REVIEW: We tested GM’s big SUVs that compete with Tesla – here’s how they stack up
For years, Tesla has been the dominant electric automaker.
In 2020, it sold 80 percent of all new EVs in the US, and in 2023, the Model Y became the world’s best-selling car.
Tesla’s sales dominance turned its cars into the standard every EV was judged against — sparking endless headlines about ‘Tesla Killers.’
Elon Musk’s lead was once undeniable. But the EV trend-setter is facing the heat from legacy automakers.
In the past year, I’ve tested three GM EVs: the crossover Cadillac Lyriq, pickup GMC Sierra EV, and the three-row Cadillac Escalade IQ. Unlike Tesla’s Cybertruck or Model Y, they don’t rely on shock-inducing styling or juvenile gimmicks like fake fart sounds.
Instead, they’re polished luxury machines with quick acceleration, premium interiors, and batteries with enough juice to travel over 400 miles. In many respects, their models are more impressive than Tesla’s lineup.
Whether that’s enough to pull buyers away from Musk’s magnetic brand is another matter.
Like most auto reviewers, I borrow cars for a week at a time — the company covers the tolls and first charge, but the verdict comes from me, not GM.
The Escalade IQ is a high-rolling luxury three-row SUV with a boatload of tech and a stunning interior
The SUV is a behemoth – it clocks in at 9000 pounds and measures almost 19 feet from front to back
The car’s front trunk – or ‘frunk’ – is one of the largest I’ve ever seen, and makes up for some of the surprisingly cramped rear-seat cargo
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ
Cadillac took its iconic Escalade and turned it into a $130,000, all-electric behemoth. The three-row IQ tips the scales at more than 9,000 pounds and stretches 18.6 feet from bumper to bumper.
On the road, it turns better than you’d expect. A rear-steering option lets the back wheels pivot at low speeds, making tight parking lots far less intimidating.
The interior is one of the most opulent in the EV market.
Our tester featured light brown leather and a width-spanning digital display that serves as a gauge cluster, infotainment screen, and an entertainment stack for the passenger. Climate controls sit on a separate tablet-sized panel above the center console, keeping the main display uncluttered.
Up front, the Escalade IQ is ultra plush. But the second and third rows feel like an afterthought, with legroom and cargo space surprisingly cramped for a vehicle this big.
Still, Cadillac’s flagship EV delivers what Tesla’s top-end models don’t: a sense of true luxury, with rich materials that project class.
And, it’s got more power, too. The gargantuan battery is good for an estimated 450 miles on a charge — 50 more than Tesla’s longest-range option, the dual-motor Model S sedan.
The Sierra Denali EV is another gargantuan EV from the brand
GMC’s simplistic interior combines open-pore woods, leather seats, and dashes of chrome
The exterior design takes a more traditional truck-like form than Tesla’s Cybertruck
2025 GMC Sierra Denali EV Max Range
GMC’s $100,000 all-electric pickup looks like a traditional truck, but don’t let the styling fool you — it can move.
Stomp the accelerator and the EV leaps forward, reaching 60 mph in just over four seconds.
It’s also practical. Clever design lets owners drop the wall between the cabin and bed, so long objects like lumber or kayaks can fit with the back seat folded down.
Inside, GMC layers on luxury touches.
Premium wood and leather fit the upscale vibe, even if the infotainment system’s complex menus — and the lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto — can be frustrating at times.
Like the Escalade, the Sierra relies on an enormous battery, rated for an impressive 460 miles of range.
But GM achieves that in the least elegant way: by strapping the biggest battery possible under the truck rather than designing a body to maximize efficiency.
So far, despite the Sierra’s impressive athleticism, trucks remain one of the least convincing categories for electric drivetrains.
Towing or putting heavy objects in the bed will quickly chew away at range. The car’s 8,800 pounds of mass can sink into soft dirt or sand on construction lots.
Still, GMC has managed to create one of the more convincing EV trucks on the market. That’s especially true when comparing it to Tesla’s angular Cybertruck that falls short on range and style with a similar price.
Cadillac’s first EV effort, the Lyriq, is well-sized, gorgeous, and refined on the road
The EV doesn’t rely on an ultra-sized battery to get descent range
The Lyriq’s unique scultplting and risky design cues make me a fan – I can understand why its not a car for everyone
2025 Cadillac Lyriq
The Lyriq is one of the most complete products I’ve driven in a long time.
Its unique design language looks nothing like any other cars in the grocery store parking lot, including Tesla’s egg-shaped lineup.
When the key fob gets close, LEDs across the faux grille dazzle in sequence and wink at the driver.
At night, lights project from the door handles. Around back, L-shaped taillights wrap dramatically around the body, giving the SUV a distinctive profile.
Inside, it’s equally distinctive. All five seats are comfortable, with our tester’s front seats even offering built-in massagers.
The riskiest design cue — strikes of dark blue plastic accents — somehow work.
A sweeping curved digital display makes climate and audio adjustments easy, a welcome change from some rivals’ cluttered interfaces.
This car also doesn’t boast unnecessary racecar metrics. Instead of achieving manic sprinting speeds, the $65,000 Lyriq springs to 60 mphin 5.7 seconds.
That’s not quick by EV standards. But Cadillac is chasing serenity over athleticism.
The Lyriq glides over road blemishes like they don’t exist, while the cabin stays whisper quiet, even at highway speeds.
Range comes in at 326 miles, with Tesla Supercharger compatibility on new models.
The Lyriq works because it knows exactly what it is: a luxury SUV that leans into comfort and character.
Plus, if you need extra speed, Cadillac released a high-performance, dual-motor Lyriq trim with 615 horsepower.
Tesla’s massive sales dominance has made it the benchmark of the EV industry – but its flagging sales highlight that automakers need to set the bar higher
Verdict: GM’s EVs are great on paper
GM’s EVs look strong on paper, with standout range, styling, and premium interiors that easily beat Tesla.
Access to Tesla’s Supercharger network only makes them more appealing.
But in the $100,000 bracket, rivals like Rivian and Lucid already outcompete Tesla, and don’t just slap on ridiculously-sized batteries to huge trucks.
In the highest-priced segment, there are already refined cars. GM’s behemoths don’t reach their same peaks.
The higher GM’s price tags climb, the harder it is to justify these EVs as the best choice for daily drivers.
While the Lyriq is the oldest product in GM’s lineup, its still the best.