Flagship Cadillac Electric SUV
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ is the luxury brand’s flagship SUV. Clean Fleet Report recently had the opportunity get behind the wheel for a couple hours during media event in San Francisco. At first blush it would seem odd, if not mildly sadistic, to have journalists driving Cadillac’s largest vehicle through the streets of San Francisco, which are known for being tight, busy and at times a bit crazy.
It proved to be a perfect place to showcase the Escalade IQ.
Driving Experience
Departing downtown San Francisco, on a wind-driven rainy morning, we headed south along Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay, and then over the mountains to Woodside. This route clearly demonstrated the handling, ride and performance capabilities of the Escalade IQ as both a city and open road full-size SUV. In town, the four-wheel steering feature gave the 19-foot Escalade IQ the turning radius of a much smaller car. This technology is also found on the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer and Sierra EVs.
Four-wheel steering makes it possible to park and take tight corners with ease, while on the open road the rear wheels track in-line with the front wheels. The ride is smooth because of the air ride suspension and the Magnetic Ride Control. That will make livery companies happy as their clients will continue to be riding in Escalade comfort.
The acceleration was strong in either Normal or Velocity Max (AKA Sport) mode. As is typical of all electric vehicles, acceleration was linear and the torque was available at any speed. Without a transmission, there was no hunting for the right gear. Having no gasoline engine eliminated delays and hesitations that can come from the air-spark-fuel demand under hard acceleration. The Escalade IQ was pleasant to drive, taking sweeping corners easily with its 9,000-pound weight never giving a feeling of excess body roll.
The interior has seating for either six or seven. Front seats are power, heated and ventilated, with lumbar and memory for the driver.
The most dominant feature of the Escalade IQ is the 55-inch curved diagonal display that stretches from pillar-to-pillar. The 8k resolution for the driver display and the 4k on a separate screen for the front passenger were both sharp and clear. This screen is where the navigation, vehicle controls and settings are located. Also part of the display is the 19, 36 or 40-speaker AKG audio system for FM radio and available SiriusXM. AM radio is not an option. The screen also handles the very cool looking and helpful Night Vision
Google is built-in with Google Assistant and Maps useable with voice recognition. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are not available on the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ.
Design
The exterior remains loyal to the Escalade design DNA. Cadillac did not stray far as the best-selling luxury full-size SUV has a loyal following. Where the Escalade IQ diverges—the edges are a bit softer, which allows for a respectable 0.321 coefficient of drag rating.
We had the chance to speak with Kuyjin Shim, lead exterior designer for the Escalade IQ. We asked about the dimensions, especially about the hood length even though there no longer was a gasoline or diesel engine up-front.
“We had lots of freedom to utilize the space without there being an engine up there by designing the eTrunk that gives storage not just in the rear,” Shim said. “We gave it (Escalade IQ) a very different character and persona that is part of our next generation EV design language, giving customers a choice between the traditional Escalade design and this new one.”
The exterior features walk-up and walk-away, front and rear, choreographed lighting sequences and a panoramic fixed glass roof that is tinted and treated with UV-filtering. The 24-inch wheels and 35-inch tires gives the Escalade IQ a strong presence.
Power
Two electric motors (one front, one rear) drive all four wheels through the eAWD system with these Cadillac performance estimates.
- 680 hp Normal Mode
- 750 hp Velocity Max
- 615 lb.-ft. of torque Normal Mode
- 785 lb.-ft. of torque Velocity Max
Range
460 all-electric miles
Battery and Charging
Lithium-ion with more than 200 kWh of useable battery energy
On-board charger: 7.7 kW standard; 19.2 kW optional
DC fast charger: 100 miles of range can be added in 10 minutes
Level 2, 240V
- +14.8 miles per hour at 7.7 kW
- +19.2 miles per hour at 19.2 kW
The variable regeneration, with one pedal driving, when coasting or braking, converts kinetic energy into electric energy and returns it to the battery, adding driving range.
For even more convenience, the Escalade IQ has bi-directional charging. Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), in a properly equipped home, use a charged IQ battery to deliver power to a home, becoming a generator in emergencies. The Escalade IQ also has power outlets that can charge e-bikes, tire pumps and outdoor equipment or run your office while traveling.
Driver Assistance
- SuperCruise for hands-free driving. Demonstrated here.
- Radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensing to monitor exterior conditions
Safety
The Escalade IQ comes standard with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning and steering assist, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist departure warning and forward collision alert.
As with all General Motors vehicles, the Escalade IQ is equipped with OnStar. A simple push of a button connects to a friendly representative to handle emergencies, directions and general assistance to make your driving experience safer and more enjoyable.
Pricing and Availability
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ, built at the General Motors’ Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramckassembly plant in Michigan, is on-sale in early 2025 with a starting price around $130,000, including destination charges.
Observations: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ
General Motors is on a roll, announcing several battery electric vehicles being built on the dedicated Ultium EV Platform. So far, these are the GMC Hummer and Sierra, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado and Equinox and Cadillac Lyriq,. Next up is the battery electric Cadillac Optiq and the Escalade IQL, a longer version of the Escalade IQ review here.
Our take, after seeing it up close at the reveal event and getting some time behind the wheel, is loyal Escalade owners will be open and even excited to swap their gasoline or diesel model for all-electric. The size, driving range, charging speed and Cadillac premium look, touch and feel will keep the Escalade as the best-selling luxury SUV.
Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews.
Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Cadillac.
The post Flash Drive: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.