As GM Authority has reported for years now, Cadillac will offer two size variants for its flagship all-electric luxury SUV – the Cadillac Escalade IQ and the Cadillac Escalade IQL. With the standard-length Escalade IQ making its official debut in August of 2023, GM is now unveiling its extended-length sibling, the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL. While the majority of the specs are identical, the Escalade IQL provides provide additional passenger space and cargo capacity compared to the standard-length Escalade IQ.
2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL
Cadillac Escalade IQ
Placed side-by-side, the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL shows a longer silhouette, which translates into a more spacious third row and extra rear storage. More specifically, the IQL’s third-row seats offer an additional four inches of legroom, increasing from 32.3 inches to 36.7 inches, while third-row headroom gains an extra inch, rising from 37.2 inches to 38.2 inches. The Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL share the same 136.2-inch wheelbase, while the IQL’s overall length is 228.5 inches, or 4.2 inches longer than the Escalade IQ.
Similar to the standard-length IQ, the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL offers an array of high-end interior features, including the available Executive Second Row package, which enhances the rear-seat experience with stowable tray tables, 12.6-inch diagonal personal screens, a rear command center, dual wireless phone charging pads, and 14-way adjustable second-row seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The interior also features a curved 55-inch front display and a premium 21-speaker AKG Studio audio system, plus GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assist system and vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging.
Performance and powertrain specifications remain identical to the standard Escalade IQ. The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL is equipped with a 24-module battery pack boasting 205 kWh of capacity, delivering an estimated 460 miles of range on a full charge. The SUV can recover 116 miles of range in just 10 minutes when plugged into a DC fast charger. Dual electric motors generate a combined 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque with Velocity Max mode engaged, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.
The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL will be available globally, with pricing starting at $132,695. Customers get four trims to choose from, including Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, and Premium Sport. Production is set to begin in mid-2025 at the GM Factory Zero plant in Detroit.
Comments
Wonder what it weighs. If the Hummer is 9,400, this must be over 10,000.
It doesn’t have the beefy off road suspension or thick skid plates. I doubt it weighs more than the Hummer.
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ has a curb weight of 8,500 lbs. so this one should be in the 8,700 lbs. range, however it will be around 2,300 lbs. heavier that its ICE counterpart, amazingly it’s still less the monstrosity called the GMC Hummer EV whose curb weight is actually closer to 10,000 lbs.
Looking at the second row it appears Cadillac didn’t bring the a/c outlet b pillar. How can the Vistiq which cost 50k less have it, but can’t do it on flagship 6 figure suv? The European flagships all have it such as the GLS,X7,A7 and the Range Rover. It so does not have power sunshade, but at this price point it should bring a watered down or less advance version of Celstiq’s electrochromic glass by dimming the entire glass roof instead of 4 quadrants.
I forgot to mention ventilated b pillar outlets being a basic amenity for a flagship. They both have the same ClimateSense 5 HVAC zone. I can also add heated 3rd row seats. You still get the 16 power adjustable seats as opposed to the Vistiq’s 18 power adjustable seats. Correction: It does have power sunshades for the panoramic roof.
I could care less at “options” as I drove a BMW M5 as a loaner and it’s 6 axis adjustable seats were less supportive and comfortable than my daily driver Traverse seats.
Luxury is about hopping in a car and everything being flawless, no rattles, no glares, no inconvenience that requires any sidetracks, such as spending a couple minutes scrambling through pages on a touch screen to adjust lights/temps. It’s about effortless power and an imperceptibly smooth ride. Adding all these extra unneeded features just adds costs, not luxury.
Update: A spokesperson has replied, “To answer your initial question about why the change, what I can tell you is that at the time of reveal, the ESCALADE IQ was still undergoing testing and development. Between that time and when vehicles entered retail production, the team ultimately removed the b-pillar vent to provide a better HVAC experience for our customers.” I don’t understand how the removal leads to better HVAC experience. I can think of reduce air flow but that can be alleviated by putting a dual HVAC blower under the center console. This is what Audi and Bmw did.
I forgot to mention ventilated b pillar outlets being a basic amenity for a flagship. They both have the same ClimateSense 5 HVAC zone. I can also add heated 3rd row seats. You still get the 16 power adjustable seats as opposed to the Vistiq’s 18 power adjustable seats. Correction: It does have power sunshades for the panoramic roof.
are the b pillar vents the most important thing in the world to you? why did you post 4 paragraphs about it
Where did you see that it had a power sunshade for the panoramic roof?
I see it on the website. Says the same for the IQ. They come with a sunshade but it isn’t powered.
Over the weekend I was in one of these. It is big on the outside. It is tall but also low to the ground do the body is bit thick. The 24″ wheels don’t look big.
Plenty of power, Dead quiet and very smooth. Also there are many over the top features here.
The doors are power assist. Not really needed but they. TV in the dash. etc.
The B pillar thing is a bit over played here. The one in the Optic is so small it would not be missed.
The real concern here is $149,000 sticker. This is not a car for the every day buyer. I expect celebrities’ and sport people will turn to it.
The depreciation of Luxury and EV models are very high.
I can say it is the most upscale Cadillac I have ever been in.
On the other hand the Silverado RS EV made a better impression on me. It with discounts is close to the price of an ICE model. 400 plus mile range is great and charging 70 miles at 10 rate is good. It was also dead quiet and the best riding truck I have been in.
I’m not an EV guy but it did impress me.. If it were the same price I would have to think about it.
I like the more upright, boxy look to the rear end. Looks more like an Escalade.
Another affordable vehicle for the average American. If you can’t afford it or have a silly small house with a teeny garage because you’re poor and obviously lazy then SHUT UP! Good job, GM! MAGA!
you sound like you huff spray paint and eat rocks
You must be one of the poors. Jealous lib. MAGA!
Think GM is bad about this, look up a Toyota century. GM at least gives you something for spending a lot of money. Toyota just confeses, your in a higher class, so pay more and let the peasants know.
Huh? Toyota Century is way more classier and traditional than this abomination and it still has a V8!
Those suitcases in the cargo area look sloped to the rear, which makes it seem like the third row seats will not lay flat. That would be a crazy mistake to make considering the backlash all the manufacturers get for poor cargo area functionality.
Side profile looks really good…. but also looks like a Traverse? Not a bad thing but it’s almost hilariously similar.
No diesel? Wack.
1. The Escalade IQ is the EV version of the Escalade of course it isnt going to have a diesel
2. The normal Escalade had a diesel but they took it away for 2025 because it had a hilariously low single digit percent take rate
as USA people is millionaire, so understand this bus fos a couple and if is EV for such is for so many billionaires who lives in Florida and California
The proportions, flatter, roof and squared off back look better than the Escalade IQ.
The proportions, flatter roof and squared off back look better than the Escalade IQ.
This looks better than the regular Cadillac Escalade IQ (because it is boxy) and the spyshot version (because the C-pillar area looked like a hearse). Speaking of the regular IQ, what is the difference between the Escalade IQ and the Vistiq? I still do not understand because they look the exact same to me