2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ Model Review with Prices, Photos, & Specs
Key Features
- Starting at at $127,405 MSRP*
- Dual Motor AWD electric drivetrain producing 615 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque (up to 750 hp [Velocity Max] and 785 lb-ft of torque [Velocity Max])
- Cadillac-estimated 465 miles of range**
- Choice of standard-length Escalade IQ or extended-length Escalade IQL
- Curved Pillar-to-Pillar 55-inch total diagonal display
- Super Cruise advanced driver assistance technology
- AKG™ Studio 21-speaker audio system
- 4-Wheel Steer, Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, and Magnetic Ride Control
- Heated steering wheel with heated and ventilated front row seats and heated second-row bucket seats
About the Cadillac Escalade IQ
The Escalade has long been the flagship of the Cadillac fleet, but with the Escalade IQ, Cadillac found a way to create a new tier of luxury above what was previously offered. The Escalade IQ doesn’t just have a lavish and technologically impressive cabin or sophisticated styling. Its incredibly powerful drivetrain is also quiet in a way that everyone always wants a luxury vehicle to be but which isn’t quite possible with a gasoline engine. Though the Escalade IQ is built on a different platform than the conventional Escalade, the interior volume is nearly identical. Thanks to the front storage compartment, the Escalade IQ has more cargo space. In fact, everything you already love about the conventional Escalade is here, just more of it. More power, more standard equipment, and more standing out from the crowd.
What the Critics Say
“Owners will appreciate the huge range and quick charging such big, fat batteries allow. The IQ is quiet, well mannered, strikingly handsome, and great to road-trip (we haven’t even mentioned the class-leading and MT Best Tech–winning Super Cruise hands-free driving, which is standard). It’s also quick when you need it and more practical than your average full-size SUV, and taken together, we believe Cadillac has a bonafide hit on its hands.” – MotorTrend
“But Cadillac is playing it smart: Offering the two Escalades side by side while the EV market continues to sort itself out makes perfect sense. More customers will likely get on board with IQ as time goes on, giving the brand a win-win situation.” – Edmunds
What’s New for 2026
There’s just one noteworthy update to the Cadillac Escalade IQ for the 2026 model year, just one year following its debut. Buyers can now opt for the all-new Escalade IQL – an elongated version that boasts an extra 4 inches of third-row legroom along with 1 additional inch of third-row headroom. Joining the popular Escalade IQ portfolio, it’s yet another example of how Cadillac continues to lead the full-size luxury SUV segment.
Cadillac Escalade IQ Features
Advanced Electric Drivetrain
The Cadillac Escalade IQ is built on an entirely different platform from the one used for the conventional model. This is GM’s full-size truck and SUV EV platform, first used for the Hummer EV. Like the other vehicles that use this platform, the numbers associated with the Escalade IQ are incredible. Starting with the power output, the Escalade IQ produces a combined 750 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful production Cadillac model of all time. All that power means the Escalade IQ can hit 60 MPH in under 5 seconds, outstanding for a vehicle this size. To go with that incredible performance, the Escalade IQ has an equally impressive battery pack, with a capacity of 200 kWh. That means the Escalade IQ can offer all of that amazing performance while still having a Cadillac-estimated maximum range of 465 miles, another absolutely amazing feat for a vehicle this size. Since this advanced drivetrain is built on 800-volt architecture, charging is incredibly quick, letting you add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes with DC fast charging.
Luxurious Interior
Cadillac further leans into the advanced technology behind the Escalade IQ on the interior, where features like a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar infotainment screen come standard. A secondary screen sits below, for the most-used controls, and above there is a standard head-up display. Cadillac was one of the first brands to embrace automotive night vision, and the available system in the Escalade IQ uses thermal imaging to allow you to see far beyond the range of even the advanced adaptive LED headlights. Adaptive cruise control is standard, but so is Super Cruise, an even more advanced form of cruise control that allows for hands-free highway driving. Or if a chauffeur is going to be driving, you can sit back and watch your favorite entertainment in one of the 12.6-inch touchscreens mounted on the backs of the front seats.
Styling That Turns Heads
As imposing and impressive as the conventional Cadillac Escalade is, the Escalade IQ takes it even further, blending design elements from the conventional model with new features that set the big EV apart. The adaptive forward lighting, which includes lighting elements across the whole front fascia, adds to the distinctive look. The 24-inch wheels are the biggest standard wheels ever offered by Cadillac and are sure to make an impression. There is no shortage of customization options either, with a range of sophisticated paint colors, an optional black roof, different interior colors and seating configurations, and different designs for the wheels. The Executive Second Row option adds second-row seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, as well as a pair of infotainment touchscreens and an upgrade to the AKG premium stereo system that brings the speaker count up to 40.
Trims & Specs
Luxury
- Starting at $127,405 MSRP*
- Dual-motor AWD electric drivetrain
- Cadillac-estimated 465 miles of range
- 11.5 kW charging
- Curved Pillar-to-Pillar 55-inch total diagonal LED display
- 19-speaker AKG Audio System
Sport
- Starting at $127,905 MSRP*
- Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance technology with 3-year OnStar® Super Cruise plan
- 12.2 cubic-foot. eTrunk™
- Air Ride Adaptive Suspension and Magnetic Ride Control
- 4-Wheel Steer
- Obsidian Chrome finished grille
Premium Luxury
- Starting at $147,705 MAEP*
- AKG™ Studio Reference 38-speaker audio system with Dolby Atmos®
- LED ambient lighting, 126-color, 2 zones, customizable, laser etched backlit wood trim
- Power open and close doors
- 24-inch 7-spoke alloy wheels with mask and polish with machine face and high gloss Black pockets and inserts
- 9-module slimline Adaptive Headlamp System, with automatic leveling and cornering
Premium Sport
- Starting at $148,205 MSRP*
- Massage front seats with power bolsters
- 16-way power front row seating, including 8-way power adjustment, 4-way lumbar adjustment, 2-way shoulder adjustment and 2-way back bolster adjustment
- Power open and close doors
- Panoramic fixed-glass roof
- Available Executive Second Row Seating Package
*The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price includes destination freight charge. Tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment not included. Dealer sets final price.
**On a full charge based on development testing and/or analytical projection consistent with SAE J1634 revision 2017 – MCT. Range subject to change prior to production. Actual range may vary based on several factors, including ambient temperature, terrain, battery age and condition, loading, and how you use and maintain your vehicle.