The 2025 ESCALADE IQ, the first-ever all-electric full-size SUV from Cadillac, redefines the luxury SUV experience with an Ultium Platform delivering a Cadillac-estimated 460 miles of range, vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging capability, refined interior and exterior designs, and exceptional performance with zero tailpipe emissions. (Fig. 7)
Fig. 7
Ultium Power
A 24-module Ultium high-voltage battery serves as the foundation of the ESCALADE IQ, producing more than 200 kWh of available energy. These modules are double stacked and built into a rectangular battery pack enclosure. The pack is enclosed with a structural foundation on the perimeter to help protect the battery in the event of a crash. (Fig. 8)
Fig. 8
The flexible, high-voltage architecture enables 800-volt DC fast charging, the quickest form of charging currently available, which can provide up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes of charge time and a Cadillac-estimated 460 miles of range. (Fig. 9)
Fig. 9
Note: Actual range will vary based on ambient temperature, terrain, battery age and condition, loading, and how the vehicle is used and maintained. Actual charge times will vary based on battery starting state of charge, battery condition, output of charger, vehicle settings and battery temperature.
The powerful electric propulsion configuration — consisting of the battery pack, power electronics and a two-motor eAWD system — offers great power on demand.
- Up to 750 horsepower (with driver-selectable Velocity Max, Cadillac estimate)
- Up to 785 lb.-ft. of torque (with driver-selectable Velocity Max, Cadillac estimate)
- 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds (with driver-selectable Velocity Max, Cadillac estimate)
- Up to 8,000 pounds of towing capability (Cadillac estimate)
The drive system features a single-motor front and rear drive unit. The rear motor drives the rear wheels through a fixed gear ratio of 10.5:1. The front motor drives the front wheels through a fixed gear ratio of 13.3:1. (Fig. 10)
Fig. 10
The ultra-responsive, permanent magnet motors are bar-wound, with an integral gear on the rotor that transfers torque from the motor to the wheels to optimize handling, traction and stability control. The e4WD system delivers power to all four wheels and the system adjusts automatically to the driving conditions.
Additionally, ESCALADE IQ offers One-Pedal Driving and Variable Regen on Demand for added efficiency. When a driver lifts their foot off the accelerator while One Pedal Driving is engaged, the regenerative braking system temporarily turns the electric motors into generators that convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle’s forward momentum into electricity that is then stored in the battery pack. Press the One-Pedal Driving icon on the infotainment screen to turn the feature on/off or select the Controls app to adjust the system settings. For driver-controlled deceleration, use the pressure-sensitive Regen on Demand paddle on the left side of the steering wheel.
Note: Features may be limited when the battery temperatures are extremely cold or hot or when battery is near full charge.
To help use every watt possible to optimize range, Ultium Energy Recovery — an innovative heat pump thermal system that uses a single coolant loop for all subsystems connected to a heat pump HVAC system — allows for energy to transfer between the battery/power electronics and the cabin, minimizing the power from the high-voltage battery used for five-zone climate control.
Along with its bold design statement, ESCALADE IQ’s sleek profile also pays dividends on the highway, as it is estimated to be the most aerodynamic full-size SUV ever produced by GM, with an approximately 15 percent lower coefficient of drag than previous generations. (Fig. 11)
Fig. 11
Interior Comfort, Style and Technology
The centerpiece of the exquisite interior of ESCALADE IQ is a curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch-total-diagonal LED display powered by a next generation Snapdragon® Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (Fig. 12) The integrated infotainment experience is personalized with Google built-in, featuring Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play.
Fig. 12
The available Executive Second-Row Seating package includes stowable tray tables, 12.6-inch-diagonal personal screens, a rear command center screen, dual wireless phone charging pads, USB-C and HDMI ports, massaging seats and headrest speakers.
The spaciousness of the interior is enhanced by the panoramic fixed glass roof that spans the first and second rows of seating. The roof glass is tinted and treated with a UV-filtering film that ensures the cabin stays comfortable, even on bright days.
Hands-Free Start
The ESCALADE IQ is equipped with Hands-Free Start, which automatically starts the vehicle when the driver enters the cabin with a remote key fob and then presses the brake pedal or closes the door. A message will display on the instrument cluster display stating how to turn on the vehicle as a reminder to the driver. A Vehicle Ready indicator also will illuminate on the instrument cluster display, indicating the vehicle is in Propulsion mode, and an active battery gauge will be displayed when the vehicle is ready to be driven. There are three power modes – Off (Vehicle Off), Run (Service Mode) and Propulsion (Vehicle On).
When the vehicle is shifted to Park, the vehicle will turn off when a driver exit is detected. The driver must unbuckle the seat belt, release the brake pedal and open the driver’s door in order for the vehicle to power off. Retained Accessory Power (RAP) will remain active until the driver’s door is opened. If the vehicle has not been shifted out of Park, it will not turn off based on driver-exit detection and will need to be turned off using the virtual Off button on the infotainment screen or by waiting for the automatic power mode time out.
To enter Service Mode, the vehicle must be off with the driver’s door open and the remote key fob in range. The brake pedal should not be applied. Press and release the accelerator pedal three times within five seconds and keep the accelerator pedal pressed down the third time until the vehicle enters Service Mode. Service Mode is identified by the red icon on the instrument cluster display. While in Service Mode, the driver’s door can remain open or be closed to complete any diagnostic procedures. Once the brake pedal is momentarily pressed with the remote key fob in range, the vehicle will exit Service Mode and immediately enter into Propulsion Mode.
Packed with Performance
The ESCALADE IQ features an independent front and rear suspension, with power transferred to 24-inch wheels with 35-inch tires via the front- and rear-drive motors that work in conjunction as an eAWD system. (Fig. 13)
Fig. 13
Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and the Adaptive Air Ride Suspension help to isolate passengers from rough road surfaces while providing precise steering and feel. The Adaptive Air Ride Suspension system enables the vehicle to be lowered up to 2 inches (50 mm) and raised 1 inch (25 mm).
Vehicle maneuverability and steering control is enhanced by standard Four-Wheel Steer. It offers a turning diameter of only 39.4 feet (12 meters) for greater maneuverability in parking lots and enhances handling and stability at higher speeds, particularly when trailering.
In addition, Cadillac Arrival Mode, a unique Four-Wheel Steer feature, offers exceptional vehicle maneuverability in tight spaces, such as parking spots, by allowing the angle of the rear wheels to mimic the angle of the front wheels — enabling the vehicle to move more diagonally. (Fig. 14) Arrival Mode can be turned on/off in the Controls app on the infotainment system.
Fig. 14
Arrival Mode is only available at speeds up to 20 mph and can be turned on only when the vehicle is at crawl speed (up to 1.2 mph). At speeds above 20 mph, the front and rear wheels will no longer turn at the same angle. After driving above 25 mph for longer than 10 seconds, the system will disengage and return to Automatic Four-Wheel Steer Mode.
Advanced Safety Features
ESCALADE IQ also features a suite of standard active safety and driver assistance features, including:
- Blind Zone Steering Assist – Provides a brief, firm turn of the steering wheel when a potential crash is detected with a moving vehicle in the lane the vehicle is entering.
- Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking – Helps drivers avoid or reduce the severity of an intersection collision with a detected cross-traffic vehicle.
- HD Surround Vision – Provides selectable digital camera views of the area around the vehicle and helps drivers park or avoid vehicles and objects.
- Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist – Automatically steers, brakes and shifts gears to park the vehicle into a dedicated parallel or perpendicular parking space and also can help unpark the vehicle.
- Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking – At speeds between 5 and 50 mph, helps drivers avoid or reduce the severity of a collision with a pedestrian or bicyclist it detects directly in front of them.
Super Cruise also is a standard feature with three years of the OnStar Super Cruise plan, offering hands-free driver assistance technology, including both driver and system-initiated lane changes, on more than 400,000 miles of compatible roads in the U.S. and Canada.
Note: Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather and road conditions may affect feature performance.
TAC Action Center
The GM Technical Assistance Center, or TAC, (U.S.) has established an Action Center for the 2025 Cadillac ESCALADE IQ to report all product concerns. The TAC Action Center has a direct connection to GM Engineering, Brand Quality and the assembly plant to provide combined resources to address any issues seen in the dealership.
If any concerns are encountered with a new ESCALADE IQ in your dealership, create a TAC case using the Dealer Case Management (DCM) system. Once a case has been submitted, your concern will be escalated to an ESCALADE IQ specialist who will record the concern and provide diagnostic direction as needed through DCM. After a case has been started, feel free to contact the TAC if any additional support is needed.
Part Restrictions
The 2025 ESCALADE IQ will include a limited number of parts on TAC restriction to help drive faster root cause analysis. The following bulletins identify the restricted parts:
- Bulletin #23-NA-202: High Voltage Drive Motor Battery – TAC Approval and Exchange Program
- #PIP5981B: EV Drive Unit TAC Restriction
- #PIT6283: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ EV Parts Restriction Program
– Thanks to Mark Shearer
