The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ Premium Sport combines a 55-inch dashboard display with additional screens for front and rear passengers, streaming apps, and a dial controller for the infotainment system. Its spacious cabin offers flexible second-row seating and a usable third row, although limited foot space can make the rearmost seats uncomfortable. At $153,490, the electric SUV is not especially efficient by EV standards, but its 2.1 miles per kilowatt-hour still compares favorably with the gasoline Escalade’s 16 mpg combined rating.
A screen-heavy cabin
A dial controller on the center console lets occupants operate the infotainment system without reaching for the touchscreen or relying on voice commands. The system had some success with voice control, although Google’s voice recognition could not understand the command, “Set Sirius Radio to channel 43.” Given the Escalade IQ Premium Sport’s $153,490 list price, the dial’s scrolling action could be smoother. Like the 55-inch display, however, the hardware is shared across Cadillac’s electric vehicle lineup.
The climate controls use a separate touchscreen positioned below the infotainment display, in front of the center console.
Another touchscreen is available to front-seat passengers, and an optional $1,995 rear-seat entertainment system adds screens for the middle row. These displays can stream video from various platforms. The automotive industry has largely adopted Android Automotive OS, which supports a broad selection of apps.
The passenger display includes a filter that prevents the driver from seeing its contents while the vehicle is moving. The setup is somewhat clumsy, but a phone can serve as a keyboard or input controller for games.
Space for three rows
The Escalade IQ has a spacious rear cabin, and the second row can move forward and backward. Sliding it forward gives passengers in the third row plenty of legroom for long journeys. However, there is not enough vertical space beneath the second-row seats for comfortable foot placement, so third-row passengers may end up sitting with their knees close to their faces.
Efficiency compared with the V8
The Escalade IQ’s appeal is clearest as an electric alternative to the traditionally powered Escalade. It may not be particularly efficient for an EV, but its 2.1 miles per kilowatt-hour still equates to more than 70 mpg (3.3 L/100 km). The standard V8 version, by comparison, achieves only 16 mpg (14.7 L/100 km) combined.
A gasoline Escalade would also need to stop for fuel about 80 miles (129 km) before the electric vehicle ran out of range.
Source: arstechnica.com
