First Drive: 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL

FIRST IMPRESSION: No way are batteries going to move this 9,000-pound luxury office on wheels, and definitely not for 460 straight miles on one charge.

Surely, we aren’t the only skeptics of just how much power and charging life the massive Escalade IQL could deliver. After all, our industry has been using gas-powered (ICE) Escalades since the beginning, and we all know how efficient they aren’t with the MPGs. Ah, the price of luxury transportation.

But after two weeks of hopping in and out of the Escalade IQL, color us happily surprised by the extraordinary range this all-wheel drive behemoth had (Cadillac says 460 miles!), not to mention the smooth-as-glass acceleration and ride. Seriously, the idea that a vehicle this enormous and heavy could fly as quickly as it did—powered by freaking batteries—is really a testament to how far electric vehicle technology has come.

As an aside, the standard wheelbase version of the electric Escalade, the IQ, just wowed the folks at car research site Edmunds with an incredible 558 miles on one charge, giving it nearly an extra 100 miles over estimates. That’s insanely impressive!

Before we get into the positive stuff, let’s get the potential negatives out of the way: the price and access to charging. According to Cadillac’s latest pricing, you can expect to be shelling out at least $130,000 for the IQL, which could be a deal-breaker for those already suffering from ICE Escalade sticker shock. You get a lot for your money though, and the limited required maintenance can save you some coin over the long run, but that upfront price tag could be a factor. Also keep in mind that battery performance tends to slightly wane over time and miles—just like your cellphone and gas mileage in your ICE vehicles, to be honest—so we can’t attest to the longevity.

Optimally, you have access to a DC high-power fast charging. We’re based in New Jersey and could only hook up to level 2 where we’re located, and even after charging overnight for a full 10 hours and 51 minutes, we only managed to jump from 33% to 77% bat life at a cost of $38.36. I mean, that’s not moving any needles, but a battery this large requires some major current. The good news is, we were able to go for almost two entire weeks, 350+ miles, and three testers in frigid winter weather until we had to find a plug—and even then, it was for testing purposes. It’s not going to be practical if you’re exceeding the estimated range per day ... but it’s pretty good if you’re planning to charge in sips rather than gulps between shorter client trips.

OK, so with that laid bare, let’s dive into the pros. We can’t say enough about the power: If you already own Escalades, you know they are workhorses that come with full throats and mighty gas tanks. You can feel as well as hear the V-8 propelling that baby forward—and you’ll get no complaints from us about that ... until you experience the IQL, which lacks all the typical cues like the roar of the engine. And since it was so silent, it at first made it hard to judge how fast we were going in such a short amount of time (which we discovered thanks to the heads-up display). Unencumbered from traditional valves and combustion, as well as any hesitation that comes with an ICE vehicle, acceleration was literally effortless.

A quick piece of advice: If you’re new to EVs and one-peddle driving, definitely build in some acclimation time. This was the third EV that we’ve tested—and by far the largest—but we gave ourselves a refresher before taking her for a spin on the major highways or in traffic. While all of us who tested the IQL have an ICE vehicle for our daily drivers, we found it very easy to develop that muscle memory, even when switching between cars. In fact, some of us started to prefer it since braking is as easy as taking your foot off the accelerator in most cases (it has a brake pedal too, don’t worry). The level of sensitivity is adjustable as well, so you can ease into it.

If you’re curious about the rest of the package, our Premium Luxury trim IQL was practically a carbon copy—albeit quieter—of the 2026 Escalade ESV we had back-to-back tested between November and December (you can read that review in the December 2025 issue). This is a Cadillac at its core, and damn, they do luxury well. You’re still getting all the cool interior features like the curved, 55-inch, pillar-to-pillar worth of screens and information; cameras galore; lane departure warning/lane keep assist; emergency braking for front and rear cross traffic; rain-sensing wipers, panoramic sunroof, automatic heated and telescoping steering wheel; hands-free power liftgate; soft-closing power doors; and, of course, Super Cruise. The model we tested had immovable running boards instead of the power-retracting ones on the ESV, and they seemed to be a bit narrower too because they were closer to the vehicle. We also had the upgraded 24" wheels and front-seat power massage, which were standard at this trim.

The difference in the exterior, however, is slightly more noticeable. Instead of the boxier, linear, and harder edges of the Escalade, the IQL throws in a few curves as a nod to the rest of its electric lineup (including the LYRIQ, which we also test drove a few years ago). If you’re looking at them side by side, the differences in styling are apparent, but not so much that you don’t immediately recognize it as a Cadillac or an Escalade.

Compared to what you’re probably used to on ICE Escalade models, cargo space is reduced due to the batteries. Expect about 24 cu. ft. behind the third row and 75 cu. ft. behind the second—but you do get additional storage space under the power-lift hood of about 12 cu. ft. Creatively, you can get maybe two suitcases in there like we did (you like Tetris, right?).

As we mentioned earlier, we tested the IQL, which is considered the long wheelbase version of the IQ line. However, the difference between the IQ and IQL is a nominal 4", radically different than the foot span between the standard Escalade (211”) and ESV (227”). And while the IQL feels more compact than the ESV, it’s actually an inch longer at 228.5”. You’ll see those extra 4” in the third-row legroom and cargo space.

Finally, since this is a new offering and powertrain, don’t expect the ZR3 warranty on the IQ models. You will get the standard 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 8-year/100,000-mile on the battery and electrical components.

Bottom line: The brand-new IQL might have just convinced us that comfortable, spacious, and powerful large EVs are actually possible for our industry. If the factors are right, and the price tag doesn’t scare you off, this is an extraordinary vehicle for eco-conscious passengers.   [CD0126]