A few months ago, Cadillac reached a major milestone by firmly establishing itself as a major player in the luxury EV market as it surpassed 100,000 U.S. electric vehicle sales. The brand's momentum is driven by a strong lineup of models like the flagship Escalade IQ, Lyriq, Vistiq and this week's ride - the Optiq.
The Cadillac Optiq is the brand’s smallest electric vehicle, serving as an entry point to the world of Cadillac EVs. And it's affordable, with the Optiq price starting at $52,695.
Similar in size as the Cadillac XT5, the Optiq is about 6 inches shorter and 2 inches narrower than the larger Lyriq, Cadillac's most popular EV. It is nicely proportioned with a short hood, aggressively raked windshield and a rear window that is slightly laid back. It's a good-looking vehicle and easily reels in customers to the Cadillac brand.
Last year, every Optiq was equipped with all-wheel drive and two electric motors. Now in its sophomore year, Cadillac is offering the Optiq in many different configurations. A new base powertrain is a 315-hp single-motor setup, while last year's dual-motor all-wheel drive variant now makes 440 horsepower (up from 354 hp). And in typical Cadillac fashion, the performance-oriented Optiq V ups that to 519 total horsepower.
You may be surprised to learn that there is no leather to be found inside the Optiq. Instead, the interior of the Optiq uses textured fabrics on the door panels, seats and center console - all resulting in a fresh, clean and quite impressive environment. The control knobs are done in shiny metal and the attention to detail can easily be spotted throughout the cabin. Taking center stage is Cadillac's curved 33-inch display that houses all the information for the driver and passenger. The crisp-looking screen has bright colors and fast response times. And while it does offer Google Maps and Google Assistant connectivity, the Optiq (like all other Cadillac EVs) does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Back seat passengers will find the Optiq has decent room with enough headroom and legroom for your average adult. Behind the back seat, there is 26 cubic feet of storage.
The tester arrived as an Optiq V with an MSRP of $78,526.
With power output ranges from 315-hp to more than 500-hp, it's safe to say that regardless of which drivetrain you opt for, the Optiq has plenty of power, making it easy to quickly pass someone on the freeway. And the Optiq steers and handles extremely well. With every Optiq coming with Super Cruise, cruising the highway is made easy with the ability to take your hands off the wheel completely and let it do the driving for you. With it's 519 horses, the Optiq V is crazy quick - needing only 3.5 seconds to reach 60 mph.
As with all EVs, range is a key factor. The Optiq has a total driving range of 317 miles per charge for the single-motor base model, 303 miles for the dual-motor model, and between 250 and 278 miles for the Optiq-V. An 85.0-kWh battery pack is standard on all models and can be charged at a public fast-charging station or on a home charger.
As Cadillac EV sales grow, their focus will be to pull EV buyers from Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus and show them the Cadillac experience with their beautifully executed vehicles, advanced technologies, and a sales and service experience that is unlike any other in the industry. Cadillac is showing that it is taking the EV market seriously - and the competition better be ready.