Escalade IQL Brings Chevy’s Shark Fin C-Pillar Treatment To… Cadillac?

The upcoming Cadillac Escalade IQL is the longer version of the luxury brand’s full-size electric SUV. As we’ve seen in some exclusive spy shots, the back of the IQL has a decidedly more upright design than the regular Escalade IQ. One of the biggest design differences between the two is the glass between the C and D pillars of the IQL serving as windows for the third row. On the Escalade IQ, the space behind the diagonal trim piece behind the C pillar is all painted.

While the Escalade IQ and IQL share that diagonal trim piece design, it’s executed a little differently. On the IQL, the C pillars between the edges of the back doors and that diagonal chrome are painted. This gives the Cadillac Escalade IQL a design element in common with some models from GM’s most mainstream and affordable brand in the U.S.; Chevrolet.

We’re talking about a design cue we’ve been calling the “shark fin.” The most prominent shark fin C-pillar in the Chevy lineup is worn by the Chevy Traverse, which entered its third generation with the 2024 model. The Traverse’s C-pillar rises sharply just behind the rear door before leveling off and falling back down to the vehicle’s shoulder line, creating the appearance of a shark’s dorsal fin.

The all-new 2025 Chevy Equinox borrows this basic design for its own C-pillars, creating design continuity in the Chevy crossover lineup. In fact, one could argue that it all started with the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer, which has painted C-pillars that flow into the D-pillars in a shark fin-like shape.

Another thing making the Escalade IQL almost look like it could be a Chevy is the flatter roofline. The roofline of the Escalade IQ has a gentle slope toward the back making it almost look like an SUV coupe in comparison to the IQL, which is much boxier toward the back. Boxy is what the latest Chevy crossover design language is all about from the Trailblazer to the Equinox to the Traverse.

It’s rare to see design elements shared between Chevy and Cadillac, the most mainstream and luxurious GM brands in North America. This could very well be a coincidence more than an intentional design choice. However, if enough people notice the similarity, we may see Cadillac Escalade IQL models getting “sharked.”