The petrol powered Escalade is pretty big, with its 121-inch wheelbase supporting a 211.9-inch body. Our electric IQL is built on a robust 136.3-inch wheelbase and measures 228.5 inches bumper-to-bumper. And nearly every measurement inside the IQL is more generous than the standard ‘Slade. What about driving range? Glad you asked. Fill up the 24-gallon tank of the gas-powered Cadillac and you can travel 456-miles. Or charge up the IQL’s giant 205 kWh battery and you can cruise 460-miles according to EPA range estimate and more than a few testers have traveled 500-miles and more on a single electric top up.

Since our big, plush Cadillac hadn’t shed size, comfort or driving range in moving to electrification, I was eager to know the magnitude of its battery. The 205 kWh lithium ion power unit under the floor is estimated to weigh 2,900-pounds, about the same as a Toyota Corolla. And at the estimated replacement cost of $22,540, you can nearly buy a new Corolla LE model. That translates to our IQL tipping the scales with an estimated 9,134-pound curb weight, just what a buyer might wish for if they value mass to insure their safety.

Style is an important attribute of a luxury vehicle and also subjectively based on individual taste. So let me assert here that I believe Cadillac designers have nailed the Escalade IQL appearance. It’s unquestionably bold and makes its presence known without apology, just like the best-loved Cadillacs always have. Do I need to remind readers of the vivacious tailfin era?

Inside, the fun continues with a special emphasis on exquisite materials that confirm a luxury brand and a dazzling display of high-res screens to express technology. The AKG Studio Reference audio system was standard gear and the optional $1,995 Rear Seat Entertainment System included AKG headphones. And of course you want the $1,750 console refrigerator. It’s just the thing to keep the Champagne properly chilled.

On the road, this robust Cadillac handles its ample girth with sufficient control under reasonable conditions. If you’re tempted to charge up or down the Tail of the Dragon with a 4.5-ton SUV, let me know how that worked out. Meantime, while a seasoned driver is aware of the tonnage, the engineers have done a remarkable job of suspension tuning to assure confidence behind the wheel. And rear-wheel-steering dramatically equips this 19-foot IQL to maneuver as if it’s a much smaller vehicle.

At this writing, while Cadillac’s petrol-powered Escalades have head-on competition from rivals like Lincoln Navigator and Infiniti’s QX80, the IQL is still unique in the EV category. Mercedes EQS 550, Rivian’s R1S and Lucid’s Gravity are as close as I could come to reasonable rivals, although none of these big contenders have doors that open or close with the push of a button. And isn’t that what you expect for $158,745 of your hard-earned money?