The Cadillac Escalade IQ is the fully electric version of the Escalade, revealed in August 2023 and delivered to customers from 2024 as a 2025 model. It is built on GM’s Ultium electric platform rather than the truck platform of the gasoline Escalade, and it combines a very large battery pack, a range estimated at around 450 miles, dual-motor all-wheel drive and a pillar-to-pillar display of about 55 inches. It sits alongside, rather than replacing, the gasoline and diesel Escalade.

Escalade IQ at a glance
Revealed August 2023
Platform GM Ultium (shared with the GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV)
Drive Dual motors, all-wheel drive
Battery Over 200 kWh — one of the largest in any passenger vehicle
Range Around 450 miles (estimated)
Display Roughly 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen
Seats Seven (three rows)

What makes it different from the gas Escalade

The shape. The IQ has a sloping, aerodynamic roofline and a short, closed front end, since there is no engine to cool. It is long — comparable to the Escalade ESV — but sits lower.

The space. With no engine, there is a front trunk (“eTrunk”) in addition to the rear cargo area, and a flat floor throughout the cabin.

The quiet. Electric motors make almost no noise, so the IQ is exceptionally quiet at city speeds. Cadillac added active noise cancellation to suppress road and wind noise too.

The performance. In its most powerful mode, the IQ produces around 750 horsepower, which makes it very quick for a vehicle of its weight. Four-wheel steering helps it maneuver in tight spaces, and a “Crab Walk” mode lets it move diagonally at low speed.

The cabin

The front passenger has their own section of the enormous display, and second-row passengers get individual screens and, in an Executive Second Row package, reclining seats with massage and power-deploying tables. The panoramic fixed-glass roof and extensive ambient lighting give the cabin an airy feel.

Charging

The IQ can use DC fast chargers of up to 800 volts, adding substantial range in a short stop. Its huge battery means even long day trips from New York — to the Hamptons, the Hudson Valley or Philadelphia and back — are within reach on a single charge, depending on speed and weather. See our guide to EV range in winter.

Electric luxury SUVs and chauffeured service

Electric vehicles are well suited to chauffeured work in many ways: silence, smoothness, zero tailpipe emissions and low running costs. The obstacles are charging time between back-to-back trips and the price of very large batteries. Many fleets, including ours, run proven gasoline SUVs today while watching how electric models perform. Read electric vs gas luxury cars, or see the Escalade we drive on our Cadillac Escalade page.