I drove the Cadillac Escalade IQ for a week — and it has features I haven’t seen before in an EV

When it comes to luxury EVs, there’s a shocking amount to choose from. The Cadillac Lyriq has been a constant best electric car contender ever since I first drove it, but there’s also its much bigger sibling in the gigantic sized Cadillac Escalade IQ.

We’ve all seen an Escalade driving down the freeway at some point, probably chauffeuring some VIP — but the all-electric version is a reimagining for the series. After driving the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 2 for a week, it’s a stark reminder to never judge a book by its cover.

Not only does it embody everything I’d imagine in a luxury EV, but it also introduces new features I haven’t seen before in other EVs. Although, the $150,640 sticker tag of the IQ Sport 2 trim I tested will question if they’re all worth it. Here’s what I think.

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2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: Specifications

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: Testing summary

After driving a total of 352.5 miles, I managed an average efficiency of 2.2 mi/kWh with the Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 2. Considering it’s packing a battery capacity over 200 kWh, I’m not terribly surprised that it’s a battery hog. At least it’s better than the GMC Hummer EV that delivered an ever worse 1.6 mi/kWh efficiency — and almost comes close to matching the 2.46 mi/kWh efficiency of the Rivian R1S I tested.

Despite its slumbering efficiency, I’m really surprised that it drives so smoothly for its size. Sure, it felt a bit intimidating to drive at first due to how tall it is, but its zippy acceleration was surprising. Believe me, you’ll be able to keep up with other sporty coupes on the road with this.

Since it’s packing massive batteries, I’m not terribly surprised by how slowly it does with Level 1 charging. Its rate of 1.88 mi/hr turns out to be slower than the GMC Hummer EV, which has an even larger capacity than the Escalade IQ. You’ll definitely want to install a Level 2 charger at home to ensure you get a full charge overnight.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: What I Like

Safer driving with night vision camera

Getting older makes nighttime driving harder, but not with the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 2 because it packs an integrated thermal camera to detect heat signatures up to 330 feet. Once I activated it, a small preview screen in the driver’s display shows what the infrared sensor is picking up — which would display warmer temperatures in white. It even displays a box around pedestrians on the side of the road to alert me about their presence.

No other EV I’ve tested offers a feature like this, but they do exist — like some Audi vehicles. Still, I found it helpful at night and during inclement weather when it’s nearly impossible to see what’s in front of me. I suspect it would also be able to detect deer and larger animals, but it didn’t quite pick up a small dog being walked on the side of the road.

Electronically controlled doors

This wouldn’t be a luxury car if it didn’t have niche features. Take its soft close doors and electronic opening, which again isn’t a feature I come across too often in other luxury vehicles. Through the controls on the secondary screen in between the front seats, I can electronically open and close any of the doors — and yes, there are sensors that stop the doors from hitting an adjacent parked vehicle.

Additionally, the doors have a soft close feature that works really well. With a gentle push of the door, they will automatically close on their own. If you’re a stickler about people slamming doors, you’ll love this feature. Although they might seem over-the-top, I think they’re practical and have useful applications. For example, elderly adults wouldn’t have as much of a hard time opening or closing them.

Sleek design for a 3 row SUV

One of the other things I really appreciate about the Escalade IQ is that it sports a modern and sporty design that doesn’t make it look like a boxy thing on the road. There’s an aerodynamic silhouette from the side that gives it a sleek look with the rooftop that meets the dramatically sloped rear window. It might not have the edgy design of the Kia EV9, but it certainly doesn't have the boxiness of the Mercedes-Benz G 580. I'd say it's a happy medium.

Like I said earlier, it drives smoothly with the same zip and pop as the Lyriq and Optiq — which isn’t something I’d expect in a full-sized SUV like this. And just like them, I’m always dazzled by the light up sequence whenever I unlock it with the key fob.

Comfy seats and passenger display

Your passengers will feel like they’re flying in first class on a plane for a bunch of reasons. First of all, this 3-row SUV features 2nd-row captain’s chairs that can recline back and support your legs. Usually the 3-row seats are cramped, but not here.

For your passenger in the front, the curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch LED display has a dedicated section for them to use — with a privacy option enabled when the car’s in motion, so that the driver’s not distracted. Furthermore, there’s an HDMI port in the center console that could be used to display onto the passenger screen.

Large sized frunk

Not only can you use the trunk to carry large items, you can also fold down the 2nd row captain’s chairs and the 3rd row seats to extend the trunk’s capacity. I really do like the utility it offers, but also love how the frunk is equally spacious.

Unlike the frunks in other EVs like the Ford F-150 Lightning or Chevrolet Silverado EV, this one is actually deeper than it is wider. There’s plenty of room for groceries and carry-on luggage if you need the extra space when the trunk’s taken up.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: What I Don't Like

No sun shade for roof

In true luxury fashion, there’s a sprawling glass rooftop that offers breathtaking views for everyone inside of the Cadillac Escalade IQ. Even though it has some UV-coating to mitigate the sun’s harsh rays, I wish it had some other sun shade to completely block out any light from getting in. During the week I drove it, the temperatures were brutal and the AC needed to work harder to cool the inside because of the constant sun.

Super cruise control doesn’t work on local roads

I’ve raved about the responsiveness of the Super Cruise Control feature in Cadillacs, like how it will essentially drive the car for me — complete with auto lane changes when it senses the road near is clear. Although it’s helpful, my ongoing issue with Super Cruise Control is that it only works on major highways.

That makes sense because cruise control is usually reserved for faster driving on highways, but I still would like to see it extended to local and county roads. Instead, I can activate standard cruise control that will maintain the vehicle’s speed — but it won’t drive center in the lane.

Inefficient and expensive

Luxury EVs can easily start around $60,000, but full-sized SUVs come at a higher premium. The $150,640 price tag undeniably makes the Cadillac Escalade IQ way more expensive than most luxury EVs, but it doesn’t help that it’s also very inefficient. This combination won’t attract a wider demographic — and thus — relegated to only those who don’t have a budget limitation. In comparison, the Rivian R1S still costs about $50,000 cheaper and gets better efficiency.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: bottom line

One of the most underrated parts about the Escalade IQ is the modern makeover it’s been given, while offering an impressive driving performance that keeps up with other sporty vehicles. Despite its inefficiency and hefty cost, I can still appreciate what the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 2 delivers.

For a luxury EV, it certainly comes with cool features that I find practical. But its cost puts it out of reach for the average person. I really get that feeling that it’s like driving a vehicle from the future. I’ll be the first to admit it’s a breathtaking glimpse, even if it's a future most of us will only admire from a distance.

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