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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Can you name the truck that’s as big as barge, costs as much as house and takes 36 hours to charge?
CanyonIQLero!
Well, it goes real fast and drives like a dandy, can pop a stray deer like a Gushers candy!
CanyonIQLero! (Yah!) CanyonIQLero!
Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts! (Some things never change)
CanyonIQLero! !-oh woah, CanyonIQLero!! (Yah!)
GM really has gone from gas guzzlers to electron guzzlers. I would really hate to get hit by one of these things.
That tow rating is WEAK!
I think it can tow more just with it’s gravitational pull
If this stuff gets any heavier, you’re gonna need a CDL to drive one.
Who’s the clown that is endorsing this one?
All the clowns are being hired to run the government, into the ground.
I saw one of these at an outdoor auto show a few weeks ago. It really didn’t look any bigger than all the other massive trucks and SUVs on the road these days. The one thing that was dissapointing to me was how small the rear hatch entrance and rear cargo space was for such a large vehicle. I didn’t sit in the front or rear but it looked comfortable, just not very space efficient.
I saw an IQ a few weeks ago and that thing was huge! My brain had trouble computing how big the thing looked in front of me at a red light. I cannot fathom what my brain will do when I see an IQL.
I will admit though, that the paint finish on the IQ was absolutely beautiful. I mean it is the size of a small barn, so it was hard to miss seeing all the paint. But it sure looked like the exterior fit/finish is certainly up to par for the price.
Needs tailfins.
Agreed, for 6 figures I want 6 fins
This thing will do most of its duty as a fleet vehicle for high end livery. $132k is a lot of money for all but the richest consumers, but a justifiable expense if you need multiple SUVs for your high end eco hotel or for transporting executives to the company jet.
I expect to see them gliding ominously along the 101 between San Jose and the city as soon as they become available. As an American EV SUV not made my Tesla it’s teflon from a political standpoint if you’re a tech CEO who doesn’t want to ruffle feathers.
I always liked the way Thomas writes, and it seems his style is getting closer to Torch. Which is great.
I just assumed there was some kind of Vulcan-katra-style personality transfer going on behind the scenes.
Fatter Americans = fatter cars. SMH.
The average 4″ US driveway is only recommended for 8,000 pounds. Better street park it.
So it’s 1.5″ longer than the Escalade ESV? I guess the IQL eclipses the regular Escalade. Seems like it’s the same thing Cadillac has done for decades, with the Tahoe sized version and the Suburban sized version.
Also it’s actually slightly more narrow (by 1.3″) than the ridiculously wide Hummer EV Truck and Ford Raptor. I once had a Raptor delivered on an enclosed car carrier, it rubbed the tires on both sides of the door jam on it’s way out. Not sure how they mass transport these monsters all over the country without damage.
First time I saw Hummer EVs being transported on the interstate (now a couple years back), they were being trucked by flatbed, three per trailer. Between three of those, the tractor/sleeper and trailer, I’d guess it was getting close to 80k pound weight limits.
Soon all interstates will adopt Michigan’s weight limits.
Hideous in the front. Hideous in the back. Perfectly acceptable 90% in the middle.
For some perspective, this is shorter than basically every crew cab truck made this millennium.
I’ll wait for the F-Series to be released
Do automakers measure garages before they design these things? I don’t think they did on this one.
Maybe they figure if you can afford this thing, you can afford to extend your garage.
If you can actually afford this thing you do not have a standard sized garage.
I say actually because undoubtably people will take out a 15 year car loan to pick one of these up to keep up with the Jones.
I imagine these will be sold with massive discounts. Outside of some specific city-centric arenas, like LA or NY, I expect it will be a lot less desirable than the ICE-powered Escalade. Especially now that the ’25 Escalade has the same digital dashboard.
My 1962 garage is a whopping 26’ deep. The Mrs. reminds me about that when she’s shopping for old hearses.
Also just like the Canyonero, unexplained fires are a matter for the courts.
I’m sure nothing will go wrong in 5-10 years when these are handed down to high schoolers who just got their drivers licenses. Nothing says “freedom” like a distracted teenager with a decade of remaining frontal lobe development piloting 4.5 tons of ballistic American excess.
4.5 tons of ballistic American excess is my new band name