I am of an age when I can remember a far different world than the one we live in today. A world less connected, more isolated, where if you wanted to talk to someone you had to physically go find them—or at the very least stand in front of a telephone hanging on the kitchen wall with a curly cord that tangled itself into knots like a bored snake.
And somehow, despite the lack of apps, notifications, or a tiny glowing rectangle constantly screaming for our attention, we managed just fine.
Cars were the same way.
They were simple things. Four wheels, a slightly questionable suspension, an engine that sounded like a coffee grinder full of gravel, and seats upholstered in vinyl that could double as a frying pan in the summer. If you were particularly fortunate, you might also have air conditioning, an AM radio that only worked when the moon was properly aligned, and those little triangular vent windows that your parents opened when they were smoking so the kids didn’t suffocate.
Safety? Well, yes. Eventually we got seat belts after a bit of encouragement from Ralph Nader. But even then, a quick trip to the grocery store carried roughly the same risk profile as storming a medieval castle.
And yet we loved driving.
It was an experience. A thing you did with your hands and your feet and occasionally your entire upper body as you wrestled the steering wheel like it owed you money.
Fast forward to today and everything is connected. Phones have more computing power than the systems used to put men on the moon. We don’t talk anymore; we text. We don’t live moments; we photograph them and run them through filters until we resemble supermodels who have been lightly airbrushed by God.
Naturally, all of this technological wizardry has found its way into our cars.
Which brings us to the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ.
If modern motoring is a mountain of complexity, this thing is the flag planted firmly at the summit.
To begin with, it’s electric. Which means the only reason you’ll ever visit a gas station is for snacks and perhaps a questionable hot dog that has been slowly rotating since the Bush administration.
Now I won’t pretend to understand exactly how the electric motors work. To an old-school gearhead, they fall into a category known simply as “black magic.” Electricity goes in, physics happens, and suddenly two and a half tons of luxury apartment begins moving forward with alarming enthusiasm.
And make no mistake, this is still very much an Escalade.
That means it’s enormous. Not just large—enormous. It’s the automotive equivalent of a Beverly Hills mansion rolling down the highway on 24-inch wheels, covered in enough chrome and LED lighting to make even the most seasoned rapper nod with quiet approval.
Inside, things get properly ridiculous.
Dominating the dashboard is a 55-inch curved display that stretches from one side of the cabin to the other like the control panel of a small starship. There are screens everywhere. In fact, I’m fairly certain there are more screens inside this thing than in all the multiplex movie theaters in Florida, and possibly Georgia and Alabama as well.
The cabin itself is classic Cadillac excess. Plush leather, ambient lighting, and enough technology to keep a Silicon Valley start-up founder entertained for weeks. It’s quiet too—eerily so. Without the rumble of a V-8, the Escalade IQ glides along with the sort of silence normally associated with high-end recording studios or extremely expensive libraries.
Range? Cadillac says about 460 miles on a full charge, which is frankly astonishing for something roughly the size and weight of a suburban duplex. Thanks to its 800-volt electrical architecture, you can add around 100 miles of range in about 10 minutes at a fast charger.
Then there’s the power.
In its most aggressive “V” mode, the dual-motor all-wheel-drive system delivers roughly 750 horsepower and 750 pound-feet of torque.
Which, in a vehicle weighing over 9,000 pounds, is both impressive and slightly terrifying.
Press the accelerator and this gigantic rolling penthouse lunges forward with a kind of regal violence. It doesn’t so much accelerate as it surges, like an aircraft carrier suddenly deciding to sprint.
Of course, physics still exists.
The Escalade IQ’s massive battery pack means you are always aware there’s an enormous amount of weight underneath you. Magnetic Ride Control and adaptive air suspension do their best to smooth things out, and most of the time the ride is wonderfully plush. But those giant 24-inch wheels can occasionally send a reminder through the chassis when the road gets rough.
Thankfully, Cadillac added four-wheel steering, which helps this enormous land yacht maneuver in parking lots with surprising grace. Without it, trying to park would require the sort of planning normally reserved for docking cruise ships.
Still, the Escalade IQ isn’t perfect.
For starters, it’s pricey. With a starting figure north of $140,000, it costs roughly the same as a small house in parts of America where people still say “y’all.”
Then there’s the technology.
Step inside and you’re greeted by that spectacular 55-inch display running Google-based software that looks fantastic and responds quickly. Navigation works beautifully, media controls are slick, and the graphics are crisp enough to make your living room 4K television feel slightly embarrassed.
But Cadillac made one curious decision.
There is no Apple CarPlay. No Android Auto either.
Instead, you’re required to dive fully into Cadillac’s built-in connected ecosystem. And while it works well enough, the absence of smartphone projection feels like being handed a state-of-the-art spaceship but told you’re not allowed to bring your phone aboard.
Which brings us back to the larger point.
The 2026 Escalade IQ is, without question, a remarkable machine. It’s luxurious, outrageously powerful, astonishingly quiet, and capable of traveling hundreds of miles on a single charge while towing up to 8,000 pounds.
It’s also a perfect symbol of how far cars—and our world—have evolved.
Once upon a time, driving meant simplicity. A steering wheel, a noisy engine, and the open road.
Now it means software menus, over-the-air updates, and screens large enough to watch a movie trilogy while waiting for the battery to charge.
And while all that technology is undeniably impressive, there are moments when you find yourself thinking something rather simple.
Driving should be about the road.
Not about a software update.
The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ Premium Luxury
MSRP: $147, 705
MSRP (as tested): $157,890
Engine: Electric. 680 horsepower, 615 lb-ft. torque
Transmission: 1 speed
Range (estimated) 460 miles
Curb Weight (estimated) 9,046–9,100 lbs
Exterior Dimensions
Length: 224.3 in.
Overall width without mirrors: 82.4 in.
Height: 76.1 in.
Wheelbase: 136.0 in.
Max Towing Capacity: 8,000 lbs.
Interior Dimensions
Front head room: 43.5 in.
Front leg room: 45.2 in.
Front shoulder room: 65.4 in.
Front hip room: 61.1 in.
Rear head room: 39.9 in.
Rear leg room : 41.3 in.
Rear shoulder room: 63.6 in.
Rear hip room 60.3 in.
Cargo Space/Area Behind Front Row (cubic feet): 119.1
Cargo Space/Area Behind Second Row (cubic feet): 69.1
Cargo Space/Area Behind Third Row (cubic feet): 23.6
Warranty
Basic: 4 yr./ 50,000 mi.
Drivetrain: 6 yr./ 70,000 mi.
Rust: 4 yr./ 50,000 mi.
Roadside assistance: 6 yr./ 70,000 mi.
Hybrid/Electric Components: 8 yrs. 100,000 mi.
Greg was a writer for DriveTribe supporting Amazon's The Grand Tour and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek and a regular contributor to Forbes.