Cadillac Escalade IQ Review: The Most Luxe, Innovative Cadillac Ever. EV Driving Is a Bonus
Time in the Escalade IQ will leave you with a new appreciation for Cadillac, and really, that’s the point.
Of course, we’ve known Cadillac over the decades as the ultimate in American luxury: Cars and SUVs finished in the finest leathers, innovative features and buttons to control every function—even going back to the Caddies of the ’50’s and ’60’s there were buttons and automated functions no other car had. Cadillac also introduced the first mass-produced V8 and V16 engines, so it’s really fitting that the company is diving in so deep on EVs. But what else will you find in the Escalade IQ, priced from $130,300? And why is it getting such good reviews? Well, I spent a solid week in it, plus a few other drives recently and have a lot to report.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
A Rolls-Royce Level of Luxury Defines the Cadillac Escalade IQ
To be honest, in the past Cadillac defined the spectrum of luxury, from accessible to premium: Expensive but not always the most expensive; luxurious but not always the most luxurious.
None of that applies here. The Escalade IQ is purely and squarely luxury, perhaps even venturing into the realm of ultra luxury for the features, the power and the amenities that this SUV delivers.
But where it veers into Rolls-Royce territory is the level of thoughtfulness: uncompromising power with 680 HP and 737 lb.-ft. of torque that instantly alights when you tap the accelerator; doors that close (or open) with the tap of an icon on the touch screen; rear seat controls that rival those in the front seat; a chauffeured experience that’ll make you feel like a rock star. And, then, there are innovative features, which are the true mark of luxury.
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Innovative Details Set The Cadillac Escalade IQ Apart
Cadillac’s designers set out to create the ultimate Escalade and that means not just luxury for luxury’s sake, but luxury that has a purpose beyond spoiling the beholder. And while that’s been the Cadillac mantra for a long time, the Escalade really leans in on the idea.
It starts with a stellar driving range of 465+ miles. This is thanks to a huge battery, the same found in the Hummer EV, the Chevy Silverado EV and the GMC Sierra EV. But the design of the Cadillac and its dedication to a quiet, luxe drive feel and a sleeker more aerodynamic shape (believe it or not) adds more driving range. The Hummer, for instance, has a range of just over 300 miles.
Then, Cadillac added a huge frunk; it’s big enough to hold a couple of golf bags, maybe even 4 if they’re not overly large. And there’s a smart little cool box under the front center console. It’s tiny, but enough to hold a few small things, such as meds or candy.
Watch: Tour the Cadillac Escalade IQ With Us!
Nice Touches Fill Out the Escalade IQ Package
In addition to self-opening and closing, the doors are sensing and won’t bash into the car next to you, a detail I really appreciated during my test drive. And I loved the touch-sensitive Cadillac badge; just tap it to open the liftgate.
From there, Cadillac loaded up the Escalade with all its best: Super Cruise hands-free driving, a fixed running board, Tesla-compatible charging, posh leatherette seating, a premium AKG sound system with speakers in the front seat headrests for private phone calls,
The cargo space is really spacious—23.6 cubic feet and the frunk holds another 12.2 cubic feet of cargo room.
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Maybe the Most Thoughtful Detail: More 3rd Row Room in the L
This one detail made me want to cry: Buyers of the L version, which adds $2,700 to the price, will see a marginal amount of additional cargo space—only about .6 of a cubic foot. But, they will find a significant amount of additional leg room in the 3rd row; the standard wheel base has 32.3” of 3rd row legroom but the L edition has 36.7” of legroom. Center row passengers also get a slight bump from 41.3” to 41.4” of legroom.
And really, if you’re buying this for people who’ll sit in those seats, isn’t that where the extra space should go? Typically, when a full size SUV adds the “L” or extended wheel base option, that room goes to the cargo area. Not here. And that little detail truly makes this an ultra luxury SUV.
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The Luxury Of Time Is The First Thing You’ll Need In the Cadillac Escalade IQ
When you first get into the Cadillac Escalade IQ, give yourself some time to explore. There’s a lot, as they say, to unpack. Starting with the dash-spanning multimedia screen which is touch sensitive and can also be controlled by the media dial on the center console, this is where you’ll find most of the car’s features and settings.
The control panel just below is where you’ll find functions like the headlights, climate controls and those door openers. And of course, the Escalade IQ has Google Built-in for “Hey Google” voice control; just ask for what you need and the system will serve it up — after you’ve toggled on the system first (find it here: Settings—> Google Assistant —> Say Hey Google).
Then, you’ll want to explore the cabin. A few hints: Seat controls are on the door panel and that dial just forward of the controls is your seat massage setting. Buyers can opt for the executive package which has massaging second row seats as well as center console with functions including door open/close, climate controls and entertainment on the seat back screens.
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Technical Tricks That You May or May Not Find Charming
Because they could, Cadillac’s engineers included some fun features like 4-wheel steering, which is possible thanks to the dual motor, all wheel drive nature of this SUV. That 4-wheel steering allows for something called Arrival Mode. This essentially allows the Escalade IQ to pull a bit closer to the curb without too much maneuvering; it sort of feels like the car is driving sideways. The Hummer EV has a similar feature called Crab Walk, and like Arrival Mode, it moves the car slightly sideways. I’ve driven both and I’m not sure I’m convinced of the benefit of this feature, but I do like the idea of 4 wheel steering for both high-speed driving on the highway and parking in tight spots in a parking deck.
Another feature is called Velocity Max, a launch mode setting that allows the car to harness all its horsepower and rocket you to hyper speed in mere seconds. I didn’t try this out as I didn’t have the benefit of a closed road or a Cadillac engineer to coach me through proper use, which is what would make me feel comfortable with something like this. But it’s nice to know the Escalade IQ can hit the power of a Lamborghini if it needs to.
How the 3rd Row Measures Up and How Kids Car Seats Fit
Being an Escalade, seating a family is a natural task. And the IQ does some of these things with superior skill and others, not so superior.
First, that added leg room in the IQ L is a true bonus for families who plan to seat passengers in the 3rd row regularly. And, buyers can opt for center row captains chairs, which is what I would recommend for anyone planning on using more than 5 seats on the regular. That’s due to several factors; First, in center row seats are fold and flip, meaning they don’t slide and tilt for 3rd row access. This makes getting into the 3rd row with rear facing car seats a challenge. However, models with the executive package have power slide and tilt seats, which is easier for 3rd row access though the center row seatbelts are anchored on the rear wall and don’t move out of the way when accessing the 3rd row. This was pretty awkward for climbing into the 3rd row.
Then, the powered center row seats will move forward even with weight in the seat. I don’t love this because it feels dangerous and unnerving. Still, both the center and 3rd rows are roomy and comfortable. In the standard wheel base IQ I had enough legroom to be comfortable.
For parents who want to install kids car seats, the center row has plenty of space for either rear or forward facing car seats. I measured more than 32” of space, enough for a rear facing seat. There are two full sets of LATCHes in the center row but no lower anchors in the 3rd row.
What We Loved
There’s a lot to love in the Cadillac Escalade IQ, including:
- The panoramic screen with lots of function, a passenger-side screen and the control panel for all those little things that used to require buttons
- The very comfortable and posh-feeling seats; the 3rd row has 3 headrests so it’s safe for all passengers
- The AKG sound with headrest speakers
- Push-button doors
- The tinted panoramic sunroof brings a lot of beautiful light into the cabin
- Ample passenger space in both the center and 3rd row
- Ample cargo space behind the 3rd row
- All that power and range; you don’t feel the size or weight of this SUV, nor do you worry much about the range
What You Need to Know
The Cadillac Escalade IQ is lovely, but there are considerations:
- The glossy dash, screens and sunroof create a huge amount of glare and it adds a lot of heat to the cabin; it was tough to keep cool and my phone overheated when placed on the wireless charger
- A clip-in panoramic sunroof screen is an available option
- The massage seats are not the most robust
- There is a lot of tech to learn and it’s not all intuitive; take time to learn these features before setting off
- While the Escalade IQ is Tesla Supercharger compatible, it needs an adapter for the older style J1772/CCS charge port
- Cadillac does not support Apple CarPlay, though Google Built-in allows you to sign in to your Google account for messages and other functions
What This Car Costs
Cadillac made the pricing of the Escalade IQ pretty simple. Here’s how it shapes up:
- Luxury model starts at $129,795 and includes AWD, the full driving range of 465+ miles, Super Cruise, 4 wheel steering, 22” wheels, full-range multimedia screen, Google Built-in, AKG premium sound, front seat cool box, head up display,
- Sport model starts at $130,295 and adds sport design details
- Premium Luxury model starts at $150,095 and adds power bolstered front seats, AKG Studio sound with 38 speakers and Dolby Atmos, front and second row massage seats, rear seat executive seats package ($9,495) is an option, night vision
Driving the Cadillac Escalade IQ
Behind the wheel of the Cadillac Escalade IQ I felt confident and powerful; the ride is high and visibility is excellent—though all that glass and gloss creates a lot of glare and heat in the cabin, something to note for buyers in Southern states. The IQ’s 4 wheel steering allowed even easier access to tight parking spots and this full-size SUV felt surprisingly deft and agile—something you don’t usually say about full size SUVs. Thanks to the power and steering I loved taking it out on some of my favorite twisty roads and it handled wonderfully.
And, it did something these large SUVs rarely do: it made me feel a bit inconspicuous: a loud, rumbly SUV demands attention and makes me feel a bit guilty for all the fuel I’m burning up, especially when I’m alone. That was absolutely not the case here; the long range and efficient powertrain made me feel happy behind the wheel all day.
What it wasn’t was inconspicuous. Every where I went people commented on my beautiful car. The color, the glossy paint, the lights all added up to a show stopper. Maybe the Sport model with its dark accents and muted wheels would be a little lower-key, but I’m not entirely sure; the Escalade IQ is a beauty inside and out, and a true delight despite its few drawbacks. And it reminds you just what the Cadillac experience should be.
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