When Cadillac unveiled the all-electric Escalade IQ last August, a few things were obvious — it would be huge, it would be opulent, and it would be expensive. However, even though we knew a base model was expected to start at around $130,000, just how expensive a loaded one would be was yet to be seen. Flash forward to now, and we finally know that a high-trim electric Escalade costs an absurd amount of money, to the point where it’s almost the most expensive mass-produced American SUV.
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ starts at $129,990 including freight for the Luxury 1 trim, a so-called base-model that still includes 24-inch wheels, a 55-inch display in the dashboard, a 19-speaker sound system, and five-zone climate control. Powered by a giant 200 kWh battery pack, its dual electric motors kick out 750 horsepower in launch mode, and the whole thing is said to offer 460 miles of estimated range. Talk about a monument to excess.
However, what if that’s not enough for you? Well, there’s the Luxury 2 trim for $149,990, and it ups the ante with motorized exterior doors, a 36-speaker AKG sound system, massaging front seats, night vision, and a memory seat for the front passenger. Want sportier looks? Then the Sport 1 and Sport 2 trims are the blacked-out equivalents to the Luxury 1 and Luxury 2 trims, and they retail for $130,490 and $150,490, respectively.
It goes without saying, $150,490 can buy you a whole lot of ways to get from A to B, and while the Escalade IQ certainly looks plush, it probably isn’t the best status symbol in that price bracket. You can do better. Way, way better. By the power of Facebook Marketplace, I present to you a military trainer jet for less than the price of a loaded Escalade IQ.
This is a 1963 Jet Provost T4, and while it’s not greener than an Escalade IQ, it’s most certainly faster. With a Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet engine pushing 2,500 pounds of thrust, and a cruising speed of 300 knots or 345 mph, it should crush long distances no problem. Plus, because it’s a real airplane historically used as an RAF trainer, it has a proper airworthiness certificate, and is said to be fully operational. The price of living out your “Top Gun” fantasies? Without negotiating, $120,000, or about $31,000 less than a loaded Escalade IQ.
Alright, so the Escalade IQ does hold some other advantages over this trainer jet other than carbon footprint. It seats more people, it requires far less training to operate, and it should be much cheaper to run than a turbojet engine scarfing down fuel at a rate of 138 gallons per hour. However, the fact that it’s priced like a freaking jet feels a bit insane, considering it’s built on the same platform as the somehow much less expensive Hummer EV SUV. In fact, the only American production SUV I can think of that beats the Escalade IQ’s pricing for 2025 is the 682-horsepower supercharged V8 Escalade V, a vehicle so loud and rambunctious, it’s legally classified as a three-row earthquake.
Anyway, if you do want to spend between $129,990 and $150,490 on a three-row electric SUV, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ will be rolling into dealerships imminently. Funnily enough, I actually saw one on a car carrier yesterday, so I can confirm that at least one of these things is already visibly on the move.
(Photo credits: Cadillac)
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Yeah but where ya gonna park it? You can park the Escalade in your driveway in my HOA but the Provost T4 not so much.
Before adding any accessories, I’m at an MSRP of $169,805 which is damn near Range Rover money. Granted, I am not the target market for this car but for another $20k, I’m going Range Rover.
I feel like that’s more of a dunk on idiotic Range Rover pricing than anything.
You aren’t really wrong there either.
The pricing of luxury goods(watches, cars, purses, shoes, servants) boggles my mind as it is, so I guess if I’m questioning it, I can’t afford it?
why?
As an owner of a current GM Ultium product(I’m leasing a Blazer EV), the implementation of GM’s blanket infotainment UI over Android Auto/Apple CarPlay would be enough. Plus I’d have to say that RR’s interior quality over the Caddy’s interior quality would be world’s different.
Good luck parking that jet in the Costco parking lot.
If you arm it up properly you can make your own parking space.
I’ll take the jet. 🙂
Yeah, but the jet only weights 4888 pounds unladen. Pound for pound, you get more with the Cadillac! And sure the Cadillac doesn’t fly. But, do you really want to trust the finest 1960’s British Lucas electronics at cruising altitude?
I know Cadillac is Cadillac, but why does it feel like paying >$100K for any GM product feels like ordering caviar at Outback Steak House?
To a large degree, I agree. However, and for whatever reason, when you roll up in a Caddy it hits different.
Almost as if the “brand” matters more than the actual vehicle. Which is basically the point when buying that category. Sure, it’s no exotic or anything, but people give you looks like, “This guy gets it.”
That is important, I suppose.
I believe it is just the market now.
Cadillac maybe not, but a Yukon can exceed $100k now. Not sure if the Tahoe can, but it is probably close.
GM is still presenting cars that would have been super desirable during COVID. Meanwhile, the average price of a new car is dropping.
Maintenance costs an EV built in 2025 will cost a whole lot less to run fix and maintain then a 60+ year-old jet, even if the jet is cooler. Our toys are more than just entry level costs, it’s painfully often maintenance costs.
At $150,000, just the tax, title, and license here in Iowa would run $10,500. I do like Cadillacs, but for that kind of coin I’d rather buy a 10-year old V-series and something like this ’76 Mooney.
I know these are for rich people, but, crap, $130k starting price????
Waiting for the manufacturers saying “no one’s buying our EV’s” because they are often overpriced luxed-out SUVs.
Still not even the most expensive Escalade. I belive an Escalade V is still more expensive.
How much does this godforsaken thing weigh? Has GM finally broken the 10,000 pound barrier that they’re clearly striving for? Anyway the craziest thing about this abomination is that people are actually going to buy them. The Escalade has a loyal following and is not just one of, but THE status symbol in a lot of circles.
Folks are going to want the latest, greatest, flashiest, and most expensive one on principle alone. The electric aspect is borderline irrelevant in my humble opinion…this Escalade is Most Expensive Escalade, and that’s what really matters.
I’ve a neighbour all about appearances, we like to call him Topper as there’s nothing he can’t do better than anyone else.
He’s cycled through the Mercedes ML-GLE-GLE until it seems he’s gotten sick of the cars spending more time at the dealership for repairs – and now has a black Escalade. This seems to track.
Didn’t the Hummer EV already break 10k? Now I have to go look.
Looks like the pickup is 9600. Not quite over the 10k, but the Hummer SUV is “only” 8700, so I would imagine this is a bit under that given that it’s smaller. It is smaller than the Hummer right???
The kicker here is all the opulence. Opulence is heavy. The Hummer’s interior is still pretty gaudy but it’s downright spartan compared to what you’re going to get in this.
You might be right. I’ll stick with my 2200 lb car that I still consider to be too heavy thanks.
Mine is 1499 lbs, but it’s a bit small for certain applications.
Ooh! Nice! What is it?
1993 Honda Today Associe Gi – seats four, and none of their luggage aside from napkins and toothbrushes.
And reaching out for Members’ Rides haha. I haven’t done a JDM one in a long time.
What’s the 1000kg machine?
JDM Eunos Roadster (Mazda Miata)
I’m at 2200lbs and the engine is in the right spot(MR2 Spyder). It can even fit a set of golf clubs with 2 passengers!
It’s over a foot longer than the Hummer SUV, and a few inches longer than the truck. Slightly narrower, and shorter height-wise, though.
Oh… Wow. That’s crazy.
Fear not – there will soon be a long-wheelbase ‘L’ version for those who may find the standard version a bit petite.
Any woman who drives one of these has convinced her hubby to buy it for her by outperforming Ms. Lewinsky on a regular basis.
345mph in a jet plane seems kind of meh. I thought the later piston planes in WWII were cracking 400mph?
They were. But initial flight training was sometimes still happening in biplanes.
You want a trainer aircraft to be slower so the pilot has time to process things as they’re learning. You don’t just hop into an F-35 and start dogfighting – you go through a series of machines with ever increasing performance and demands on the pilot.
Today there are homebuilt designs that easily exceed 350mph, but you probably wouldn’t want one of them to be your first plane.
As I understand it, trainers are designed to behave like a fighter, with similar limitations, without actually killing the pilot. Or at least not killing the pilot as expensively.
That sounds highly likely to be one’s last plane!
Actually, the stuff at that end of the homebuilt realm is usually pretty good. Generally they’re very well engineered, and some even have parachute systems that will float the entire plane to the ground if there’s trouble.
The lower end of the spectrum is another story. That’s all over the board.
For example, I have the plans for a homebuilt ultralight (no pilot license required) that I hope to build now that the kids have left the nest. Some of these have been built and flown very successfully, and some have been built poorly or deviated from the design and have killed their pilots.
As with most things, the small choices you make can roll up into big consequences.
A modified Grumman F8F Bearcat holds the top speed for a piston-driven plane at 528 mph.
This was a trainer aircraft, you don’t do high school driver’s ed in a Bugatti
Only the exterior doors are motorized? Do the staff open the interior doors for you or do have to open them yourself. (I might be thinking about the “which bits of your house..)
Acoustic laminated glass has nothing on constructing vestibules to improve NVH. although they do weigh a bit more.
I know you’re being a wise-ass, but you know whether you’re sitting inside or standing outside they are still the “exterior doors” right?
Yes, I just like the idea that these things have so big they have interior doors.
You’d have to be totally bananas to get this over the V. When you are at the point of purchasing an Escalade, there aren’t any Bernie Sanders stickers that would match.
Yay more giant 100k+ EVs I will see all around me since I am around a ‘rural’ but gated communities and lake houses area of NWI for all the people who need to get away from the Chicago big city life.
My BOLD prediction? This will be the best selling EV luxury SUV
With that pricing and lack of efficiency out of the way, I think some commenters owe the Lucid Gravity an apology.
55 inches?? FIFTY FIVE INCHES??? What does the screen on the passenger side even do?
That’s where the touch screen button is to open the glove compartment.
Lmao
the passenger screen has something Caddy is calling a “digital blind” which means the driver can’t see it so they get to watch TV up front if they want to, no more being punished for having the front passenger seat
I think in either of my cars it would be sticking out the passenger window, maybe the next iteration will be 80″, extend through both doors, and include the side mirrors?
Important question though, are we supposed to pronounce this one as “Escaladeick”, or “Escaladeeek”?
You would have thought they learned their lesson after the internet had a field day with Vistiq, which I will not be spelling the phenetic pronunciation out for since I like having commenting privilege’s.
The name indicates that Escalade and IQ are two rather separated items.
Escalade. Ick.