Positively Electrified: Cadillac Introduces First Escalade EV

by Alyson Pitarre

Well before the Cadillac Escalade achieved icon status, or became one of the best-selling luxury SUVs, it was all but written off as a gas-guzzling, rebranded Chevy truck.

Neither the SUV’s platform nor its exorbitant fuel costs — as much as $15,750 more over five years compared to the average new vehicle, per Fuel Economy — has done little to deter Escalade aficionados over the years. But with the brand’s newest introduction, the Escalade’s two most prominent and oft-noted flaws are, well, in its rear-view mirror.

Front 3/4 view of Cadillac ESCALADE IQ Sport in Flare Metallic. Photo Credit: Cadillac

Cadillac’s first-ever all-electric full-size SUV, the 2025 ESCALADE IQ, is “a reimagination of the luxury full-size SUV experience, brimming with iconic design, the highest level of craftsmanship, and the latest automotive technology,” said Cadillac in a news release.

Front 7/8 view of Cadillac ESCALADE IQ Sport in Flare Metallic at night. Photo Credit: Cadillac

The brand’s first full-size SUV built on GM’s Ultium Platform, the EV is massive at 224.3 inches long, 85.3 inches, and 76.1 inches tall. That makes it larger than the traditional Escalade, although the SUV’s well-known beefy silhouette manages to be sleeker, more aerodynamic, and more sculpted in this all-electric version. Frankly, everything about the ESCALADE IQ is immense: power (up to 750 horsepower), range (450 miles), and price (about $130,000). The Qualcomm-powered interior LED display stretches an incredible 55-inch from pillar to pillar. The wheels measure 24 inches.

Front-facing view of the pillar-to-pillar screen in the Cadillac ESCALADE IQ Sport at night with night vision activated. Photo Credit: Cadillac

“ESCALADE IQ raises the standard just as the original Escalade redefined luxury a quarter-century ago,” said John Roth, vice president of Global Cadillac. “This reimagining of an icon marks the next step in Cadillac’s all-electric future.”

The EV offers up to 750 horsepower and 785 pounds per foot of torque and can travel 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Drivability is enhanced by independent front and rear suspension; Four-Wheel Steer, which increases maneuverability by reducing the turning diameter as needed; and Cadillac Arrival Mode, a crab-walking diagonal steering feature a la the Hummer EV.

A 24-module Ultium battery produces more than 200 kWh of available energy and enables powerful and quick charging with up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. Bidirectional charging technology will allow the EV to power the home. The EV also features Super Cruise driver assistance technology, which uses a combination of LiDAR map data, real-time cameras, radars, and GPS to create “the industry’s first true hands-free driver assistance technology that enables drivers to travel hands-free on more than 400,000 miles of compatible roads in the U.S. and Canada.”

The SUV comes standard with three rows, including power, fold-flat, third-row seats. Available executive second-row seats feature recline and massage features, alongside fold-out tray tables; 12.6-inch-diagonal personal screens; and speakers in the headrests.