It’s over 9,000! Pounds to be specific. While Goku or Vegeta would have no trouble lifting this American tank and hurling it to the next solar system, 9,000 lbs (4,082 kg) for an SUV is considered gargantuan and metaphysical in our three dimensions. This is the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ, a seven-passenger behemoth that hauls and hops in extravagant style. No one does large and in charge better than Cadillac, and their flagship electric SUV comes with their most advanced connectivity features and a respectable zero-emission range. 

For transparency, it’s challenging to find an exact curb weight for this vehicle, as Cadillac cheekily exempted any weight figures from their press releases, but a few reputable automotive publications have weighed the Escalade IQ on their own, and it’s tipped the scales at over 9,100 lbs, or 4,127 kg. That’s heavier than the largest Ford Transit cargo van and even the Mercedes-AMG G63 6X6, but for good reason. The Escalade IQ is equipped with every creature comfort found on this planet, in abundance. Just look at the number and size of the cupholders, and there are not one, but four wireless charging pads for your smartphones – most modern cars typically have one, and even then, it’s only offered on their most expensive trims. 

When was the last time you saw 24-inch wheels on a production vehicle? To our knowledge, only the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe come equipped with this wheel size straight from the factory. They add to the Escalade’s grand visual statement with exaggerated proportions and a tall, imposing stature. The obnoxiously large frontal area hides a sizable frunk, but to say it captures attention on the road is a grave understatement. It cranks necks like witnessing an M4 Sherman tank casually strolling down a crowded Yonge and Bloor.

Compared to the Range Rover PHEV SWB that we recently reviewed, this short-wheelbase Escalade IQ has a 457 mm longer wheelbase, is 645 mm longer overall, 46 mm wider, and sits 66 mm higher. It also weighs 1,400 kg more than the Brit, the equivalent of a Porsche 718 Cayman. Notably, the Black Raven paint hides its silhouette effectively in its shadows, but be wary of brighter colours exaggerating its size even further. If that’s not enough, Cadillac offers a long-wheelbase variant called the Escalade IQL, with a 100 mm extension in third-row legroom, and another 25 mm in headroom. 

The interior is cavernous. The 55-inch curved screen dominates the dashboard and works well with both touch and rotary dial inputs. Like the Porsche Taycan and Genesis GV70, the wheel rim blocks much of the screen in front, but Google integration allows the Escalade to be used like an Android phone or Google Home. Ask Google to take you home, adjust the temperature, or find the nearest charging station using voice commands. This low learning curve makes it intuitive and straightforward to transition into ownership; however, it notably lacks Apple CarPlay.

The Cadillac Escalade IQ starts at $157,399, with our Sport 2 test vehicle costing $194,589 before taxes and fees. That puts it against the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 SUV ($158,500), Hummer EV 3X ($144,098), Lucid Gravity Grand Touring ($134,500), and Rivian R1S Dual Standard ($143,890), but they all lack the interior space and amenities to level the playing field against the Cadillac. The seats are spacious enough to fit a twin next to me comfortably, and supportive enough with heated, ventilated, and massage functions to leave me feeling fresh after a long journey. Numerous adjustments for lumbar, thigh, and back support ensure passengers of all sizes can find their optimal seating position, and the same goes for the second row of seats. 

If your Escalade is destined for fleet duty or ferrying around important passengers, we highly recommend the Executive Second Row Seating Package ($11,395) that transforms the second row into a first-class seat. Well, more of a mix of premium economy and business class with the fold-out tray tables, individual rear screens, and massage, reclining, memory seats, all commanded through the center touchscreen. Like Rolls-Royces, all four doors, and even the charging port, are electronically automated. From both front and rear screens, you can swipe the doors open and close them as well, making the Escalade the perfect chauffeuring vehicle, lessons learned from Japanese taxis. Drivers can also press the brake pedal after entering to close their door automatically.

However, many of the touchpoints and material qualities used in the Escalade IQ aren’t up to the standards expected from a European product. So if you’re migrating over from a Range Rover or BMW X7 in search of more spacious accommodations, you may be disappointed by the fit and finish. The center console cover is flimsy in its slot, the leather is soft but stiffer and lacks that plushness when grazing your skin, and Cadillac utilizes a great deal of black, plastic, glossy panels. The metallic door handles are straight from the half-mil Celestiq, but it’s difficult to overlook the cheap cupholder walls and scratchy panels behind the center console. 

Many of the dials and buttons are nicely textured and knurled, but they don’t feel as satisfying to use. Cadillac does make up for it with the sheer quantity of them, with plenty of storage compartments, hidden cubbies underneath the center consoles, and the ergonomic superiority of physical switchgear. However, we still find it nonsensical that adjusting the rear seat recline has to be done via the touchscreen, requiring more time and effort than necessary, especially when the fold-up tables are up and blocking screen access. 

Every Escalade IQ comes with the same electric powertrain, a 205 kWh lithium-ion battery paired with an electric motor on each axle, generating a maximum of 750 hp and 785 lb-ft. Cadillac claims a range of 748 km, while our driving yielded a still impressive 732 km, enough to shed any concerns of range anxiety, and superior to the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 SUV (510 km), BMW iX xDrive60 (586 km), Volvo EX90 (495 km), and Mercedes-Benz G 580 EQ (398 km).

The Escalade drives as you’d expect: steamrolling and melting everything underneath its sheer gravity and weight. That monstrous output is fully unleashed by activating Vmax mode via the red ‘V’ button on the steering wheel. The result is good ol’ fashioned torque steer as the wheels squirm for traction and pull the car left to right, struggling to stay straight. Best to use care if there are cars beside you.

Otherwise, it’s relatively easy to drive with moderate steering effort at low speeds. Lateral roll is handled quite well; it stays flat and in control around medium-speed bends, and remains compliant on glassier surfaces. Where it struggles to maintain composure is with vertical oscillations, resulting in a busy ride with an underlying firmness typical of pickup trucks. The Escalade doesn’t neutralize smaller suspension movements as ably as a Range Rover PHEV or Lexus LX 700h, but we do not doubt that smaller wheels will improve the ride quality. 

We have run out of superlatives to describe this large electric rig, but if the last-gen Escalade was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, then this IQ is the full double-decker Airbus A380 retrofitted with the latest gadgets. Cadillac’s flagship isn’t shy about its size or grandeur, and embraces it loudly and proudly in typical American style. While material quality and fit and finish have never been the brand’s strong suit, its colossal interior, first-rate luxuries, and abundance of screens and wireless charging pads are enough to transform stressful commutes into restful journeys.

Specifications:

Model: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 2 AWD
Paint Type: Black Raven
Base Price: $177,499
Price as Tested: $194,589
Wheelbase(mm): 3,454
Length/Width/Height (mm): 5,697 / 2,093 / 1,933
Curb weight (kg): 4,130 (approx.)
Powertrain: 205 kWh lithium-ion battery, two electric motors
Horsepower: 750 hp
Torque: 785 lb-ft
Transmission: Direct-drive
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front and rear electric motor, AWD
Claimed Range: 748 km
Observed Range: 732 km
Tires: Michelin Primacy LTX; LT275/50R24