Cadillac may seem a little too traditional to hang its driving cap on electric vehicles. And yet, this has not stopped the GM brand from deploying – or at least showing – four models of fully electric vehicles since 2022.
The latest is the Optiq 2025, a mid-size crossover that could finally attract the young, hipster clientele that Cadillac dreamed of. With a base price of $54,000, it’s the cheapest in the EV lineup, and its design has enough special touches to stand out from the rest of its portfolio.
In other words, the Optiq is designed and priced as a gateway to the Cadillac brand. And it is pronounced Opticalnot Saveso don’t embarrass yourself over the suits at Cadillac like I did.
Nuts and Bolts
Today, there is only one all-electric Cadillac – the Lyriq – for sale. The Escalade IQ will arrive later this year and the stunning (and large) Celestiq is available to customers on request only.
The Optiq, scheduled for production this fall and slotted below the Lyriq electric crossover, is small enough to be considered a compact SUV.
Built on GM’s Ultium platform, it sports an 85 kWh battery that Cadillac says is good for a range of 300 miles. However, the 400-volt system can only charge at 150 kW. That’s faster than the Mercedes-Benz EQB, but the brand’s Lyriq can reach 190kW and even low-end options like the Kia EV6 can reach speeds of over 200kW. Regardless, Cadillac claims the Optiq can add 79 miles of charge in 10 minutes and go from 20% to 80% charge in 26 minutes. It’s not bad, but there are faster options.
Home charging, however, should be very fast. The standard on-board charger is 11.5 kW and buyers can opt for a massive 19.2 kW on-board charger. Keep in mind, however, that the big charger needs 80 amps to push all that juice, so you’ll need a pretty sturdy electrical panel.
Cadillac Optiq designed to boost sales
One thing is certain, the Optiq is a looker. I love the Monarch Orange color of this demo model and Cadillac says it will also be available in Bright Blue and Red as well as the more traditional white, black and gray exterior colors. The roof of this demo model is black, but the Optiq will come standard with a body-colored roof.
The designers added a cool texture to the rear quarter glass by printing a series of horizontal lines on two glass panels and laminating them together. The effect echoes the look of the LED taillights and brings an interesting visual dynamic to the rear of the vehicle.
Speaking of lighting, Cadillac really gets down to business by expanding on its aesthetic here. Sure, they all have an upright, upright stance, but the taillights are actually perfectly aligned with the slight camber of the rear wheels and the front and rear lights perform a little choreographed dance as drivers approach or move away from the car. It’s a neat touch.
Innovations continue inside with the use of 100% recyclable materials covering part of the dashboard and central console. It’s a unique choice to use fiber on the console and not some sort of plastic or metal, but it really works. It’s great to have a soft-touch material where you least expect it.
Additionally, the horizontal surface of the console is covered in a transparent, glossy finish, protecting the console and making my ears happy when I click my nails on its surface. It’s every ASMR lover’s dream.
Cadillac Optiq storage and technology
There’s plenty of storage, including a space under the center console here, but what surprises me is a small compartment under the row of HVAC controls, just forward of the center console but not connected to it . Its ambient lighting can change as desired and it’s just a neat little detail that I wasn’t expecting. Ambient lighting continues on a laser-etched decorative panel just above the HVAC buttons.
This base demo model also comes with a panoramic glass roof and a standard 19-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos. I wasn’t able to sample any tracks, but the immersive audio experience should deliver high-level, distortion-free listening no matter your jam.
The large 33-inch diagonal screen houses the infotainment system and digital gauge cluster.
There are some GM quirks here. First, there is no physical switch for the headlights. Instead, you have to tap the icons on the screen. Fortunately, they are located on the left-most part of the screen and are always visible, so you don’t need to navigate through the menus. Second, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available. The good news is that the system uses Google’s built-in system, which includes Maps and Assistant. I haven’t tried Google Assistant for hands-free texting, but Google Maps can access the Optiq’s charging status, predict range at the end of a trip, and suggest charging stations.
Every Optiq benefits from a robust suite of safety features such as blind zone steering assist, automatic parking, forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. GM’s Super Cruise hands-free/eyes-up semi-autonomous driving assistant with lane change assist is free for the first three years of ownership.
I’ve only been able to see the Optiq in static demo form, but I’m a little more than excited to take this electric vehicle out on the streets. Cadillac recruited people who developed the chassis of the excellent CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing sedans as well as the Escalade V to hopefully bring a fun-to-drive element to the all-wheel-drive Optiq.
The car manages to get a Cadillac-estimated 300 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque from its two engines. That’s a decent amount, but keep in mind that EVs are heavy, and the Optiq tips the scales at 5,192 pounds. I don’t expect it to be a straight line rocket, but I hope it can take a turn or two.
GM’s excellent Magnetic Ride Control isn’t available on the Optiq, much to my disappointment, but Cadillac says the passive dampers provide a controlled ride through corners while reacting quickly to dampen high-frequency events like broken pavement or bumps in the road. There’s a Sport mode, and the company also says the dual-compound Continental Cross Contact all-season tires have a stiff sidewall and tread pattern that splits the difference between range and grip. There are three levels of brake regeneration, with the most powerful providing 0.4G of deceleration, bringing the Optiq to a complete stop. Drivers can also use a paddle on the left side of the steering wheel to activate regenerative braking.
At first glance, it appears to be a welcome addition to Cadillac’s electric lineup with good looks, great interior design, and potentially a lively driving experience.