Are you a billionaire who wants an electric SUV to transport your entire polycule? Do you suffer from size-related feelings of vehicular inadequacy when dropping your five kids off at private school? Have you ever wanted to drive something that would make a small Victorian child faint at the sheer sight of it? Good news, your vehicle’s arrived. This is the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL, and it’s for people who look at the regular Escalade IQ and think that it simply isn’t big enough.
Oh yeah, Cadillac sells two different Escalades now, one powered by fossil fuels and one that runs on electricity and has the same two letters on its tailgate as those on Scion’s smallest car. Add an L to the end of the second one, and you get a Cadillac longer than a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
While the 136.2-inch wheelbase of the Escalade IQL is shared with the regular Escalade IQ, overall length grows from 224.3 inches to 228.5 inches. That’s 19 feet and half an inch of Electrilade, tying the length of the 1969 Cadillac Sixty Special, eclipsing the length of the gasoline-powered Escalade ESV, and coming the closest to 12 yards long of any Cadillac in decades.
But wait, there’s more: At 85.3 inches wide with the mirrors folded, not only is the electric Escalade wider than the gasoline-powered one, it’s also 1.7 inches wider than a Ford F-150. When Cadillac stated in the press release that it “continues to expand the segment-leading Escalade lineup,” the brand wasn’t just talking about choice. Did I mention that the smallest alloy wheels available are a set of 22-inch rollers?
The obvious benefits to the extra length are four more inches of third-row legroom and an extra inch of third-row headroom than in the regular Escalade IQ, although cargo room behind the third row only grows by 0.6 cubic feet, or about 4.49 gallons. Still, 36.7 inches of third-row legroom should be genuinely usable for adults, meaning this thing’s shaping up to be a family road trip machine.
Indeed, Cadillac claims a total range of 460 miles. However, the Escalade IQ uses a 205 kWh battery to achieve that figure, resulting in a theoretical efficiency of 2.24 miles per kWh. In an age when a Lucid Air can achieve five miles per kWh, and a correctly equipped Rivian R1S is rated at 2.5 miles per kWh, the Escalade IQL is an electron guzzler. On the plus side, it can charge at up to 350 kW on a suitable DC fast charger, so assuming all the infrastructure you need is on your way, it shouldn’t spend a truly obscene amount of time DC fast charging.
Did I mention we’re not done with excess yet? The Escalade IQL can tow 7,500 pounds, and Cadillac claims a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. Total output? A huge 750 horsepower with launch control, or 99 more horsepower than a Ferrari Enzo. Curiously, Cadillac hasn’t listed a curb weight, but it’s safe to assume the Escalade IQL lies somewhere north of the regular Escalade IQ’s 8,801 pounds.
Beyond simply absurd figures, there’s also serious luxury to the Escalade IQL. We’re talking magnetorheological dampers and air springs, AKG sound systems totalling 21, 38, or 42 speakers, 55 inches of screen on the dashboard, and Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance. You can even get it with executive second-row seats like a Mercedes-Maybach GLS, except with an entire third row behind them.
Make no mistake, the Cadillac Escalade IQL is the sort of electric vehicle that only America could make. It also starts at $132,695, so if you have six figures burning a hole in your pocket and want a bigger three-row electric luxury SUV than anyone else, Cadillac’s taking orders for delivery later this year. Best of all, it’ll be sold globally, and wouldn’t it be entertaining to see one of these stand against the backdrop of a European city?
Ed Note: Since Thomas spoketh its name, I must include the Canyonero commercial. Enjoy! – Pete
Top graphic images: Cadillac; The Simpsons/20th Century Fox
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The 460 miles is rated for 65mph. This thing is going to cruise along at 80 all day long. Probably closer to 2 (or less) vs. 2.24 miles per kWh. I drive my Bolt, which is a brick, at 75-80 with traffic, and I’m around 3.1 mi/kWh (compared to the rated 4).
Also, you would not be able to charge that much battery overnight on level 2, or it would be very close.
All that aside, I bet this is the most comfortable road trip vehicle made. My Caddy is quiet, my EV is quiet. I can imagine a Caddy EV is SUPER quiet. That would make for a nice ride home from work.
Ok it’s long but only a couple inches longer than the last gen Tacoma 4 door ‘long’ bed, which is a mid size truck.
Looks like a nice EV.
Hyaa!
I’d stick with the Chevy Suburban, in High Country trim. Those are much more subtle luxury vehicles, like the old Toyota Land Cruisers in the US, but with way more space. I’d go for the 3.0L Duramax because I like how they drive and that they get reasonable economy, but the 6.2L is probably the safer choice for maintenance.