Jay Leno test drove the new $340,000 Cadillac EV and liked it despite its uncertain future
- Jay Leno took the Cadillac EV for a drive
- He was impressed by the luxury EV
- The car will be made in strictly limited numbers
Published on May 19, 2025 at 10:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on May 19, 2025 at 9:42 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Jay Leno took a ride in the 2025 Cadillac Celestiq EV and was left seriously impressed by the all-electric, branding it a ‘really nice drive’.
The Celestiq was derived from a concept vehicle known as the Escala that was initially unveiled in 2016.
The Celestiq was itself unveiled in 2022 and was slated for release for the 2025 model year.
Each example of the Cadillac Celestiq will be hand-built at the GM Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.
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This means each and every Celestiq will be a special order and be customized to each customer’s specifications.
Comedian and car lover Jay Leno recently took one out for a spin on his Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel and was quick to note that it was ‘really nice to drive’ and that the driver’s seat was a ‘very pleasant place to be’.
Leno was joined on the test drive by the EV’s chief engineer, Tony Roma, who shared some details on how the car was created.
“From the beginning, part of our mantra is, we weren’t trying to make a great EV. We were trying to make a great car, right, that happens to be propelled by electricity,” he shared.
“And so I think that comes through when you drive it. This isn’t a trick. There’s nothing you know gimmicky about it, it’s just a great car.”
The EV also looks great thanks to its sleek lines and bold stance, and let’s not forget about that sweeping glass roof that can be transformed from transparent to opaque.
The highly customizable interior is just as stunning, with leather bucket seats that come in a practically endless range of colors, as well as the sort of tech you’d expect to find on a luxury car.
Cadillac says the all-wheel drive Celestiq produces up to 655 horsepower and can hit 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 3.7 seconds.
The Cadillac Celestiq comes with a starting price of $340,000, but this is likely to be pushed up further depending on what customization options you choose.
Alongside that, the car is being made in very low production numbers.
Earlier this month, it was reported that just 25 Celestiqs will be made for the 2025 model year, while its thought production numbers will be capped at no more than two a day in 2026.
“This is super low-volume,” Roma told Leno.
“We’re not announcing the exact volume, but think more like hundreds, not thousands.”
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
