The Cadillac Escalade IQ, the electric version of the automaker’s yacht-sized luxury SUV, won’t be out until later this year, so in the meantime, the automaker is hoping to whet appetites by giving the gas-powered version an EV makeover.
Starting the front grille, the new 2025 Escalade will have new vertically positioned headlights inspired by the Cadillac Lyriq and Celestiq, as well as an illuminated Cadillac badge in the center. And on the V-series, Premium Luxury, and Platinum trims, there is also an LED border that outlines the grille — which also calls to mind the illuminated grilles of Cadillac’s EV lineup.
Moving inside, the interior has been totally redesigned to give over a lot more real estate to screens. The Escalade will now feature a pillar-to-pillar diagonal display that is split into two screens, a 35-inch display for the driver and a 20-inch display for the passenger. Taken together, the new 55-inch screen sits behind one continuous curved piece of glass.
Its a sign that our current trend of screen maximalism is continuing unabated. Back in 2020, Cadillac introduced a more modest 38-inch OLED display to the Escalade, which at the time was one of the biggest in the industry. It was befitting the Escalade’s status as the SUV you get when you want more of everything, for better or worse. And now GM is doubling down with its new 55-incher, which will also find itself in the Cadillac IQ when it eventually goes on sale.
Headlights inspired by the Cadillac Lyriq and Celestiq
The 25-inch passenger display, which is brand new to Escalade, allows for a full complement of video streaming options. Passengers can even watch their favorite shows while the vehicle is in motion; the passenger screen will be polarized black and not viewable to the driver when driving, which is a modest concession to the very real problem of driver distraction. Passengers can connect Bluetooth headphones for audio, or they can use the vehicle’s stereo system.
Additional screens dot the interior, including a command center below the central display, a rear-seat command center, and 12.6-inch personal screens for second-row passengers.
The infotainment display will run on Google’s Android software and include built-in apps like Maps and Assistant. Unlike the IQ, though, the gas-powered Escalade will continue to support popular phone mirroring systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. (GM made the controversial move of eliminating support for CarPlay and Android Auto from its future EVs, and despite the backlash, it is still sticking to it.) The phone mirroring systems can be connected wirelessly, as well.
The infotainment system supports multiple voice assistants. Google Assistant is available natively, or owners can download Amazon’s Alexa is they prefer that.
Other new features include power doors. The driver door will open automatically when the driver approaches with the key fob in their pocket. All four doors will open when the door handle is touched or from the command center inside the vehicle. The doors include a sensor to avoid banging up against nearby obstacles. Once inside, a simple press of the brake pedal will automatically close the doors. The power doors are standard on V-series and Platinum trims.
Cadillac said pricing would be announced later. But with more tech, bigger wheels, and pricier features, Cadillac is going to have a tough time keeping it below six figures.
