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Jun 09, 2024

10 Reasons To Wait For The Cadillac Escalade IQ Before Buying A Luxury SUV

The iconic Cadillac Escalade is going electric, and we are excited! The Cadillac Escalade needs no introduction at all, as it's among the most important American cars ever made. For the last 25 years,

The iconic Cadillac Escalade is going electric, and we are excited!

The Cadillac Escalade needs no introduction at all, as it's among the most important American cars ever made. For the last 25 years, the Escalade has served as Cadillac's flagship model, helping the American brand stay relevant while giving European luxury cars a run for their money.

In line with GM's plan to electrify its entire lineup, Cadillac is looking to redefine the luxury SUV experience with a new all-electric version of the Escalade. Dubbed the Escalade IQ, this behemoth will be Cadillac's third fully-electric model after the Lyriq and Celestiq and will help set the American marque up for success in the new era of EV dominance.

The Escalade IQ may share its name and some styling cues with the gas-powered predecessor, but it's a whole new vehicle underneath. As the highly-anticipated debut of the Escalade IQ draws closer, let's explore some key details about it that gearheads are most excited about.

As America's most luxurious SUV model, the Escalade has transcended its primary role as a vehicle and is now a pop culture icon. The Escalade is almost a must-have in every celebrity's collection as it's a recognized status symbol with a striking design, practical and luxurious interior, and plenty of power.

However, as one of the most fuel-hungry vehicles out there, the Escalade has been staring down the barrel of discontinuation as eco-warriors wage war against large ICE SUVs. Thankfully, the arrival of the electric Escalade IQ means that the beloved nameplate is here to stay even though it's a whole new vehicle.

RELATED: Cadillac Escalade IQ Vs Cadillac Escalade V: What's The Difference?

The Escalade IQ's design captures the bold presence of its predecessors perfectly, but the designers have sprinkled in some futuristic styling elements to spice things up a bit. The result is a reimagined yet familiar Escalade that screams wealth, power, and luxury in an American accent.

One noticeable change in the Escalade IQ's design when compared to the gas-powered version is that it's sportier and more aggressive. It has a long, dynamic hood, large 24-inch wheels wrapped in 36-inch tires, and a faster-sloping roofline in the rear. The front fascia also looks different thanks to a massive grillelike panel with tessellated lights that display various attention-grabbing patterns.

The Escalade has always had some of the most luxurious interiors, and the Escalade IQ takes things a notch higher. The first thing you notice when you get in the cabin is a massive 55-inch touchscreen stretching from one end of the dashboard to another.

The Escalade also offers throne-like front seats covered in a high-quality leather-like material, but if you want the real luxury experience, the place to be is in the second row, especially with the Executive Second Row Seating package equipped. You get plenty of room to stretch your legs since the floor is flat and also get to enjoy features like massaging and reclining seats, fold-away tables that can hold a laptop, individual 12.6-inch screens, and a rear-seat Command Center.

Cargo Space (All Seats In Place)

23.7 cu. ft.

Cargo Space (Max)

119.2 cu. ft.

Front Headroom

43.5 in.

Front Legroom

45.2 in.

Rear Headroom

39.9 in.

Rear Legroom

41.3 in.

The Escalade is not just about looks and luxury - it also has the power to match. The most expensive gas-powered version - the superb Escalade V - comes with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 cranking out 682 hp, making it one of the most powerful SUVs in the world.

Cadillac wanted the Escalade IQ to be the most powerful Escalade ever, so they've equipped it with a dual-motor powertrain making up to 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque in what Cadillac calls 'Velocity Max' mode.

Powertrain

dual-motor

Horsepower

750 hp

Torque

785 lb-ft

Curb Weight

9,000 lbs.

Towing Capacity

8,000 lbs.

One key advantage electric cars have over their fossil fuel counterparts is that their acceleration is instantaneous. Since power reaches the wheels almost immediately after the driver steps on the accelerator, electric cars are much quicker off the line, which is why the 0-60 mph record is currently held by an EV - the awe-inspiring Rimac Nevera at 1.74 seconds.

According to Cadillac, the Escalade IQ will be able to hit 60 mph in under 5 seconds, which is impressive for a vehicle that reportedly weighs around 9,000 pounds. To put this in perspective, this is the same time as a 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman.

RELATED: Ranking The Top 10 Fastest Production SUVs By Top Speed

Vehicle

0-60 MPH

Cadillac Escalade IQ

5.0 seconds

Rivian R1S

4.85 seconds

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

6.5 seconds

No one wants to have to keep worrying about their car running out of juice when there are no charging stations nearby, which is highly likely when the car in question weighs 9,000 pounds. That won't be a problem for the Cadillac Escalade IQ or any other GM EV for that matter, as it uses GM's promising Ultium Battery Technology.

The Escalade IQ comes with a 200 KWh battery pack that's good for up to 450 miles of range on a single charge. Of course, you won't be able to get that kind of range unless you're driving at grandma speeds - it will likely be around 350 miles in normal driving conditions. Should you run out, the Escalade IQ will offer DC fast charging, which provides up to 100 miles of range after 10 minutes of charge time.

Vehicle

Range

Cadillac Escalade IQ

450 miles

GMC Hummer EV SUV

314 miles

Rivian R1S

351 miles

Although the Escalade has always been a spacious and practical SUV that can serve families well, it's not a good daily driver as it has high maintenance costs and has one of the worst fuel mileage ratings - the Escalade V offers a woeful 16 mpg combined mileage, according to FuelEconomy.gov.

The Escalade IQ solves these issues thanks to its electric drivetrain. Since there are fewer moving parts, maintenance will be a breeze and you get to escape the ever-rising gas prices forever.

The Escalade IQ operates in the EV space, and with that comes an expectation for it to have futuristic technologies. The Escalade IQ doesn't disappoint. For starters, buyers can order the doors with a power-opening function that handles the door opening and closing duties effortlessly. The aforementioned 55-inch display creates an immersive interior experience and leaves a vibrant first impression when you step in.

Another cool feature is Four-Wheel Steer, which works in a similar fashion to the GMC Hummer EV's crab walk mode to allow for easy entry and exit from tight parking spots.

Unknown to most people, there's is a huge race currently going on in the auto industry to see who will build the first road-legal self-driving cars. Google is leading the race with its revolutionary Waymo self-driving technology, and companies like Tesla aren't too far behind.

GM is looking to join this list with the Super Cruise feature, which will be available in the Escalade IQ. Though Super Cruise doesn't quite offer full self-driving capabilities, Cadillac claims it's the industry's first hands-free driver assistance technology. This technology uses LIDAR map data, radars, GPS, and real-time cameras to enable Escalade IQ drivers to travel hands-free on over 400,000 miles of compatible roads the North America.

RELATED: Understanding The Pros And Cons Autonomous Vehicles: Where Are We Now

What good is a large full-size SUV if it can't handle the occasional off-road weekend trip? Well, Cadillac knows the answer to that question, which is why it has ensured that the Escalade IQ is among the best electric off-road vehicles today.

While we don't expect many Escalade IQ buyers to take it off-road, it still can handle itself thanks to features like an eAWD system, 6.5 inches of ground clearance with the option to raise it by 1 inch thanks to Adaptive Air Ride Suspension, Magnetic Ride Control, and Four-Wheel steering. The icing on the cake is a towing capacity of 8,000 pounds.

Off-Road Features

Martin is a seasoned content creator who has been writing about cars for over a decade, and has been in love with them for even longer. Growing up, Martin was surrounded by gearheads who instilled a deep love and understanding for cars in him at a young age. He loves to learn and write about all the developments happening in the auto industry - especially in the EV space. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to spend quality time with his wife, kids, and fur baby.