Video: Electric 2025 Escalade IQ First Drive
Large and powerful EVs include power doors, hands-free driving, 460 miles range, 4.7 seconds 0-60 mph, and more.
Cadillac’s biggest and best vehicles will acquire luxurious and advanced electric models. The Escalade IQ supplies up to 750 horsepower and 460 miles on charge.
San Francisco – The Electric 2025 Escalade IQ SUV is luxurious, altitude, fast, comfortable, powerful and large.
This means that your Cadillac status is secured.
The gasoline-powered version of the Escalade has been a Cadillac icon for decades, carrying everyone from school kid to movie stars and moguls in comfort and class. Other upcoming electric Cadillacs such as the sporty Optiq, Midsize Vistiq and the powerful Lyriq-V can reach out to new buyers in distant lands, but Cadillac’s new flagship protects the franchise. The brand’s core vehicles and values are safe.
I recently drove a loaded Escalade IQ down the California coast and headed back to downtown San Francisco.
Here are some of the things that made me certain it was a winner.
Power, performance, battery range
The Escalade IQ has full-time all-wheel drive thanks to one electric motor on each axle.
It cranks out a very surprising 680 horsepower and 614 pound-feet of torque in normal mode. For an unlikely event, that’s not enough, and involves steering wheel touchpoints and “Velocity Max” to get 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque.
Escalade IQ has eagerly accelerated jockeys for a position in the busy Downtown San Francisco. I never need a speed maximum for most owners, but when the driver seeks extra power they will feel it.
The IQ can cover 460 miles on a charge. It charges up to 350 kW from the DC fast charger, adding a range of up to 100 miles in 10 minutes. Cadillac also doesn’t offer a more common 10%-80% charging time to compare directly to other EVs. Despite the Cadillac’s modestness, the IQ DC’s fast charging time is said to be very competitive until you can establish your own baseline to charge to 80% on some long drives.
Like other EVs, owners are expected to do most of the charge at home or at work with a 240 volt level 2 charger. These chargers can offer a range of 14-37 miles per hour, depending on the charger. IQ originally had a CCS DCFC charging port, but you can charge the adapter with a Tesla NACS charger. Escalade will immediately switch to a factory-installed NACS port.
Top Escalade IQ Function
4-Wheel Steering All-Wheel Drive 750 HP, 785 lb-ft of maximum torque 24-inch wheels
Luxurious and spacious interior
The best Cadillacs are always big, inside and out. IQ maintains that. Its wheelbase is two inches longer than the extended wheelbase of the ESV version of the internal combustion Escalade, and is more than a foot larger than the regular wheelbase model. (The larger IQL model will soon continue as the 2026 model.)
Deluxe treatments begin with available power opening and closing doors. They can be set to three widths, and the door has sensors to prevent them from hitting objects.
The dash consists of a 55-inch display and a touch screen. This includes a screen that is visible in the passenger seat but hidden from the driver when the escalade is moving. Wood and metal trims are complemented by 126 colors of customizable ambient lighting
The front trunk adds 12.2 feet of hidden lockable storage and offers accessories such as slide-out parcel trays, cargo nets, and grocery organizers.
Optional Executive Second Low Seat adds a power rear door, massage, heat, ventilation, two 12.6-inch video screens, a tray table and a pair of wireless charging trays. Executive seats are located far away at the expense of the third row of legroom.
Comfortable dog and low ride settings
IQ’s standard four-wheel steering makes larger vehicles smaller on roads and parking lots. The IQ’s turning radius is about 6.5 feet smaller than the shorter gasoline escalade.
The steering, adaptive air suspension and magnetic ride control dampers combine to make IQ responsive and stable with high-speed high-speed operation and sweeping seaside curves.
Also enable “arrival” mode. This will all corners for wheels in the same direction to park in a tight space.
Another setting, Low Ride Mode, drops IQ to a minimum height and holds it there at speeds up to 35 mph for Boulevard cruising.
Climate control can be set to allow the driver to continue running for an hour after leaving the vehicle. The running lights remain on, so passersby know that pets and other residents are safe and comfortable.
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Trim Levels and Prices
Luxury: 1 $127,700SPORT 1: $128,200LUXURY 2: $147,200Sport 2: $148,200
Price excludes destination charges of $2,290
Source: Edmunds
Equal vehicles
The Escalade IQ is the only electric luxury car with this level of size and refinement. The other three rows of gorgeous SUVs are small, not luxurious, or both.
Other 3 row electric SUVs:
Mercedes-Benz Eqs Suvrivian R1stesla Model Xvolvo ex90
IQ can be quickly recognized as both an escalade and a Cadillac. Vertical headlights and taillights, illuminated front and rear badges and lighted grilles unveil the vehicle from all angles.
Unexpected extras
12.2 cubic feet front trunk. Optional slide front trunk tray supports 175 lbs. Cargo net. Grocery organizer. Fall wheel steering power doors for maneuverability and parking possibilities. Open the push-lighted Cadillac badge to open the tailgate. Factory mat finish available.
Two things I’m going to change, and what about CarPlay?
I drive an Escalade IQ in a hat and to the most fancy events in town and in cross country, but the biggest and best luxury SUVs still leave something that I want.
Physical Climate Control – The touchscreen mounted on the front of the center console controls almost all functions – the door for heated/ventilated seats has a welcome button.
The price you’re looking for is an eye-catching $2,290. No one is buying an IQ, but the inflated destination rate allows carmakers to raise stealth prices as they are not generally included in the advertised prices.
IQ placement fees are located in the same area where luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley are available, and surprisingly, Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
I’m also not sure that GM’s infotainment system offers all the features used with Apple Carplay. I hope for that soon.
Why buy a 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ?
The Escalade IQ is a way to take you to the Oscars, Grammys and Masters Tournaments. It’s the biggest, perhaps the most advanced and best three rows of luxury electric SUVs. There’s nothing else in that class.
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ at a glance
A full-size electric SUV with 7 seats all-wheel drive
Base price: $127,700 (all prices exclude $2,290 destination charges)
Now on sale
Model tested: Escalade IQ Sports 2
Price as tested: $152,785
Power: One electric motor for each axle
Output: Normal mode: 650 hp; 615 pound-feet of torque. Speed Maximum: 750 hp, 785 lb-ft.
Transmission: Single Speed Automatic
Battery: Lithium-ion, 205 kWh usable power
Maximum charging rate of 350 kWh/800 volts
Maximum charging rate: Level 2, 7.7kW: 14.9 mph for charging. 19.2 kW: 37 mph charging. 350kw DC Fast Charging: Up to 100 miles in 10 minutes.
EPA Estimated Range: 460 Miles
0-60 mph: 4.7 seconds
Wheelbase: 136.2 inches
Length: 224.3 inches
Width: 94.1 inch (mirroring); 85.3 (folded mirror)
Height: 76.1 inch
Ground clearance: 6.9 inches
Passenger volume: NA
Cargo volume: 23.7 cubic feet behind the third row. 69.1 Cubic feet behind the second row. 119.2 cubic feet behind the front seats. 12.2 cubic feet front trunk
Curb weight: NA
Towing capacity: 8,000 lbs
Built in Detroit, Michigan/Hamtramuk
Please contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_pheran. Read more about cars and sign up for our car newsletter. Become a subscriber.
