Cadillac detailing in Abu Dhabi for the Escalade, LYRIQ and CT5

Size, cabin materials and power source vary widely across the range, so each model gets its own routine.

• Escalade: the 2025 model came to the region in five trims, topped by the V-Series. It offers 24-inch wheels, the largest yet on an Escalade, and an illuminated front crest.
• Escalade-V: 22-inch wheels, Brembo front brakes with Edge Red calipers and semi-aniline leather on all three rows.
• Escalade IQ and IQL: electric versions of the big SUV. The IQL focuses on cargo space and a roomy second row. The high-voltage system is never part of a detail.
• LYRIQ and LYRIQ-V: a mid-size electric SUV with a black crystal grille that shows water spots easily.
• OPTIQ: the entry electric SUV, with a fixed glass roof and recycled cabin materials. Cadillac lists 20-inch wheels as standard and 21-inch as an option.
• VISTIQ: a three-row electric SUV, so the third row needs as much attention as the front.
• CT5: a sports saloon with a low nose that collects chips on the motorway.

The Middle East manual for the 2026 Escalade allows touchless car washes only on matte paint, with no brushes or scrubbers. It also says waxes and polishes must not be applied to matte paint.

Pressure washers need care on every finish. The manual warns against holding the nozzle closer than 30 cm, and says washers above 1,200 psi can damage or remove paint.

For example, a matte Escalade is washed by hand with a pH-balanced shampoo and patted dry. Rubbing a dry towel across the panel can polish the flat finish into shiny streaks.

The manual warns that soaking leather, above all perforated leather, can damage it for good. It also rules out alcohol, solvents, silicone and wax-based products on the seats.

The 2025 Escalade offers a Renaissance Red leather cabin with faceted quilted and perforated seats. A Sheer Gray option pairs leather with a heathered grey fabric. The Escalade-V uses semi-aniline leather, a softer hide with only a light protective finish.

For example, spraying cleaner straight onto a quilted seat pushes liquid into the stitching, so the cleaner goes onto a cloth first. Fabric panels are blotted dry rather than rubbed, so the weave keeps its texture.

Each trim needs its own approach, because the finishes range from bare wood grain to high gloss. The Renaissance Red Escalade uses a dark open-pore wood veneer, while the Sheer Gray cabin has high-gloss wood.

Open-pore wood has no glossy lacquer, so it is dusted and wiped lightly without silicone sprays. High-gloss wood shows swirl marks from a dusty cloth, just like paint. The Escalade-V adds Zebra Wood accents, and V-Series trims add carbon fibre.

The LYRIQ’s cabin uses laser-etched patterns cut through wood over a metal backing. A soft brush clears dust from the fine lines before any cloth touches them.

On the OPTIQ, the PaperWood veneer is half tulip wood and half recycled newspaper. Its patterned accent fabric is woven from fully recycled yarn, and both get light, almost dry cleaning.

Big wheels need soft brushes and careful parking, while the underbody needs a plain-water rinse twice a year. A 24-inch wheel leaves very little tyre between the rim and a kerb.

The Edge Red Brembo calipers on an Escalade-V show dirt quickly. Brake dust bakes onto them in summer, so they are cleaned with a gentle, non-acid product once the brakes have cooled.

Cadillac says to rinse salt and grime from the underbody with plain water every six months. It also says not to pressure wash the frame, or aim jets at the axle seals.

That matters after beach drives, when salt and sand collect underneath. A gentle rinse protects the seals, and rust proofing adds a longer-lasting barrier.

Sun, sand and sheer size cause most of the wear on Cadillacs in this climate. The table puts each typical issue next to the work that normally solves it.

Escalade owners usually start with the cabin, because three rows of leather take the most wear. Matte cars skip the polish and go straight to gentle washing and suitable protection.

The manual is cautious here, and its advice differs by paint type. Matte paint should only go through touchless washes, so hand washing is the simplest choice.

Cadillac says soap and water only. Polish or wax on those stripes changes their finish and leaves uneven patches.

Yes. The work covers paint, glass, wheels and cabin, so electric Cadillacs are detailed exactly like the petrol models.

Only a dry microfibre cloth is used, because spray products can damage the coating on the screen.

Only lightly. It is part recycled newspaper, so it is wiped with a slightly damp cloth and dried at once. Sprays and soaking are avoided.

Like a lamp lens: car shampoo, a soft mitt and plenty of water. Abrasive polish and stiff brushes would scratch its clear face.