2026 Cadillac Optiq Road Test and Review

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Introduced in 2025, the Cadillac Optiq is the least expensive of the luxury brand’s electric-powered SUVs. Available only with all-wheel drive (AWD) at launch last year, the Optiq adds rear-wheel-drive variants for 2026, as well as a high-performance V-Series model.

The 2026 Optiq is available with a choice of five trims: Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, Premium Sport, and V-Series. It is priced from the mid $50,000s to just under $70,000. All-wheel drive is a $3,500 upcharge except on the V-Series, which comes with AWD standard.

Competitors include the Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q6 e-tron, the upcoming BMW iX3, Genesis GV60, Genesis Electrified GV70, Mercedes EQB, Polestar 3, and Porsche Macan Electric.

Sizing up the Optiq

The compact Optiq is the smallest of Cadillac’s crossover SUV EVs, about the same size as the gas-powered Cadillac XT5 SUV although about a 1,000 pounds heavier due to the Optiq’s large 85 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion propulsion battery. The Optiq tips the scales at just over 2.5 tons. Its wheels are pushed out to the corners, courtesy of a longish-for-the-class 116-inch wheelbase. A fastback roofline adds a sporty persona.

Premium versions of the Sport and Luxury trims add to the already generous standard fitments of the base Sport and Luxury with niceties such as seat trim with perforated faux-leather inserts, ventilated massaging front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a color head-up display, ambient cabin lighting, auto-leveling LED headlamps, and cornering lamps.

Underpinning the Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, and Premium Sport trims are 245/50R20 all-weather self-sealing tires while the V-Series gets 275/40R21 all-weather skins (also optional for non V-Series Optiqs). Stickier summer performance tires are optional for the V-Series.

The Optiq V-Series also gets key chassis upgrades including stiffer springs, anti-roll bars, suspension mounts and bushings, quicker steering, computer-controlled adaptive shocks, and Brembo front brakes. Inside, the V-Series also fits seats with quilted inserts.

Single-motor versions of the Sport and Luxury trims are rear-wheel drive with 315 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while dual-motor variants get all-wheel drive with 440 hp and 498 lb-ft. The V-Series elevates the dual-motor AWD configuration to 519 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.

Maximum range for Sport and Luxury trims is 317 miles with RWD and 303 miles for AWD models. The AWD-only V-Series can go 250-278 miles on a full charge.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Charging Ahead

Recently, range anxiety and the scarcity of DC fast-charging stations outside major metropolitan areas has been a factor slowing the adoption of EVs. With the Optiq, that situation is improved greatly due to the Optiq coming standard with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port which will enable you to fast charge the Optiq at any Tesla Supercharger station, by far the most extensive coverage in the U.S. with nearly 3,000 locations spread across the 50 states. Cadillac will happily sell you adaptors for AC 240-volt home charging or DC fast charging at CCS non-Tesla fast-charge locations. Standard is a lithium-ion propulsion battery rated at 85 kilowatt hours.

According to Cadillac, DC fast charging can add as much as 79 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes, but juicing the battery from, say, 10 percent to near full charge will require just under an hour due to the fact that the Optiq’s maximum charging speed is throttled to 150 kilowatts. Using an AC 240-volt power source, Cadillac says the Optiq can be fully charged at home in under 6 hours, made easier and faster if the buyer uses the $1,580 optional 19.2 kW charger instead of the 11.5 kW one.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Tech Forward

Three years of GM’s pioneering Super Cruise hands-free cruise control is included as standard equipment in the Optiq, after which the semi-autonomous drive system is available for a monthly fee via OnStar on a subscription basis. The Level 2 system is functional on more than 600,000 miles of pre-mapped highways, freeways, and interstate roads in the U.S.

A full suite of safety and advanced driver assistance tech is standard. This includes forward collision alert with pedestrian and bicycle detection and automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, blind-spot detection with steering assist, side bicycle alert, rear pedestrian and cross-traffic alert with braking, a surround-view camera, regular adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, rear seat reminder, driver attention assist, and automatic high beams. One of the Optiq’s more unique ADAS tech features is the haptic safety alert driver’s seat which buzzes on one or both sides of the bottom cushion to warn the driver of an impending safety threat and the direction it is coming from.

A handy driving assistance aid for city dwellers is enhanced automatic parking assist that handles throttle, shifting, steering and braking duties pulling into and out of a parking spot. Other helpful driver tech includes available in-vehicle 5G Wi-Fi via OnStar, a standard head-up display at the bottom of the windshield, and a digital rear camera mirror.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Driver and Infotainment Displays

Sitting atop the low, sweeping instrument panel is the Optiq’s 33-inch high-resolution LED display arcing from near the driver’s door to the center of the dash, which encompasses both driver and infotainment functions. It’s similar to the big, subtly curved dash screen in the larger Cadillac Lyriq. Unlike the infotainment systems in most competitors, Cadillac EVs do not offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto cellphone mirroring but instead provide standard built-in Google with Google Maps, Google Assistant voice control, and Google Play access to games and apps. Although dedicated Apple users will have the biggest adjustment to make, the Google features will make Android Auto users feel at home, and General Motors finds another way to monetize customer data. I found the Optiq’s embedded Google Assistant and point-of-interest search capabilities to be speedy and up-to-date.

As with other Cadillacs such as the Escalade and CT5, the Optiq features a top-of-the-line AKG Studio premium audio system. AKG is an Austria-based maker of high-end microphones and headphones. The 19-speaker system in the Optiq comes with Dolby Atmos technology that delivers excellent separation and immersive, concert hall fidelity. A free trial of SiriusXM 360, which offers an expanded choice of channels and the ability to choose genre-specific content, is included. A wireless phone charger is standard in all models.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Cushy Cabin

Although leather hides aren’t available in the Optiq, faux-leather seat coverings that look and feel premium elevate the cabin ambiance. All Optiq trims come standard with heated and power-operated front buckets that are modestly bolstered for balanced support and comfort. Driver’s seat memory settings are standard. Premium and V-Series trims add perforated center inserts and double-stitched detailing as well as front seat ventilation, and massage functions, while adjustable side bolsters arrive with V-Series trim. A cloth-like material that’s made from woven recycled plastic covers the upper surfaces of the dash, door panels, and console sides looks and feels surprisingly rich. Ambient interior accent lighting with 126 selectable hues graces Premium and V-Series trims. And speaking of ambiance, a full-length panoramic glass roof, standard in all models, delivers an open-air feel and has a shade.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Rear Seats

Despite its compact overall length and fastback roofline, the five-passenger Optiq offers generous rear-seat legroom and headroom that can comfortably accommodate three full-grown adults. Cadillac claims the Optiq has the best rear legroom in the compact crossover SUV segment. Large rear doors make for drama-free ingress and egress. The 60/40 split bench offers luxury-appropriate comfort for longer trips, modest lateral torso and thigh support, and in Premium and V-Series trims, heated cushions for the outboard seating positions. There is no captain’s chairs, but a fold-down center armrest with cup holders makes the rear seat more personable when there are just two passengers back there.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Cargo Considerations

Even though the Optiq’s sloping fastback roofline sacrifices some utility in the quest for sporty style, its cargo hold is almost as roomy as the more squared-off XT5. Cadillac’s junior EV offers 26 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and as much as 57 cubic feet with the back seat folded flat. Wells at the rear corners of the cargo area add convenience for toting gallon-size drink containers and concealed space for valuables is available under the cargo floor as there is no spare tire back there. Access to the cargo area is via a hands-free, height-adjustable power liftgate. A full-width, retractable shade keeps cargo items out of sight.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

On the Road

The test vehicle provided for this review was a Premium Sport model with available all-wheel drive. As with most electric vehicles, acceleration was brisk courtesy of excellent low-end torque that’s available the instant the driver depresses the accelerator. According to my stopwatch, the Premium Sport AWD tested reached 60 mph from rest in the mid-5-second range. Cadillac says the V-Series can accomplish that task in less than four seconds when launching in Velocity Max mode.

Grab the wrapped steering wheel and the Optic’s connection with the road is pretty synaptic, following your lead faultlessly, and responding to changes in heading with precision and a just the right tick or two in added effort.

Unlike the V-Series, the Optiq Premium Sport doesn’t get the Brembos, but the standard 4-wheel discs are sufficiently powerful and linear in response right from the top of pedal travel. Using a Regen on Demand paddle on the steering wheel, the driver can slow down the Optiq and come to a complete stop in most daily driving situations. Quick and surprise stops will need the help of the friction brakes, however. The rest of the time, you can drive using just the right pedal.

Ride quality is another Optiq strong point. Using dual-valve dampers, this Cadillac can firm up for a crisper feel in corners and dial it back to take the sting out of a jolt over untidy road surfaces and unseen potholes.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Verdict

Overall, the Optiq does a good job of conveying Cadillac’s traditional strengths (roominess, ample power, settled ride quality, quiet cabin, and sufficient curb appeal) while advancing its tech cred (Super Cruise, OnStar, AKG Studio, and up to 317 miles of electric range). It has its job cut out for it in a market jostled by political winds and the loss of federal tax incentives, but it appeals to a section of the population that may be looking for something that’s smart and stylish but uninterested in the Escalade’s over-the-top approach. It’s very competitively priced, too.

2026 Cadillac Optiq ・ Photo by Ron Sessions