“It’s massive. It’s luxurious. It’s full of tech. It’s got tons of high-end gizmos. Every box that they could possibly check off is here.”
That’s how our Lyn Woodward describes the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ – an all-electric edition of Cadillac’s signature vehicle.
Cadillac hasn’t let media members drive the electric Eskie yet but invited Kelley Blue Book for an early peak at the design.
The Escalade IQ will start around $130,000, Cadillac tells Woodward. Production should begin next summer, so it could reach driveways by the end of next year.
The New Look Accommodates Huge Batteries
In person, Woodward says, it looks immense. The IQ uses two platforms of GM’s Ultium batteries, Woodward explains. Consequently, “there’s a lot of body and not much glass. With that new, higher beltline, it looks a bit like a tank,” though she thinks the look may work better in the iconic Escalade black.
A sloped roofline gives it a slightly more aerodynamic look than the gas-powered Escalade. The signature tall, narrow tail lights are gone, replaced with a lower set that resemble piano keys.
Cadillac’s well-known Magnetic Ride Control system should help keep it all composed. The IQ a little longer than the standard Escalade, Woodward says, “but it gets rear-wheel steering to help maneuver all this size around.”
If you choose to maneuver it yourself, that is. The Escalade IQ will come with GM’s Ultra Cruise – a new version of the Super Cruise hands-free driving system that doesn’t require pre-mapped routes.
750 Horsepower, 55 Inches of Screen
Two electric motors give it 750 horsepower and 780 pound-feet of torque. And those big batteries give it a projected range of 450 miles (the EPA has not certified that claim yet).
A 19.2-kilowatt onboard charger lets it accept electricity quickly. GM says the IQ can add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes at a DC fast charger. Most home chargers, however, can’t output power as fast as the IQ can drink it.
Inside, you’ll find a remarkable amount of screen real estate – “a 55-inch OLED screen literally stretches across the entire dash, and it’s standard,” Woodward explains. “I don’t know about you, but I think we may have reached peak screen.”
That may not be its most impressive tech feature, though. The doors automatically close when you depress the brake pedal, Woodward says.
The Escalade has long been Cadillac’s best-selling vehicle. We’re not clear yet on how much overlap there is between electric car shoppers and shoppers looking for a full-size SUV. But for the intrigued, it’s a compelling package.
“Also,” Woodward notes, “I look tiny next to this thing. So maybe I can say that the Cadillac IQ will also take off 20 pounds,” or at least make you feel like a kid.
