2025 Cadillac Optiq: First Drive Puts a Premium Spin on Affordable EVs
By Zach Doell
SAN FRANCISCO – The 2025 Cadillac Optiq enters the growing electric vehicle (EV) market with a clear mission: to offer luxury at a more accessible price point. After spending time behind the wheel of the new Optiq, it seems Cadillac has largely succeeded.
When you shop for an entry-level luxury SUV, especially an EV, you often compromise. Performance, features, and interior space are often sacrificed to meet a lower price. The Optiq, however, challenges that notion. Starting around $53,000, the Optiq becomes the new entry point into Cadillac’s EV lineup. It still features standard all-wheel drive, a targeted 302 miles of range, poised handling, a wealth of tech features, and a well-appointed cabin with seating for five.
I drove the Optiq, along with the new Escalade IQ, at a Cadillac media event in San Francisco. While the Escalade IQ demonstrated cutting-edge technology, it was the Optiq that left a lasting impression. Its value proposition could make rivals like the Genesis GV60, Volvo EX40, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Mercedes-Benz EQB a bit nervous.
Pros and Cons
The Optiq enters the luxury electric SUV segment with few of the usual compromises. However, there’s still room for improvement, particularly with the infotainment system.
Pros:
- Low starting price for a luxury EV
- Ample 302-mile range
- Polished driving dynamics
- Roomy, attractive cabin
- Packed with standard features
Cons:
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
- Some key functions are buried within touchscreen menus
- No front trunk (frunk)
Pricing and Trim Levels
Cadillac offers the 2025 Optiq in four trims: Luxury 1, Sport 1, Luxury 2, and Sport 2. Prices begin at $52,895, plus a $1,495 destination charge. The primary difference between Luxury and Sport trims lies in exterior styling, with Luxury featuring bright metallic accents and Sport adopting darker wheels and trim.
- Luxury 1: $52,895
- Sport 1: $53,495
- Luxury 2: $55,095
- Sport 2: $55,595
Even the base “1” trims are well-equipped, featuring Super Cruise hands-free driving, a 33-inch curved digital dashboard, heated front seats, a 19-speaker AKG sound system, and a panoramic sunroof. The “2” trims add amenities like a head-up display, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.
Available options include Autumn Canyon (light brown) or Phantom Blue upholstery for $1,100, a black-painted roof for $600, and an Onyx package for $3,995 with gloss black 21-inch wheels and black side mirrors. Eight paint colors are offered, including Black Raven at no cost; Coastal Blue Metallic, Celestial Metallic, Argent Silver Metallic, Nimbus Metallic, and Monarch Orange for $625; and Radiant Red Tricoat and Crystal White Tricoat for $1,225.
At the time of this writing, the Optiq qualifies for the $7,500 Federal Electric Vehicle Tax Credit.
Exterior Design
At a glance, the Optiq shares design cues with the larger Cadillac Lyriq. Both EVs sport coupelike rooflines, bold shield grilles, and distinctive, inverted L-shaped LED headlights. Upon closer inspection, the Optiq demonstrates a more compact and stout form than its sibling, measuring 6.7 inches shorter and about 3 inches narrower. The exterior design maintains Cadillac’s new EV design language without feeling overly bulky.
The rear features a piano-key pattern leading to two-piece vertical taillights. The rear three-quarter view is arguably the Optiq’s best angle, with a powerful and clean aesthetic.
Interior Impressions
The interior immediately sets the Optiq apart. Instead of the expected hard black plastic of the Cadillac XT4, the Optiq’s cabin offers a truly luxurious feel. Soft-touch and leatherette-wrapped surfaces are accented with chrome and gloss black trim. Cadillac has thoughtfully used eco-friendly materials. Woven fabric made from recycled plastic adorns the dashboard and door panels, with sleek woodgrain trim on the center console composed of a mix of tulipwood and recycled newspaper. You wouldn’t know it, everything feels of high quality.
Performance and Handling
The Optiq utilizes a single powertrain configuration: an 85-kWh battery pack paired with two electric motors, generating 300 horsepower. This setup enables all-wheel drive.
Acceleration is brisk. Electric motors provide immediate torque, even at highway speeds. While not as aggressively quick as a Tesla Model Y, the Optiq easily outpaces the average crossover. On the winding roads of Highway 1 near Stinson Beach, the Optiq provided all the power needed. The electric motors deliver power smoothly and linearly, making the SUV easy to handle in stop-and-go traffic. Switching from Tour mode to Sport mode sharpens the throttle response. There’s also a Snow/Ice mode and a customizable My Mode.
The Optiq, weighing approximately 5,200 pounds, balances its weight effectively with the battery pack positioned low. The SUV feels surefooted and nimble on curvy roads, with responsive steering and controlled body motions. The suspension uses frequency-selective dampers which iron out bumps while keeping the Optiq agile. Ride comfort is exemplary. The regenerative braking system earns high marks. In Normal and High settings, the Optiq can come to a complete stop when lifting off the accelerator, known as one-pedal driving. Normal mode offers a more relaxed feel. The Regen On Demand paddle on the steering wheel’s left side can also initiate deceleration. You can also turn off regen braking for a coasting sensation like a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Range and Charging
The Cadillac Optiq offers an estimated 302 miles of driving range on a full charge. The list of luxury electric SUVs that can match or exceed that range shrinks when factoring in the Optiq’s $53,000 price point, and becomes even more exclusive when considering the standard all-wheel-drive system.
To put this in perspective, two-wheel-drive versions of competitors like the Volvo EX40, Genesis GV60, and Mercedes-Benz EQB offer estimated ranges of 296, 294, and 250 miles, respectively. However, those ranges drop to 260, 264, and 205 miles with optional all-wheel drive. The Tesla Model Y is a wildcard, with pricing that fluctuates; the Long Range AWD model currently provides 327 miles of range for just under $60,000.
The Optiq achieves an EPA-estimated 103 MPGe in combined city and highway driving, comparable to its rivals. The Optiq can add up to 79 miles of range in 10 minutes when plugged into a 150-kW DC fast-charging station. Using a 240-volt outlet, a full charge takes approximately 9.5 hours.
Interior Features and Space
The Optiq’s interior exudes quality. The dashboard is modern, centered around a wide 33-inch screen for infotainment and instrument displays. Most surfaces are soft to the touch. The Autumn Canyon upholstery in the test vehicle had light gray leatherette and fabric on the dash, tasteful touches of piano-black plastic, and glossy woodgrain on the center console.
The Optiq has a two-row configuration, with seating for five. Standard features include synthetic leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Upgrades include ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Front seats are comfortable and supportive. At 6-foot-2, I found ample headroom, elbow room, and legroom in the front seats. The second row offers less legroom, but it should still accommodate kids and shorter adults comfortably. The panoramic sunroof enhances the sense of space.
The Cadillac Optiq offers 26 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 57 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Optiq’s cargo capacity is on par with luxury electric SUV rivals like the Genesis GV60, Volvo EX40, Mercedes-Benz EQB, and Lexus RZ, providing ample room for groceries or luggage. A power liftgate comes standard.
Technology and Safety
The Optiq features a curved 33-inch digital display integrating the infotainment touchscreen, instrument cluster, and vehicle control screen. Climate control settings are easily adjusted via a series of toggle switches below the infotainment screen. The system boasts crisp graphics, prompt responses, and extensive customization options. The virtual assistant can be activated by saying, “Hey Google.”
The Optiq prioritizes advanced safety features. Standard driver-assist features include Super Cruise (hands-free highway driving on specific roads), adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, forward collision warning, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, surround-view camera, rear-camera mirror, traffic-sign recognition, driver-attention monitoring, and a safety alert seat, and automatic high-beam headlights.
2025 Cadillac Optiq vs. the Competition
The Optiq primarily contends with the Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis GV60, Mercedes-Benz EQB, and Volvo EX40 in the luxury electric SUV market, based on size and pricing. After the test drive, the Optiq is near the top, delivering on the promise of an entry-level luxury EV with its generous range, standard all-wheel drive, premium cabin, expansive driver-assistance features, and refined driving experience.
Why the 2025 Cadillac Optiq Matters
The Optiq is arguably the brand’s most important current EV. Cadillac’s first EV, the Lyriq, has been remarkably successful, contributing to the brand’s highest sales year since 2016. While the $128,000 Escalade IQ and the $340,000 Celestiq reinforce Cadillac’s high-end luxury commitment, the Optiq, along the forthcoming Vistiq three-row SUV, are poised to drive further growth and attract sales from other EV manufacturers. The Optiq has the necessary elements to make that happen: it is well-equipped, reasonably priced, and enjoyable to drive. Cadillac may have found a new “Standard of the World.”
