Why MotorTrend Named the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ the 2026 SUV of the Year

MotorTrend’s writer Christian Seabaugh starts its review of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ with a daunting phrase. “The electric Escalade returns Cadillac to its place as the Standard of the World.” Cadillac has historically been viewed as the epitome of a luxury vehicle. Typically, Cadillacs lead the way in Detroit Three technology and performance. Most high-end safety and performance features debut on Cadillac models. The electric Escalade IQ maintains that tradition. 

General Motors President, Mark Reuss, said on LinkedIn,

“The Cadillac ESCALADE IQ and IQL have earned one of the industry’s most prestigious honors: MotorTrend SUV of the Year. The competition was especially fierce this year, with more than 40 SUVs, both internal combustion and electric, vying for the trophy. The VISTIQ also stood out as a finalist, showing the strength of Cadillac’s growing EV lineup. MotorTrend called the ESCALADE IQ “a moment, a monument, a milestone not only for Cadillac but vehicles in general.” 

“The editors also said it was ESCALADE IQ’s styling, innovative technology, and 465 miles of range, the most of any EV SUV, that really set it apart. This award is a testament to Cadillac’s bold vision for the future. A huge thanks to the Cadillac team for its relentless pursuit of excellence and to the hardworking team members at Factory ZERO who bring the product to life.”

“Cadillac made a big, bold statement with the attention to detail, execution, taste, and craftsmanship,” Mexico editor Miguel Cortina said. Always serenely quiet—that is unless you’re enjoying the phenomenal 38-speaker AKG “Studio Reference” audio system—the front seats are heated, cooled, and massaging, while the second and third rows are both adult friendly. Rear cargo space is pinched in the non-L version due to the raked roofline, but the massive frunk more than makes up for it.”

The Cadillac Escalade IQ is Not Just a Pretty Face

MotorTrend praises both the IQ’s beauty and its EV brawn. It points out the SUV’s unique charging setup and the vehicle’s powerful results. “Its massive 205-kWh battery pack is effectively two 400-volt Cadillac Lyriq battery packs wired together in parallel. The pack operates as two separate batteries when running the Escalade IQ’s front- and rear-mounted permanent-magnet motors, which produce up to 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque. When plugged into common but increasingly outdated DC fast chargers such as Tesla’s V3 Superchargers, this system allows the Escalade IQ to maximize the charger’s peak 250-kW output quickly and ride it for a prolonged period, minimizing the charging time. What happens on more modern 350-kW (and higher) chargers is even more impressive, as the Escalade IQ’s battery pack operates in series, showing the charger 800 volts and allowing it to charge at peak rates of up to 352 kW in our testing.”

Cadillac Escalade Looks Enough Like its ICE Brother to be Recognizable

I recently saw the new Escalade IQ driving in Colorado and it is stunning. It has similar lines to the gas-powered versions but appears more updated. The 24-inch wheels set it apart from other large SUVs. It is definitely eye-catching. 

The interior looks like something out of the future. MT said, “Alongside this classical luxury elegance are modern concessions—screens—integrated in a thoughtful manner that makes their operation intuitive to even the most stubborn luddites among us. The 55-inch display that curves across the dash unquestionably gets the most attention. Sectioned off into an instrument panel, infotainment display, and passenger entertainment display (which appears as a neat “Escalade IQ” graphic to the driver), the screen is crisp with modern abstract graphics that help the software blend seamlessly into the surrounding hardware.”

The IQ has plenty of other screens and controls to keep the passengers busy during any drive. The IQ also has power doors that open at the touch of a button. In MT’s testing the Escalade IQ had 415 miles of range while driving 70 miles per hour. That type of hard driving often drains a battery more quickly. The 2026 Escalade IQ also is equipped with vehicle-to-home charging ability as long as the house is set up for it. The vehicles also has the HUMMER’s four-wheel-drive ability to turn its wheel and crabwalk at low speeds. Crabwalking can help a large vehicle get around obstacles and can help get the SUV out of tight spaces or parking spots. 

“If you don’t feel special driving this car, I don’t know what to tell you,” features editor Scott Evans said.

MotorTrend said the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ is forward thinking enough that it will still be impressive ten years from now. If you look at how far vehicles have come in the last ten years, that would be phenomenal. 

Cadillac Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories