Cadillac has announced the pricing and specifications for the 2026 Escalade IQL, the long-wheelbase all-electric version of its flagship SUV. Starting at $132,695, the IQL promises a range of approximately 460 miles and can add 116 miles of range in just 10 minutes using fast charging.
The new Escalade IQL is literally its own platform, design, wiring architecture and exterior vehicle design.
The production of the Escalade IQL is slated to begin in mid-2025 at General Motors’ Factory Zero plant in Detroit. The IQL’s introduction comes nearly two years after Cadillac unveiled its first all-electric full-size SUV, according to Cadillac sources.
If buyers opt for the velocity max feature, the vehicle can achieve 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a swift 4.7 seconds, Cadillac said. The focus is on maximizing cargo space.
Cadillac plans to sell the 2026 Escalade IQL across all its 10 markets, including China and Canada. This move is an integral part of Cadillac’s plan to transition to an all-electric vehicle lineup by 2030. John Roth, Vice President of Global Cadillac, noted that the company’s vision, first drafted in 2015, is now materializing.
Roth said that Cadillac is engineering its portfolio and platform from the ground up to ensure it’s a genuine luxury vehicle. GM’s luxury EV sales reflect the viability of the new powertrain. Still, it remains lower than the brand’s peak of 235,002 Cadillacs sold in 2005. The Lyriq launched in 2022 with low sales numbers, but sales exponentially increased in 2023, with 9,154, and 28,402 in all of 2024.
Roth also explained that an EV strategy was inevitable, even without pressure from federal and safety agencies. He highlighted the design freedom afforded by a battery-based platform, saying, “You end up with cars and SUVs like we have today because you’re no longer constrained by the traditional gas elements that make up a vehicle.” Escalade sales, in particular, rebounded strongly after the pandemic, with 41,671 total sold last year.
The upcoming Optiq compact SUV and a three-row Vistiq SUV are part of Cadillac’s planned launches. Roth expressed optimism about the auto industry’s future over the next five years, noting that innovation typically leads to volume and brand growth for General Motors.
