Bringing battery-electric motivation to Caddy’s luxury SUV marque, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ debuted with a huge range of cutting-edge GM tech goodies, safety features, and options. As might be expected, it also features Drive Modes, which GM Authority is detailing here.
Appropriately for an ultra-premium vehicle, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ features six different drive modes for a variety of situations. These include Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, Tow/Haul, Velocity Max and My Mode.
The Driver Mode Control is mostly electronic in the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ, with options accessible only through the infotainment display’s Drive Modes app and the selectable icons it brings up. One mode, Velocity Max, also has a button the steering wheel.
Tour Mode
The default mode is Tour Mode, providing a smooth, comfortable ride along with decent handling. It is also the mode that conserves battery charge best.
Sport Mode
For more exciting moments of driving, Sport Mode enhances performance at the possible expense of some comfort. The mode tunes steering, pedal response, suspension and adaptive cruise control to provide sportier driving with superior handling and crisp, strong acceleration on dry asphalt.
Snow/Ice Mode
Not designed to get the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ stuck once it’s bogged down in deep snow or mud, Snow/Ice Mode is intended to help prevent that to begin with by enhancing traction in slippery conditions. Pedal tuning provides most of the traction improvement, but AWD modification and altered steering are also activated. The vehicle will accelerate and handle better in snow or ice, but will have poorer acceleration on dry pavement.
Tow/Haul Mode
Activating trailer sway control, the StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control systems, and tweaking both steering and pedal response, Tow/Haul Mode provides the best performance while dragging a heavy trailer. The mode remains active if the Escalade IQ is turned off and on again within 4 hours, but beyond 4 hours, the mode reverts to Tour.
Velocity Max Mode
Engaging the full power and massive torque of the 2025 Escalade IQ’s electric motors can be achieved by switching on Velocity Max Mode. It can be activated by either the Drive Mode app icon or using the V button to the immediate left of the horn on the steering wheel. This mode temporarily boosts output from 680 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque to a whopping 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque. The mode can’t be engaged at low battery power and will use up battery charge quickly. It should be used only occasionally.
My Mode
My Mode enables a custom mode to be developed and saved by the owner, and doesn’t automatically revert to Tour Mode when the SUV is shut down and later restarted. You can choose how to combine different levels of acceleration, brake feel, motor sound, steering and suspension. The available levels include Relaxed, Tour and Sport or Tour and Sport depending on the specific choice. The following table shows the My Mode customization options:
| Setting | Acceleration Feel | Brake Feel | Steering | Suspension | Motor Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed | X | - | - | - | - |
| Tour | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sport | X | X | X | X | X |
Meanwhile, pricing for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ starts at $129,990 MSRP for the entry-level Luxury 1 trim and ranges up to $150,490 starting MSRP for the top-level Sport 2 trim level. A destination freight charge of $1,395 is included in these prices. The official online configurator for the Escalade IQ is currently live, enabling trying out various builds and options for its four trim levels.
An all-wheel drivetrain is provided by front and rear GM electric drive motors, with standard four-wheel steer giving the luxury SUV a 39.4-foot turning diameter. The 24-module, 205 kWh GM battery pack provides 450 miles of range on a single charge, per GM estimates.
The luxury sport-utility EV rides on the GM BT1 platform while the vehicle rolls off the assembly line at the GM Factory Zero plant in Detroit, Michigan.
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