Cadillac's giant electric SUV proves well suited to a multi-state highway cruise. If you want a three-row electric luxury SUV with at least 400 miles of EPA or manufacturer estimated range, you have three choices: the Cadillac Escalade IQ, the Lucid Gravity, or the Rivian R1S. In April, I drove the largest electric Escalade, the IQL, 1600 miles in nine days through five states and one province. I recharged it six times, using a mix of DC fast-charging—which the EV routed me to—and slower overnight charging at home and at a hotel.
The trip taught me that an electric Escalade is a superb road-trip vehicle, perfectly suited to interstate highways. It's possibly the smoothest, quietest, and most comfortable way I've traveled. GM's Super Cruise remains among my favorite hands-off adaptive cruise control systems, with some new features recently added. On the other hand, despite truly fast DC fast-charging, the IQL is the least energy-efficient EV I've ever driven, and its heft and girth made it a handful to park in my little village, which was laid out well before automobiles existed.
View Price on AmazonThe gasoline Escalade comes in two sizes: regular and ESV. Correspondingly, the electric Escalade IQ has a longer version, called the IQL. The EV is wider and, in the case of the IQL, taller than the blocky gasoline Escalades, but it appears sleeker, if still substantial. The two EV versions share a 136.2-inch wheelbase, but the IQL is 4.2 inches longer than the 224.3-inch IQ. (The gasoline ESV has a wheelbase that is 13.2 inches longer than its standard-size counterpart, as well as 15.1 inches more overall length.) The IQL's extra length goes toward better legroom and headroom for the third row and greater cargo volume.
It also seems to appeal to certain U.S. travelers, perhaps due to its stance on massive 24-inch, eight-lug wheels. I got several thumbs-ups on the highway, and one couple driving a top-spec Ford Expedition quizzed me intensively over the IQL's specs, cost, and many luxury features. Cadillac sold 5781 Escalade IQs from last July through March of this year, or about 17 percent of the number of gasoline Escalades sold (34,053), so the model seems to be finding its market—and if New York City is any indication, it appeals to black-car fleets, as well as retail buyers.
Our $160,000-and-change test example had two dozen listed luxury and convenience features alone. Once inside, most notable were the 55.0-inch horizontal display and the 16-way front-seat adjustment. It took a few minutes to get it just right, but I was utterly comfortable over all those miles once it was set.
Source: caranddriver.com
