Today’s EV buyers are often demanding. They want luxury, range, space, tons of features, and decent fast charging, all for cheaper than ever before. It’s impossible to have it all at a reasonable price, but on paper, here’s something that offers a lot. More details on the U.S.-spec Cadillac Optiq electric crossover have been released, and they make this thing seem properly compelling on paper.
Based on GM’s Ultium architecture, the Optiq features an 85 kWh battery pack and a claimed 300 miles of range. Should you wish to juice up on the go at a DC fast charging station, this thing can take up to 150 kW of current. Oh, and it makes 300 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque thanks to dual-motor all-wheel-drive, and can Level 2 charge at up to 19.2 kW. Solid figures by any measure.
As for the chassis, there’s nothing wildly fancy going on, but nothing janky either. Expect struts up front, a five-link independent setup out back, passive dampers, and the eyebrow-raising feature of 17-inch discs at all four corners, which sounds excessive until you learn that curb weight starts at 5,192 pounds. Woof. Then again, the Optiq is slightly longer than a Ford Edge, so we’re looking at an electric crossover that’s closer to midsize than compact. That’s where things get interesting.
See, not only is this a proper all-wheel-drive luxury crossover that’s bordering on midsize, Cadillac is planning on selling the base trim for $54,000 including freight. That’s roughly rear-wheel-drive Genesis GV60 money, base-trim Volvo XC40 Recharge money, or Audi Q4 e-tron money for a larger EV. So where has Cadillac cheaped out?
At first glance, it doesn’t appear to be in feature content. Even the base trim comes with Super Cruise, Cadillac’s surprisingly excellent Level 2 hands-free advanced driver assistance system that only works on specified Lidar-mapped roads. There’s also a standard 19-speaker AKG-branded audio system with Dolby Atmos surround sound and a standard 33-inch 9K LED screen on deck. Conspicuously absent? Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Those were traded for Google built in, because that’s the way GM rolls these days.
Oh, and it doesn’t look like Cadillac saved money on the interior, either. From knit fabric on the dashboard and door cards to glass-like accents, leatherette, and plenty of metallic trim, the Optiq looks like a $54,000 car on the inside, and not just a $54,000 electric car where you might expect some compromises due to the cost of the batteries.
Limited connectivity aside, the Cadillac Optiq seems seriously tempting. It’s sized well, comes with a ton of equipment, and looks like the $54,000 vehicle it is. On paper and in pictures, this is a genuinely compelling luxury crossover from GM, although we’ll have to eventually put tire to tarmac to be sure. With production set to kick off this autumn, expect these things to start rolling into showrooms before the end of this year.
(Photo credits: Cadillac)
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It looks kinda like a blind cave fish.
So, we all were told that CarPlay wouldn’t be included on future GM products, but right there on the website for the Optiq, under technology, CarPlay shows on the screen. Is this some weird oversight, or might it be coming back? It’s listed on the page titled “Google Built In Apps” which makes it even more confusing.
https://www.cadillac.com/technology/google-built-in
Android Automotive is perfectly capable of doing Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Renault have both in their Android Automotive vehicles. My Polestar has CarPlay, but they’ve not added Android Auto annoyingly.
Having said that, the only part of it I’m missing is the ability to have messaging beyond basic SMS. I loved having WhatsApp in Android Auto, but that functionality doesn’t work over Bluetooth with Android Automotive. Google Maps, Spotify, and Pocket Casts all work fine natively, so no faffing with connecting a phone, which is nice.
Is this a tarted up Equinox?
It does share the Equinox’s platform. It would be interesting to see them side by side.
What’s going on with the light up steering wheel?
Cylons?
It’s part of SuperCruise.
Unless I’m mistaken (never!), the Edge is on the large end of the midsize market so this sounds like it’s skirting between midsize and fullsize, not compact and midsize. Are they seriously trying to say this is a compact?
This is going to be extra confusing but even something like a Grand Highlander is considered mid-sized so I guess you could say this is a mid-sized mid-size. Full-size doesn’t start until you reach the Tahoe’s segment.
To help mitigate the notion that Cadillac isn’t a real luxury brand and is just a gussied up Chevrolet, GM could really just not release a Cadillac and a Chevy based on the same platform, on the same mf’ing day
Yeah, the optics are bad.
You mean the optiqs?
Hahaha. I see what you did there.
Is this just a Cadillac’d up Equinox EV? Cause it’s rolling out of the same factory in Mexico.
Sure, maybe it’s fine. But my boycott of GM products will continue until the reverse light issue is addressed.
I agree that the reverse light issue is a problem, since i have several times momentarily thought my dog or myself was in danger when we were not. It’s incredibly stupid.
My embargo-able offense is about the Google. Do you have to have a logged in google account to use vehicle functions? Does the vehicle report all activity while you’re logged in? Maybe, even if you’re not? Yes to any of these questions would mean zero new GM vehicles for me. Zero. I would specifically choose a vehicle because it has no affiliation with Google. I think Volvos may be Google-included now? If so, no Volvos either.
This Caddy and the Equinox EV have put the Blazer EV in a tough spot. I went to sit in one the other day, the interior space is great, better than the Model Y in regards to tall person space. It has a little more useable rear seat space width to make it an actual 5 person hauler and better real world legroom. The headroom is good, but only without the sunroof for me (6’4″).
I am in a weird space where I might actually ditch my more fun to drive sedan for a mid size CUV and have cross shopped the Model Y (and a bunch of other EVs but the Tesla was the front runner after trying all out), the Mazda CX-90 Turbo or Turbo S is in the mix, and now the Caddy has my attention.
As someone of the same height I found that I have more headroom in the Model 3 than my old Dodge Charger. Tesla does have good interior space. I have not been in the Chevrolets or the Cadillacs yet, but the Mach E was not a bad place to be either. The Lyriq did not appear massive to me, so I am interested in seeing these in person.
Not a specific Cadillac complaint, but WTF aren’t these stupid LCD screens at least embedded in a shroud like gauges had been so they don’t look so cheap and tacked-on and, I would imagine, it would reduce glare.
My Legacy can genuinely blind me if the sun hits the correct angle. A shroud will help immensely.
I think we can all thank Tesla for convincing people that shittily integrated screens are “high tech” or something.
So it’s the Cimarron of EV‘s?
except the Cimmaron was bad…
Out of all the $60,000 EV SUVs out there this is certainly one of them
Besides interior accoutrements (which, I’ll just say, are interesting choices), what separates the Caddy from its near-identical Chevy twin?
AWD range of 300 miles is better than the Equinox, and it has a glass roof, available HUD, standard AWD, and standard Super Cruise.
Whether all of that is a positive is up to you (personally, I’d prefer a non-glass roof and no Super Cruise, and I haven’t run across a HUD that I actually like).
Seems like not much, but tbh pretty much every EV is like every other one in its segment. So if the mechanicals are a little better (more range, more hp), and the interior is a lot nicer (seems like it), that’s just what a near-luxury car is these days. Then you got up a segment for the big mechanical upgrades.
Time to wait for the test drive before forming an opinion. The Lyriq looks nice enough, but the reviews on how it drove were pretty unanimous that it’s pretty dogshit for the money.
I do hope it’s a nice car/truck/whatever in the end, though.
I like the $54k price but hows the general dealer markup for Caddys? I typically hold my breath because of that.
Is there a source for glue-on letter Cs, so purchasers can fix the misspelled name?
Cadillacc
I wish it didn’t have the glass roof, but it’s definitely tempting. I wish they would announce full pricing, because I’d like to know the Luxury 2 and Sport 2 pricing (I like ventilated seats). I think it will be more than I want to spend on something like this, but it might be close enough for me to decide to make it work.
The Cadillac Cyniq: At $54k, I’ll believe it when it happens.
Considering it’s supposed to release this fall, I suspect they’re pretty locked in for the price of the first model year. Really short time frame to announce a change in pricing and hope people get over it. They can always Cranq up the price later, but I think the first buyers will get the $54k price.
That seems like an appropriate price for an electric Cadillac, an electric Volkswagen, not so much (to tie back to an earlier article)