Yahoo Autos 5 Features to See on the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ
The battery-electric Cadillac Escalade was inevitable, and now it’s finally been revealed for next year’s arrival. The Escalade IQ leverages the brand’s flagship nameplate and Cadillac’s most recent attempt at ultra-luxury: the Celestiq. Cadillac’s new Escalade has a ton of interesting features, but here are five that deserve some extra attention.
Technically larger than any television set I owned before 2021, the star of the all-electric Cadillac interior is the huge media screen. Divided into a 35-inch driver display and a 20-incher for the passenger, this pair of screens turns a simple dashboard into, well, a massive multimedia portal.
This 55-inch display handles just about everything you’re trying to do with the Escalade IQ and provides essential vehicle information like your speed, odometer, and charge percentage, while also giving your front passenger a chance to consume media. Cadillac says there’s a polarized filter to keep the driver’s wandering eye at bay.
The 55-Inch Screen
While this system might be a big departure for many, there is some familiar territory underneath. The system uses the Google Built-In suite of applications, which means you’ll find Google Maps and Google Assistant onboard from the factory. Running the whole system is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit platform.
24-Inch Wheels
Don’t adjust your television, phone, or monitor. These are 24-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 275/50 rubber. Large wheels have become a staple of luxury vehicles, and the rise from the lowly 16-inch rims you could get on a 1999 Escalade is not ignored. These large alloy wheels also look appropriately sized for the Escalade IQ’s massive footprint.
24-Inch Wheels
Cadillac says even though these wheels are large and stylish, they were designed to help with the ever-important aerodynamic problem facing electric vehicles.
While we can’t say for certain how much these wheels help or hurt the Escalade’s range, we do know the race for larger wheels isn’t slowing down anytime soon. These large wheels also help clear the 13.98-inch front and 14.05-inch rear rotors.
Dual-Motor Powertrain
Like its GMC Hummer EV platform-mate, the Cadillac Escalade IQ incorporates a pair of drive units under the body. Mounted at each axle, these drive units each pack an electric motor to give this Escalade IQ all-wheel drive. While the AWD system was expected, the 750-hp figure Cadillac boasts is a welcomed treat.
Dual-Motor Powertrain
Cadillac claims this large battery-electric SUV can sprint from a dead stop to 60 mph in less than five seconds. That physics-defying performance is hard to believe considering its 224.3-inch length and 94.1-inch width (with mirrors out).
For context, this Escalade IQ is longer than the standard Escalade’s 211-inch long bodywork, but shorter than the Escalade ESV’s 227-inch shell. Though, it’s wider than both ICE Escalades, which share an 81.1-inch width (likely with mirrors in).
Feeding this dual-motor powertrain is a 200-kWh, 24-module battery pack, which should make that 0-60 time even more impressive.
The eTrunk
Without an internal-combustion mill under the hood, there’s an obvious solution for extra storage—the “U” in SUV does stand for utility, after all.
Dubbed the eTrunk, this frunk offers extra storage for whatever might not fit behind the third row—two sets of golf clubs, for instance. According to Cadillac, the eTrunk offers another 12.2 cubic feet of storage space.
The eTrunk
Of course, that number doesn’t really mean much without some context. The eTrunk gives you about 50% more storage capacity with the third-row seats upright than just the Escalade IQ's rear cargo area (23.7 cubic feet).
That should be more than enough space to handle some carry-on luggage, or the essentials for a full family trip.
The Suspension
As we mentioned before, the new Escalade rides on General Motors’ Ultium platform and shares some of the same building blocks with the GMC Hummer EV.
One of the good things that comes with that is the short-long arm suspension that controls wheel movement at each corner.
Even though you’re not going to be throwing this around the Nürburgring in anger, it’s nice to know GM opted for double wishbones all the way around.
The Suspension
Handling the bumps and the heft of the Escalade IQ is a combination of MagneRide dampers and air springs. This gives the Escalade IQ adjustable height, which should mean a comfortable ride.
The MagneRide dampers also deliver better cornering characteristics than you’d expect from a large BEV. Though, we won’t know that until we get behind the wheel.
