2025 Cadillac Optiq electric car reviewed
Which helps explain why Cadillac's smallest model isn't exactly a Smart car – even if it has 'IQ' in the name.
Set to join Aussie showrooms next year, the Cadillac Optiq is the third prong in an electric range that started with a spacious five-seater in the Lyriq, before expanding to the three-row Vistiq.
Now we have the little one.
But sizes mean little in the states, where American auto writers use phrases like 'relatively diminutive' and 'kinda compact' to describe a 'funky little EV' heavier than a Toyota Prado.
Consider that the big bopper in the Caddy family is a five-tonne Escalade EV that would require a truck licence on Australian roads, and you'll start to understand that American's don't really understand the concept of 'small'. Or restraint.
So this little'un is bigger than the electric benchmark in Tesla's Model Y, and stuffed with luxuries that drive up its price.
Cadillac isn't ready to talk Australian dollars for the Optiq, which starts from about $US52,395 ($81,000) drive-away in the US and rises to a Zoomer-pleasing $69,420 US dollars ($107,000) for the sportiest version.
So regular examples should limbo in under six figures in Australia.
There are myriad alternatives for that sort of money, including luxury machines from Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Genesis.
Cadillac aims to stand out with a combination of design and technology - even if it won't be available with GM's Super Cruise in Australia.
Starting with the exterior styling, there are bold styling elements from the illuminated shield on its nose to the patterned glass on its tail, down to 20-inch alloys and unapologetic lighting elements.
It's anything but anonymous and isn't trying to be anything other than a Cadillac.
On the inside, a thoroughly modern cabin includes a curved 33-inch screen that arcs out from behind a classy steering wheel.
The display is a slick and well-sorted experience – particularly with the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which wasn't the original plan. Cadillac engineers wanted to wean people away from smartphone mirroring with a more aesthetic experience, but the familiar utility of smartphone software – and customer demand – prompted a re-think.
It's a fresher space than more traditional (and expensive) members of the Cadillac clan, trading in wood veneers and lashings of leather for interesting recycled elements made from cloth, newspaper and plastic. It looks great – like a high-end sneaker – and suits the car's youthful spin.
Yes, you can have it with heated and cooled seats, a head-up display and panoramic sunroof.
But what really sets it apart is a 19-speaker AKG stereo with Dolby Atmos surround sound capable of enveloping you in an immersive space that brings life to music.
The effect is magnified by hushed road noise and the lack of engine roar from the bonnet.
We experienced the Optiq in the US, with dual electric motors that send 224kW and 480Nm to the road.
Those are adequate if not outstanding figures for a luxury EV, numbers that translate to a 0-100km/h time of about six seconds.
The Optiq doesn't try to be particularly sporty.
It delivers an effortless experience worthy of a brand synonymous with easygoing luxury.
Cadillac's not-so-small machine wafts along with minimal fuss, loping over bumps with a long wheelbase and plush suspension that translate to a comfortable ride.
That also means there's a little too much roll in the bends if you really press on.
Folks who want something sharper could consider the Cadillac Optiq V – the brand's alternative to Mercedes-AMG or BMW's M division.
Packing 387kW and 880Nm of power, the Optiq V also adds reworked suspension with adaptive dampers, along with Brembo brakes, sporty tyres and a sharp-looking body kit to tempt driving enthusiasts.
It hasn't been confirmed for Australia, though we're in with a good shout.
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