Escalade is the most well-known nameplate in luxury brand Cadillac’s lineup, and with an electric version available and the brand launching in Australia with electric SUVs, it should be a shoo-in, right?
Not quite, with General Motors executives confirming the Escalade iQ – now also available in extended-length iQL guise – is not yet in the plans for our market even though we’re getting every other electric Cadillac SUV.
“It’s not part of our plan right now, but we would love to bring it to market and are going to continue working with [Cadillac global vice president John Roth] and the local team in the US as to what we would need to do to do that,” said Jess Bala, managing director for General Motors Australia and New Zealand.
“There are some challenges with that particular vehicle specifically that we’d need to work through here.”
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Escalade iQL
“I would love to have that vehicle here, it’s one of my personal favourites so we’re going to keep pushing on that one but right now it’s not part of the plan.”
Ms Bala has also previously expressed interest in bringing the ‘regular’ Escalade – a petrol V8-powered full-sized SUV on a different platform – to our market.
When asked what’s stopping the Escalade iQ from coming here, Cadillac global vice president John Roth said, “It’s just technical certifications and other aspects of the vehicle.”
“Everything has to be done in the right order in order for things to come together appropriately.
“We’re super proud of having the [Lyriq, Lyriq-V, Optiq and Vistiq] in the marketplace now, and that’s where our focus is. Building momentum and energy around these great offerings in the marketplace.
“I think we have a real opportunity to demonstrate what a great car culture Australia and New Zealand is and really grow and develop the Cadillac brand, and that may open doors in the future for other things to happen.”
The Escalade iQL is Cadillac’s largest SUV, measuring 5803mm long, 2167mm wide and 1933mm tall on a 3460mm wheelbase.
It’s 106mm longer than the Escalade iQ, which rides an identical wheelbase and also features three rows of seating.
Escalade iQ
Both the iQ and iQL share a 205kWh nickel manganese cobalt aluminium (NCMA) lithium-ion battery and offer a claimed range of over 724km, with a maximum DC charging rate of 350kW and available vehicle-to-home (V2H) capability.
They also share a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain producing total outputs of 505kW of power and 834Nm.
These figures are bumped up to 560kW and 1064Nm in Velocity Max mode.
The body-on-frame SUVs feature Short-Long Arm suspension with air springs and Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 magnetorheological dampers, as well as four-wheel steering.
Inside, there’s a pillar-to-pillar screen with a 55-inch diagonal, and sound systems with up to 42 speakers.
Standard equipment across the range includes a panoramic glass roof; a heated steering wheel; head-up display; and heated, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats.
Stepping up through the range yields features like massaging front seats, night vision and power opening and closing doors.
An optional Executive Second Row package brings stowable tray tables, a rear “command centre”, 12.6-inch rear screens, dual wireless charging pads, and heated, ventilated, massaging and 14-way power-adjustable second-row seats with headrest speakers.
Sales of the Escalade iQ only began in the fourth quarter of 2024 in the US market, with production of the iQL to commence in mid-2025.
There’s some jockeying for the title of Cadillac’s flagship.
Vistiq
The supercharged V8-powered Escalade-V has a higher base price than the Escalade iQL, while the Celestiq is a highly customisable, ultra-exclusive liftback for which Cadillac says pricing is “by inquiry only”.
None of these vehicles are built in right-hand drive, which will leave flagship duties to the Vistiq, due here in 2026.
This measures 5222mm long, and rides the same platform as the smaller Lyriq as well as the Optiq, which has also been locked in for a 2026 local launch.
“It has been dubbed by the media as baby Escalade. I can tell you I’m not really pushing hard on that one as the Cadillac lead, but if everyone wants to take the franchise player name and apply it to a vehicle like Vistiq, we’re just going to go with it,” said Mr Roth.
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