I’ve driven a lot of cars in my life. Corvettes. Benzes. BMWs. Your boy has driven on roads most only see in car commercials. I’ve been behind the wheel of some of the best machines world has to offer. And still, nothing has ever captured my heart quite like a Cadillac.
So when I heard the news, I sat up straight. Cadillac just gave you the ability to customize your Cadillac down to the stitching. It’s called Curated by Cadillac ESCALADE IQ, and it turns the all-electric flagship SUV into a one-of-one build that’s yours and only yours.
Let me walk you through it.
What Is Curated by Cadillac ESCALADE IQ?
Cadillac just extended its exclusive, concierge-led customization program to the ESCALADE IQ. This used to be CELESTIQ territory only, the hand-built halo car regular mortals could only dream about. Now that same level of bespoke treatment is coming to the electric Escalade.
Kristian Aquilina, vice president of Global Cadillac, put it well when he said the program lets clients build a vehicle that reflects their own taste by working directly with Cadillac’s design team. Yo, Cadillac is saying, “come sit with us and build your dream truck.”
How Many Ways Can You Customize Your Cadillac?
Millions. Literally.
That’s not an exaggeration on my part, that’s the number Cadillac put on it. And when you break down what’s actually on the table, you start to understand why.
A design concierge in your corner. You get a dedicated person guiding you and your dealer through the whole build. This isn’t picking from a dropdown menu online. This is a real conversation with real designers. That’s dope. Having someone walking you through the process is a big deal.
They have 160 exterior colors and finishes. Solids, metallics, tri-coats, frosts, mattes. Whatever you think of.
Cadillac is also offering 44 interior colors. Across all three rows, the console, and even the floor mats. You could theoretically build an interior nobody else on the planet has.
Hand-painted, hand-built, individually serialized. Every unit gets its own VIN and an exclusive builder’s badge. This isn’t assembly line stuff. Artisans are putting hands on this vehicle.
I’ll be honest, the interior color range is the part that got me. Forty-four options across every seating row is the kind of detail that separates “nice SUV” from “this is mine and nobody else’s.”
The Experience Goes Beyond the Paint Job
Here’s what a lot of customization programs miss: it’s not just about picking colors. Cadillac built out an actual client journey here.
You get guided configurator sessions, mood boards, and personas to help you actually land on a design instead of getting decision fatigue staring at a color wheel. And once you’ve built the thing, you’re still backed by Cadillac’s standard quality materials and warranty support. So you get individuality without giving up peace of mind. That combination is rare in the luxury space, and it’s the part I respect most about this rollout.
The Numbers That Matter Under the Hood
Look, customization is fun, but this is still an Escalade, which means it has to perform like one. Cadillac isn’t skimping here.
Cadillac-estimated 465 miles of range
Up to 750 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque with Velocity Max engaged
060 mph in 4.7 seconds
That’s supercar-adjacent acceleration in a three-row luxury SUV. Let that sink in for a second.
On top of that, you’re getting a 55-inch Horizon display, Super Cruise driver assistance backed by a three-year OnStar Super Cruise plan, and vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging if you’re running compatible GM Energy products. Basically, your Escalade can help power your house. We’ve officially entered the “my car does more than my house” era.
Where It’s Built, When It Arrives, and What It Costs
Every Curated by Cadillac ESCALADE IQ is hand-built at the Artisan Center in Warren, Michigan, for the 2027 model year. It’ll be sold in the U.S. and Canada, with deliveries expected in the second half of 2027.
As for the price of admission: the Curated by Cadillac package itself runs $54,995. That’s on top of the vehicle’s base MSRP, tax, title, license, and dealer fees, and your dealer sets the final price. So budget accordingly, this is a program for people who are serious about the “one of one” life.
If you want to see it in person before it hits production, a concept version will be on display at The Quail in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, on August 14, 2026.
My Take
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Cadillac has my heart in a way none of those other badges ever managed. This program is exactly why. It’s not just “here’s a new trim level.” It’s Cadillac saying luxury should be personal, not just expensive.
Getting to sit down with a design concierge and actually build something that reflects your taste, down to the floor mats, that’s a different kind of ownership experience. That’s the kind of thing you pass down, not just drive around.
