Cadillac Escalade IQ detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the Escalade IQ

Paint and exterior

A smooth, flat-sided body with an illuminated closed front panel and very few seams. Dark colors show every swirl along the long doors, and the lit front panel is plastic that must be wiped wet, never dry.

Interior

A display that runs across the whole dash, a glass roof, and fine leather with wood or metal trim. Fingerprints on the screen and smudges on the gloss surfaces show immediately.

Living in Houston

Kept in a garage and charged at home in Sugar Land or Memorial, an IQ mostly suffers from sprinkler spots on the lower doors and spring pollen settling on the glass roof.

• Electric: there is no engine bay, but the frunk, charge port door and underbody plastics get cleaned, and washing an EV is completely safe.
• Large glass roof: Houston water leaves mineral spots on it, so it is cleaned inside and out and suits the glass coating add-on.
• Large touchscreens: cleaned with a screen-safe, ammonia-free product and a dedicated cloth.
• Black and dark colors are common: they show swirls, water spots and pollen film first, and benefit most from a coating.
• Large wheels and tall tires: wheel faces, barrels and wells take real time on this one, and it shows when they are done right.
• Third row and cargo area: both are included, which is why three-row vehicles sit in the larger size class.