Sometimes a car can be difficult to drive in many ways than one. That is the case of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ.

Starting on the outside, the Luna Metallica is in the shade that I like to describe as millennial gray. I loved that it was a color that hides being dirty extremely well. Although the color is subtle, the massive size of the IQ is anything but subtle. Thankfully the 4-wheel steering will help maneuver you into tight spots. Having 24-inch wheels will have you eyeing the cameras to make sure you don’t curb them.

Getting in the Escalade IQ is an experience! The self opening doors was fun to use as well as to show off that you’re in a higher tax bracket than others. Once you get in, the seats are ready to comfort you for your ride. I will admit that the screens can be pretty overwhelming to take in. A lot of the basically functionalities will have you navigating menus for your answer. Be ready to park your Escalade IQ in the garage of your multi-million dollar mansion and go through all the menus it has to offer. You’ll then program your preferences the way you think you want, to then realize you may need to tweak them. Lacking the familiar option of Apple CarPlay, had me frustrated navigating the lesser GM user interface.

Under the hood, you’ll find a frunk! I did like the although it wasn’t deep and wide like others, the space went far back. For powertrain, I had a dual electric motor AWD system with 750 horsepower and 785 lb.-ft. of torque with Velocity Max turned on. Cadillac estimates that you’ll get a range of 465 miles on a full charge. Those batteries add up to a crazy curb weight of over 9,000 lbs! That weight also appears to be rear balanced since the front tires feel light and susceptible to significant torque steer.

Overall, the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ is not a vehicle to simply get in and go. You’ll want to set some time apart to get accustomed to the tech, get a feel for it’s big size, and then wish some things were unfortunately different.