2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ Review
2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ
Starting Price: Around $130,000
Battery Size: 200 kWh
Power and Torque: 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque
Real-World Range: 426 miles
Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
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Well, if you're too lazy to read on...just know this:
“This is the best non-performance vehicle that GM has ever produced.”
I say non-performance for obvious reasons, like the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and the C8 Corvette. But I cannot think of another vehicle GM has produced that comes close to what this Escalade IQ does, offers, and feels. It's just brilliant.
Let's start with the looks because, dear God, this thing is gorgeous! It nails the 'futuristic vibe' that all EVs tend to have but adds so much style and undeniable and unbeatable road presence. Styling-wise, look at the grille! It's not a grille; it's a fully-lit panel that mimics a grille in such a way that it adds visual depth to the entire front end. Yes, it's festooned with so many LEDs that Home Depot would get jealous, but the way it's engineered, it adds to the visual heft instead of drawing your eyes away from it. It's beautiful. That doesn't stop anywhere else either because the side profile is equally as stylish with a steep rake to the D pillar that is blessed with a split taillight configuration. Those taillights help break up the huge bulk of the rear end, and its dramatic design lures you in to swoon. Now, onto the road presence. It has so much road presence that the Escalade IQ towers over almost all vehicles on the road. Yes, that includes full-size pickup trucks as well. The Escalade IQ gives you a sense of utter invincibility and confidence that I can't think of another vehicle that comes close!
This hulking 9,100-pound behemoth may look like it's as unwieldy as an H1 Hummer, but you'd be wrong. It's so easy to drive that after the initial 10 feet, that bulk disappears. The rear-wheel steering is the reason for that agility, and it works beautifully. You can swing the Escalade IQ into any parking spot without a care in the world; the Escalade IQ just tightens its line to perfection. Now you would think that changing lanes would be an activity requiring prayer, but you'd also be wrong. Put the blinker on and there are cameras that display your blind spot on the infotainment system, completely negating any sort of fear when navigating this thing.
Adding to that is the best-tuned suspension GM has ever done. The Escalade IQ soaks up nearly everything on the road with only a slight audible ‘thump.’ The suspension is so compliant, comfortable, and poised that the Escalade IQ is probably one of the best-riding vehicles I have ever reviewed. Now, adding to that is 22-inch wheels and its beautifully large 60-series Michelin Primacy tires. You can get 24-inch wheels and most people will...but please give the 22-inch wheels a chance. I promise you...you will not regret a single squishy, serene mile in it.
The Ultium Platform is what underpins this stylish brute. That platform is shared with the Silverado EV and the Sierra EV, and it also comes with the same 200 kWh battery pack and the same 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque. Yes, that is a lot, but bear in mind that it needs to shove literally 9,100 pounds. So while it will get to 60 in 4.9 seconds, it's a bit unnerving getting there, but thankfully the brakes are perfectly engineered to stop on a dime while delivering pretty darn good pedal feel at the same time. Now let's talk about the range.
The immense battery pack affords an actual range of around 420 miles! I say actual range because most EVs tend to be overly optimistic by around 75-100 miles, but not this Escalade IQ. Don't be mistaken and think the Escalade IQ is a revolution in EV efficiency...because it isn't. We got an okay 1.7 kWh in our week of testing. So all of that range is attributed to that immense battery.
Stepping inside the Escalade IQ you’ll be greeted with one heck of an interior. Its Burj Khalifa-esque height yields an interior that is as airy as a ballroom. You're also greeted with a ginormous 55-inch display that spans the entire dash. It may remind you of Lincoln's massive dashboard, but unlike the Lincoln's, the passenger side is actually functional. The passenger can opt for a variety of video choices from YouTube to Hulu to Disney+, while the kids in the back can opt for their own individual video choices! Rear seat displays have been with us for decades now, but all other systems are an absolute pain in the ass to work. The Escalade IQ is the opposite. It's like GM realized that there will be mini-humans, called children, in the backseat and programmed the functionality as such. My 7-year-old was able to turn on the display, pair the headset, and load up YouTube all within 10 minutes without any help from me. Fantastic job, GM!
Now we come to the part of the story where I have to spoil some of the awesomeness for you. The Escalade IQ is not perfect by any means. There are some rather noticeable issues that have to be addressed.
First, is the way it accelerates. For some reason, it torque-steers so badly that it's frankly unnerving to go over 70% throttle. The steering veers from right to left and back with increased frequency as the speed increases. In other words, if you don't have both hands on the steering wheel, you better have good insurance because you are going to veer into something. It's not strictly the Escalade IQ; it's the Ultium platform. The Silverado EV I drove earlier in the year did the exact same thing.
Second, GM's insistent refusal to add CarPlay/Android Auto integration. I don't care about their excuses, it's annoying and unacceptable that they refuse to adopt an unofficial industry infotainment standard. Going through GM's UI to stream anything on your phone is a pain in the ass. Sure, you'll get used to it eventually, but the thing is...you shouldn't have to.
Third, the massive blind spots on both A pillars. Sure there are cameras to help you navigate your surroundings, but solely relying on cameras for all of your maneuvering is a recipe for disaster. Imagine that it's raining and it's at night. The cameras are going to be utterly useless, so you have to crane your neck over the steering wheel and attempt to use ‘The Force’ to navigate this 9,100-pound beast through a crowded parking lot.
Fourth, for the base price of a staggering $130,000, our Escalade IQ front seats lacked the adjustability found in literally every other vehicle in its segment. It lacked thigh, side bolster, and mid-back adjustments, as well as massaging seats. Yes, I know I sound like a spoiled brat, but damnit to hell, if I were to pay over $130,000, I want to adjust the seat to my exact liking while being massaged!
Fifth, and the most bewildering is this panoramic sunroof:
See anything missing? Look closely. Don’t see it yet? Well, let me help you. THERE IS NO SUNSHADE! Now, if you’re thinking it has some neat electroluminastic glass panel…think again. It doesn’t. If you want to block out the sun, you have to get an OPTIONAL dealer accessory that YOU HAVE TO SNAP INTO PLACE. What in the actual frack?
Overall, yes, there are some glaring faults with the Escalade IQ, but even with those faults, there is something special about it. The Cadillac Escalade IQ is a technological tour de force for Cadillac and GM. It puts the rest of the automotive world on notice that if GM can actually focus and put their money and minds to a goal, they will shock the world. Great and stunning work, General Motors. Bravo!
Yousef Alvi
