2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ - Is it BETTER than the Escalade V? Huge range, 9,000 lbs!!!!!

Testing the massive 2025 Cadillac Escalade, it's bigger and badder than ever.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:27 Exterior
1:59 Auto Open/Close Doors
2:33 Wheels and Tires
2:48 Frunk
3:23 What Makes It Go?
4:25 Cargo Space
4:53 Price
6:01 Executive 2nd Row
8:39 Interior And Tech
13:16 4-Wheel Steer And Crab Walk
14:16 Driving
20:30 Verdict

Exterior

The first thing that hits you is how massive it is, and you wouldn't be mistaken; it completely overshadows all other electric SUVs with a wheelbase that's over 15 inches longer than a standard Escalade, plus it adds about an extra foot in overall length. The IQ is also wider, but it sits a bit lower than a regular Escalade. That’s what gives it such a sleek look from the side, with this elegant curve tapering off towards the back, which was designed to disguise its enormous size.

Up front, it’s unmistakably Cadillac, and when you get up close, you really see just how big it is. Just look at where the daytime running lights are in relation to a regular person. me. It’s hefty too; the standard model weighs in at 9,100 pounds, but this one, with the Executive 2nd package, tips the scales at 9,250 lbs., which is 3,000 lbs. heavier than a gas-powered Escalade.

Wheels and tires

The IQ comes with huge 24-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Primacy all-season tires sized at 275/50. The brakes are enormous too, the front rotors are 13.98 inches in diameter, and the rears are 14.05 inches.

Under The Frunk

Well, good news, there is a frunk, which opens with one push of a button to the left of the steering wheel. It will accommodate 12 cubic feet of stuff and has what looks like a body loading device on rails. The reality is that it helps load your weekly Costco shop since the hood is so long. 

Power and Charging  

It features two motors, one located at the front and the other at the back, both of which are permanent-magnet synchronous AC units. Combined power is 750 hp, combined torque is 785 lb.-ft, but that’s only when you activate Velocity Max mode. Normally, it delivers 680 horsepower and 615 pound-feet.

One reason the IQ is so heavy is due to its battery pack, boasting a huge 205 kWh capacity. It comes with an 800-volt electrical system that can charge the battery at a rate of up to 350 kW, which is enough to add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes, as per Cadillac. The total range is 460 miles, and it can go from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds.

Crab walk and Rear Wheel Steering  

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ comes with a "Crab Walk" mode, or Cadillac Arrival Mode, thanks to its high-tech four-wheel steering system. This feature lets the vehicle move diagonally, making it a breeze to navigate through tight spots and tricky situations. It's kind of like the Crab Walk feature in the GMC Hummer EV. This system helps shrink the turning radius, which is super handy for parking or towing.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Numbers

BASE PRICE: $148,200
PRICE AS TESTED: $166,905
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door SUV
FRONT MOTOR: Permanent-magnet AC
REAR MOTOR: Permanent-magnet AC
COMBINED POWER: 750 hp
COMBINED TORQUE: 785 lb-ft
BATTERY PACK: Liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 205.0 kWh
PEAK DC FAST CHARGE RATE: 350 kW
TRANSMISSION: 1-speed direct-drive
CURB WEIGHT: 9,250 lb
RANGE: 460 miles
0-60 MPH: 4.7 seconds (est)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB: N/A
CARGO SPACE: 24 cubic feet behind the 3rd row, 69 cubic feet behind the 2nd row, and 119 cubic feet with all seats flat
PROS: Quick for a brick, beautiful interior, super smooth ride, incredible range
CONS: Annoying self-closing and opening doors (you don't have to check this option)