First Drive: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Is an Excessive Behemoth

After spending time in an Escalade IQ that we rented from Cadillac, we came away impressed with its electric powertrain, frustrated by its controls, and offended by its outrageous price, sheer size, portly weight, and utter excess. 

On the one hand, it’s amazing that a vehicle that weighs more than 9,000 pounds can perform as well as it does. However, as one tester commented: “Overall, this thing is pretty ridiculous. Yes, the electric powertrain really lends itself to the luxurious experience this vehicle is trying to provide. But it’s hard for me to look past the amount of resources used here in terms of battery capacity, size, materials, and certainly weight.” 

Everything about the Escalade IQ is big and bold, from its exterior dimensions and 55-inch panoramic dashboard display to its massive 205-kilowatt-hour battery and prodigious 750 horsepower when set to its Velocity Max mode. Even its driving range is supersized, at an estimated 460 miles. It uses an 800-volt architecture, which enables rapid DC fast charging. 

We rented an Escalade IQ Sport 2 from Cadillac for this review. Escalade IQ pricing starts at just over $130,000 for the Luxury 1 and Sport 1 models, including the $2,290 destination fee that Cadillac charges. Luxury 2 and Sport 2 versions begin at just over $150,000. 

If the 224-inch long Escalade IQ isn’t large enough for you, there’s also a 2026 IQL version that’s about 4 inches longer, boasting improved third-row space and a small increase in cargo room.     

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our expert assessment of the Cadillac Escalade IQ is available to you below. If you haven’t signed up to be a member yet, click below and become a member to access this full article. We won’t be buying and formally testing an Escalade IQ due to its hefty price and limited appeal.

What we rented: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Sport 2 AWD
Powertrain: 615-hp (750-hp with Max setting), dual electric motors; 205-kWh battery; 1-speed direct drive; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $148,200
Options: None
Destination fee: $2,290
Total cost: $150,490
Final assembly point: Detroit, MI