happen when an EV is driven through winter weather conditions. Handling is enhanced with four-wheel steering and a built-in arrival mode (Caddy speak for crab walk) to help the SUV smoothly move diagonally especially when arriving at a bespoke location.
Value Quotient
With Cadillac saying the Escalade IQ is one of the two flagship models in its EV family, it’s no surprise that pricing is reflective of its role with a base Luxury 1 model starting at $129,990 before taxes and options. A Sport 1 model starts slightly higher at $130,490 and prices climb even higher with a range-topping Sport 2 like our example starting at well over $150,000. Loading it up on optional extras can cause it to get close to the $170,000 barrier and also puts the IQ in the same territory as rivals from Range Rover, Rolls Royce and others.
Despite that, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ is still a potent styling statement for any well-heeled SUV buyer. It’s impressive technology blends nicely with the EV powertrain lurking underneath and the opulent interior lives up to the standards that Cadillac has become known for. Look for the model to influence other Cadillac EV models as the brand continues to push forward with its EV focused plans.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.