Latest news with #Vistiq
Courier-Mail
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Cadillac Vistiq: First drive of $150k luxury EV coming to Australia
Don't miss out on the headlines from Luxury. Followed categories will be added to My News. Should we be surprised that America's vision for a luxury SUV is an exercise in excess? Probably not. The Cadillac Vistiq on the way to Australian showrooms next year shapes up as an opulent machine from a place where too much is never enough. There's no real need for a family wagon to have an enormous 452kW of power and 894Nm, or to hit 100km/h in 3.7 seconds. 2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV. Picture: Supplied You don't need huge 23-inch wheels or a 23 speaker stereo with Dolby Atmos surround sound, you don't need five-zone climate control and you don't need a 33-inch wraparound digital display that stretches across the cabin. But you might want these things. Especially if you want a car that stands apart from the crowd. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY There aren't many cars like the Vistiq, which is a three-row electric luxury SUV that shapes up as a rival to battery-powered machines such as Volvo's EX90, the Mercedes EQS SUV, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9. You could also argue that it shapes up as an alternative to combustion-powered machines such as BMW's X5. Full prices and specifications for the car have not been confirmed for Australia. But you can expect the Vistiq to arrive in one fully-loaded trim for around $150,000. For that, you get a large SUV with a cab that doesn't hold back. MORE: Bold plan to seduce millionaires 2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV. Picture: Supplied From its spacious dimensions to myriad materials that steer away from the low-key approach of Euro rivals, the Caddy delivers a bold and brassy experience that should translate well in Australia. Sofa-like seats with fine adjustment help you get comfortable in the car, and sensibly placed controls make the machine second nature. 2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV. Picture: Supplied Interestingly, Cadillac does not equip its latest models with Apple CarPlay, so you need to make do with its built-in Google-based mapping services. That's annoying, but not a deal-breaker. The sweeping screen stretching across the dashboard is loaded up with features such as night vision, augmented reality sat nav and the 'Super Cruise' self-driving suite that is standard in the US, but not available in Australia yet. MORE: Confusion grows over car prices 2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV. Picture: Supplied Out on the road, the big Caddy feels planted, thanks in part to enormous 305mm-wide tyres that help keep its 2.8-tonne weight in control. This is a big car. But it feels more agile than the numbers suggest, thanks to clever tech such as rear-wheel-steering, variable-height air suspension and adaptive shock absorbers that work against physics. Sure, tight corners will reveal its weight. But sweeping bends and city driving are no trouble. MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads 2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV. Picture: Supplied Smooth roads fringing Detroit didn't trouble its suspension, though Australia's rougher surfaces will offer a greater test of its abilities. In any case, surplus power also helps disguise the mass. You always have acceleration in reserve, which makes the car feel surprisingly spritely on the road. It will pin you back in your seat and raise its nose like a speedboat when you pin the throttle. There really aren't many family SUVs that claim this sort of thrust. The downside to the huge power and weight is that it's not the most efficient car getting around. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Cadillac's 102kWh battery returns less than 500km of range, which is less than you might find from some rivals. Folks who want to drive further could consider the smaller Cadillac Lyriq, which is already on sale with the same battery in a smaller, less-powerful five-seat package. But people chasing opulence should step up to the Vistiq. You can't have too much of a good thing. MORE: Shock price for Australia's most valuable car 2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV. Picture: Supplied CADILLAC VISTIQ PRICE About $150,000 ON SALE Mid-2026 POWER Front and rear electric motors, 452kW and 894Nm WARRANTY 5-yr/u'ltd km RANGE About 485km Originally published as Cadillac Vistiq electric SUV reviewed
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
How Cadillac turns old newspapers into luxury car interior trim
Electric vehicles don't produce "tailpipe" emissions, but the materials used to make them still have an environmental impact. To make that impact as small as possible, some automakers are turning to recycled materials. One of them is General Motors, which is using recycled material for interior trim, starting with the 2025 Cadillac Optiq compact electric crossover. "It's not just the materials we use, but how we are applying them in a really exciting way for the customer," Nina Cho, a colors, material, and finish designer who worked on the Optiq, said in a GM press release. "We took a new approach to interior materials application and placement." As an alternative to the petroleum-based plastics and synthetic textiles used in most car interiors, Cadillac chose what it calls "patterned accent fabric." Woven from yarn made from 100% recycled materials, it has a more interesting textured appearance that was designed to complement the different interior color schemes available on the Optiq, according to Cadillac. Cadillac is also putting a new spin on that traditional marker of automotive luxury-wood trim. An available "PaperWood" veneer is made up of equal parts tulip wood and recycled newspaper. Cadillac claims that letters from the newspapers are visible when viewed up close, although from a normal distance it looks like conventional wood trim. "The PaperWood veneer is made by repeatedly stacking the thin layer of the dark tulip wood with the recycled newspaper, and they essentially mill the laminates for use in the car from the stack," Cho said. "What's really special about this process is that the veneer is made up of different newspapers, so each trim piece is entirely unique to that vehicle." Cadillac's entry-level EV, the Optiq is slated to get a few updates for 2026, despite this only being its second model year. Highlights include a lower base price thanks to the addition of a new rear-wheel drive model to the lineup, plus the launch of the sporty Optiq-V. Meanwhile, some the Optiq's recycled interior materials are also making an appearance in the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq three-row electric SUV. Along with the Optiq and Vistiq, Cadillac's EV lineup includes the Lyriq and Escalade IQ, as well as the Celestiq, a hand-built sedan costing about $350,000. This gives Cadillac an electric lineup mirroring its gasoline crossovers-and they're selling well. In its second-quarter financial results, GM reported that Cadillac is now the number one luxury EV brand in the United States and that one of every four Cadillacs sold in the U.S. in the first half of the year was electric. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Advertiser
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Cadillac Vistiq review
Almost every luxury brand has an electric SUV nowadays, but these typically have two rows of seating. The Cadillac Vistiq, in contrast, has seating for up to seven, which sees it rival the Volvo EX90, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and… well, not much else. It's closely related to the Lyriq, General Motors luxury brand's debut product in Australia. Cadillac explains it uses the same "upscale architecture" as that smaller, two-row SUV, with the two SUVs using a "different branch" of GM's BEV3 dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform. To that end, the Vistiq and Lyriq share the same wheelbase, battery, and front and rear electric motors. But the Vistiq stretches 217mm longer at 5222mm, or 185mm longer than an EX90. Given the flagship, body-on-frame Escalade iQ and Escalade iQL aren't coming to Australia, the Vistiq – which Cadillac executives are all too happy to hear referred to as a 'baby Escalade' – will be the brand's flagship SUV in Australia. It's due here in 2026, part of a dramatically expanded Cadillac lineup that will also include a hotter V-Series version of the Lyriq, as well as the new entry-level Optiq crossover SUV. All are electric, as Cadillac has committed to being an EV-only brand in Australia. Even in its home market, Cadillac is focusing more on EVs than many other luxury brands. It's phasing out its petrol-powered XT4 and XT6 crossovers there, with the XT5 likely to follow, leaving buyers with the similarly sized Optiq, Lyriq and Vistiq – plus the petrol-powered Escalade and electric Escalade iQ atop the range. The good thing is Cadillac's new electric crossover SUVs are much more impressive than its moribund petrol-powered ones. Not since the first-generation (2004-09) SRX has Cadillac offered a crossover SUV that can truly put the fight to rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. While Cadillac hasn't announced pricing for the Vistiq in Australia, it has confirmed it will offer only up-spec variants featuring adaptive air suspension and a six-seat configuration with second-row captain's chairs. In the US, the Vistiq is offered in Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury and Platinum trim levels, with prices ranging from $US79,090 to $US98,190 (~A$120,000-149,000). All feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain. The most affordable all-wheel drive Lyriq is priced from US$63,590 (~A$97,000) in its home market. Here, it's priced from $122,000. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac has done a terrific job giving each of its electric SUVs a unique feel inside, even if they may share key components. The Vistiq, like the Optiq and Lyriq, has a 33-inch curved display. This comprises a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen. It also includes an additional touch panel between the steering wheel and the driver's door that can be used to control the headlights, view trip information and change the instrument cluster layout. But the Vistiq is alone among this trio in featuring an additional touchscreen used for the climate control, similar to screens you'll find in Audi and Range Rover products. While the Optiq and Lyriq's row of physical climate control switches didn't really need replacing, this screen does at least feature haptic feedback. The centre console has a unique design too. Behind the climate touchscreen are a pair of wireless charging pads, while aft of it you'll find a pair of cupholders and a rotary dial to control the infotainment system. There's a two-spoke steering wheel, which looks attractive but does occasionally feel weird in operation – "Which way is up?" As with the Optiq and Lyriq, there are some eye-catching interior colourways available. We drove a Premium Luxury, for example, which featured blue on the dashboard, seats and doors, with suede pillar and headliner trim, and beautiful wood inlays. Modern Cadillac interiors often employ many different types of materials. By that, we don't mean multiple types of black plastic trim with different graining, but rather mixtures of wood, leather, metal and plastic. Some may find this style busy, but to my eyes the Vistiq's interior feels appropriately posh with an elegant design and interesting material choices. I like touches like the (admittedly Mercedes-Benz-like) seat controls on the doors, as well as the knurled metal volume wheel and infotainment dial and cupholder surrounds. The latter sit near touch-capacitive shortcut buttons which you may accidentally "press" with your sleeve. There are a few material and design choices I don't care for. The bottoms of the doors are finished in hard plastic, though this is something we've also noticed in $200,000-plus Audis and $500,000-plus Porsches. The hard plastic glove compartment lid feels a bit cheap, too, while the patterned trim on the top of the dashboard behind the curved screen results in major glare on the windscreen. Everything feels generally well screwed together, mind you. If we're nitpicking, the centre console bin lid is just a tad wobbly. After unusually launching the Lyriq without a head-up display, a common feature among luxury brands and plenty of non-luxury ones too, the Vistiq features a dual-pane augmented reality head-up display. Information like speed is displayed on one tier, with turn-by-turn directions on the other. However, the Vistiq does without Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which feature on the Lyriq. General Motors has been moving away from this smartphone mirroring technology in its EVs, arguing its Android Automotive-based infotainment system gives you a raft of embedded Google apps and the opportunity to download more The embedded Google Maps will helpfully tell you what your charge level will be at your destination, and suggest charging stops along your route. But after years of getting us used to smartphone mirroring apps, to drop them is a frustrating choice by GM. Second-row occupants also get a touchscreen for adjusting climate settings, while other amenities include air vents, map pockets, a pair of USB-C outlets, and a 110V power outlet. There's plenty of room, and the floor is flat aft of the first-row seats. There's the choice of a three-seat bench or individual captain's chairs, the latter of which will be standard fitment in Australia. With the captain's chairs, you can easily scramble to the third row via the middle. Alternatively, there's a button on each seat that sees it tilt and slide forward. At 180cm tall, my knees were just touching the second-row seatbacks when I sat in the third row. However, someone my height in the second row was able to move their seat forward ever so slightly and still enjoy plenty of space, while also freeing up more for me. I had plenty of headroom, with the fixed glass panel – which is available with a shade – actually providing me with more space for my noggin. Toe room wasn't a problem either. This makes the third row more spacious than, say, that of a Kia EV9. Amenities back here include air vents, cupholders and padded armrests on each side, as well as a pair of USB-C outlets. Cadillac quotes 431 litres of boot space behind the third row, expanding to 1218L with the third row dropped and 2272L with the second and third rows dropped. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool There's just one powertrain available in the Vistiq. Cadillac publishes two different range figures for the Vistiq in the US, both based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test cycle. It has 491km of range, dropping to 483km when equipped with the optional 19.2kW onboard charger. It separately advertises a 460km figure under the WLTP test cycle in Europe. The European-market Vistiq is advertised as having a 91kWh NCMA battery, while the US-market Vistiq has a 102kWh capacity. Powertrain specifications are otherwise the same. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Vistiq features multi-link front and five-link rear suspension with semi-active Chassis Damping Control dampers as standard. Unlike the smaller Optiq and Lyriq, the Vistiq can be had with air suspension – something which typically promises a plusher feel. You don't need to step up to an air-suspended Vistiq, however, to enjoy a comfortable ride. A caveat here: we'll get the export chassis tune in Australia and not the American one we tested. Cadillac says export markets like Europe and Australia expect a sportier though not harsh or aggressive feel. "[There's] not much of a difference. A lot of it's on-centre steering feel… and on-centre damper control," lead development engineer Drew Mitchell told CarExpert. "The way we calibrate damper current and firmness… We try to give you a little bit more on-centre stiffness, help a little bit with some of that motion control, so it's going to feel in the American variant a little softer." We had a relatively limited test route along mostly suburban roads, though I was able to take a detour or two to drive the Vistiq across some unsealed roads. First, we drove a Premium Luxury riding on huge 23-inch alloy wheels and fitted with air suspension. It didn't quite smother train tracks, but it gobbled up some rather jagged Michigan roads. It also settled quickly over rises, though we didn't find too many undulating roads along our route. Driving Vistiqs back to back, we found those with air suspension had a touch more float but didn't feel barge-like by any means. Still, Cadillac says the standard suspension offers a sportier feel, though it's still very comfortable. The Vistiq has a similarly classy feel to the Lyriq over the road, and this extends beyond a plush ride. The propulsion sound is subdued, and throttle response is smooth and progressive; Cadillac says it worked hard on what's called 'lash controlling', with the aim of limiting the jerky feeling you get with some high-performance EVs. As a result, the Vistiq won't rock you back in your seat, so if you want thrills like that you'll likely have to wait for a Vistiq-V… if Cadillac decides to build one. You can press a red V button on the steering wheel to engage Velocity Max mode and give you quicker acceleration. This isn't tied to a drive mode setting, and pushing it changes only the pedal response, giving you maximum power and torque albeit while depleting the battery quicker. There are Tour, Sport and Snow/Ice drive modes selectable via an anchored bar at the bottom of the touchscreen, with a custom My Mode allowing you to adjust settings for the steering, brakes, suspension, acceleration, and motor sound. We mostly drove in Tour mode, and the Vistiq has light, manageable steering at low speeds. It's not completely vacant, mind you, but flicking the Vistiq over to Sport mode doesn't do much to change the steering weighting and feel. Making the Vistiq more nimble is available rear-wheel steering. This sees the rear wheels turn in the the opposite direction of the front wheels, up to 3.5 degrees, at low speeds to improve maneuverability; at higher speeds, they turn with the front wheels to improve control. Cadillac is planning to offer a 'Stealth' sound, getting rid of the artificial propulsion sound. But the regular sound is hardly obtrusive, and the Vistiq is blessed with a serene cabin. Very little wind noise makes its way in. As with the Lyriq, Cadillac has included a 'regen on demand' paddle behind the steering wheel that effectively allows you to brake the vehicle without putting your foot on the brake pedal. You can also activate a typical one-pedal driving mode. We saw energy consumption of between 22.2kWh/100km and 28.2kWh/100km, though again we must note this was a limited test route. The Vistiq comes standard in the US with Super Cruise, allowing for hands-free driving across over a million kilometres of roads in North America – typically divided highways. This feature is unlikely to come here. While GM vehicles equipped with Super Cruise haven't offered a lane-centring function for use on roads on which the system doesn't function, the automaker is introducing what it calls hands-on centring assist on certain vehicles for 2026. It's unclear if we'll get this feature in Australia; we should hope so, given how unusual it is that the Lyriq lacks such a feature in our market. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac hasn't confirmed precisely what the local Vistiq lineup will look like, but it has confirmed it'll only offer high-end trims. In the US it's offered in four different trim levels, and we'd expect only the top two to be offered here. 2025 Cadillac Vistiq Luxury equipment highlights: The Sport features darker exterior elements. The Premium Luxury adds: The Platinum adds: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Cadillac Vistiq has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, or American safety authorities such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety equipment across the range includes: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac Australia hasn't released local servicing and warranty information for the Vistiq. However, the Lyriq is currently backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. The Lyriq also comes with five years of free roadside assistance and free scheduled servicing, with visits to a service location required every 12 months or 12,000km. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool While most luxury brands have been focusing on large, two-row electric SUVs, Cadillac has developed a three-row SUV that offers spacious and comfortable accommodation across all three rows. It might share much with the Lyriq, but Cadillac has also given the Vistiq a significantly different visual identity inside and out. Cadillac's new EVs all have a classy look and feel inside out, and the Vistiq builds on the Lyriq base with new features like rear-wheel steering, air suspension, Night Vision, and a head-up display… though the removal of smartphone mirroring grates. There are some question marks here. We don't yet know how much it'll cost in Australia – it likely won't be cheap, especially if Cadillac is bringing only up-spec models, but just how much pricier will it be than, say, a Volvo EX90? It also remains to be seen how much of a difference in feel the global suspension tune will bring. Cadillac's dealer network is also tiny in Australia at the moment – one Experience Centre in Sydney, another one opening soon in Brisbane, but nothing yet locked in for Melbourne. However, based on our short time with the vehicle, we found an impressive mix of performance, practicality, style and comfort that should make the Vistiq worth considering if you need a three-row electric SUV. Interested in buying a Cadillac Vistiq? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Cadillac Vistiq Content originally sourced from: Almost every luxury brand has an electric SUV nowadays, but these typically have two rows of seating. The Cadillac Vistiq, in contrast, has seating for up to seven, which sees it rival the Volvo EX90, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and… well, not much else. It's closely related to the Lyriq, General Motors luxury brand's debut product in Australia. Cadillac explains it uses the same "upscale architecture" as that smaller, two-row SUV, with the two SUVs using a "different branch" of GM's BEV3 dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform. To that end, the Vistiq and Lyriq share the same wheelbase, battery, and front and rear electric motors. But the Vistiq stretches 217mm longer at 5222mm, or 185mm longer than an EX90. Given the flagship, body-on-frame Escalade iQ and Escalade iQL aren't coming to Australia, the Vistiq – which Cadillac executives are all too happy to hear referred to as a 'baby Escalade' – will be the brand's flagship SUV in Australia. It's due here in 2026, part of a dramatically expanded Cadillac lineup that will also include a hotter V-Series version of the Lyriq, as well as the new entry-level Optiq crossover SUV. All are electric, as Cadillac has committed to being an EV-only brand in Australia. Even in its home market, Cadillac is focusing more on EVs than many other luxury brands. It's phasing out its petrol-powered XT4 and XT6 crossovers there, with the XT5 likely to follow, leaving buyers with the similarly sized Optiq, Lyriq and Vistiq – plus the petrol-powered Escalade and electric Escalade iQ atop the range. The good thing is Cadillac's new electric crossover SUVs are much more impressive than its moribund petrol-powered ones. Not since the first-generation (2004-09) SRX has Cadillac offered a crossover SUV that can truly put the fight to rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. While Cadillac hasn't announced pricing for the Vistiq in Australia, it has confirmed it will offer only up-spec variants featuring adaptive air suspension and a six-seat configuration with second-row captain's chairs. In the US, the Vistiq is offered in Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury and Platinum trim levels, with prices ranging from $US79,090 to $US98,190 (~A$120,000-149,000). All feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain. The most affordable all-wheel drive Lyriq is priced from US$63,590 (~A$97,000) in its home market. Here, it's priced from $122,000. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac has done a terrific job giving each of its electric SUVs a unique feel inside, even if they may share key components. The Vistiq, like the Optiq and Lyriq, has a 33-inch curved display. This comprises a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen. It also includes an additional touch panel between the steering wheel and the driver's door that can be used to control the headlights, view trip information and change the instrument cluster layout. But the Vistiq is alone among this trio in featuring an additional touchscreen used for the climate control, similar to screens you'll find in Audi and Range Rover products. While the Optiq and Lyriq's row of physical climate control switches didn't really need replacing, this screen does at least feature haptic feedback. The centre console has a unique design too. Behind the climate touchscreen are a pair of wireless charging pads, while aft of it you'll find a pair of cupholders and a rotary dial to control the infotainment system. There's a two-spoke steering wheel, which looks attractive but does occasionally feel weird in operation – "Which way is up?" As with the Optiq and Lyriq, there are some eye-catching interior colourways available. We drove a Premium Luxury, for example, which featured blue on the dashboard, seats and doors, with suede pillar and headliner trim, and beautiful wood inlays. Modern Cadillac interiors often employ many different types of materials. By that, we don't mean multiple types of black plastic trim with different graining, but rather mixtures of wood, leather, metal and plastic. Some may find this style busy, but to my eyes the Vistiq's interior feels appropriately posh with an elegant design and interesting material choices. I like touches like the (admittedly Mercedes-Benz-like) seat controls on the doors, as well as the knurled metal volume wheel and infotainment dial and cupholder surrounds. The latter sit near touch-capacitive shortcut buttons which you may accidentally "press" with your sleeve. There are a few material and design choices I don't care for. The bottoms of the doors are finished in hard plastic, though this is something we've also noticed in $200,000-plus Audis and $500,000-plus Porsches. The hard plastic glove compartment lid feels a bit cheap, too, while the patterned trim on the top of the dashboard behind the curved screen results in major glare on the windscreen. Everything feels generally well screwed together, mind you. If we're nitpicking, the centre console bin lid is just a tad wobbly. After unusually launching the Lyriq without a head-up display, a common feature among luxury brands and plenty of non-luxury ones too, the Vistiq features a dual-pane augmented reality head-up display. Information like speed is displayed on one tier, with turn-by-turn directions on the other. However, the Vistiq does without Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which feature on the Lyriq. General Motors has been moving away from this smartphone mirroring technology in its EVs, arguing its Android Automotive-based infotainment system gives you a raft of embedded Google apps and the opportunity to download more The embedded Google Maps will helpfully tell you what your charge level will be at your destination, and suggest charging stops along your route. But after years of getting us used to smartphone mirroring apps, to drop them is a frustrating choice by GM. Second-row occupants also get a touchscreen for adjusting climate settings, while other amenities include air vents, map pockets, a pair of USB-C outlets, and a 110V power outlet. There's plenty of room, and the floor is flat aft of the first-row seats. There's the choice of a three-seat bench or individual captain's chairs, the latter of which will be standard fitment in Australia. With the captain's chairs, you can easily scramble to the third row via the middle. Alternatively, there's a button on each seat that sees it tilt and slide forward. At 180cm tall, my knees were just touching the second-row seatbacks when I sat in the third row. However, someone my height in the second row was able to move their seat forward ever so slightly and still enjoy plenty of space, while also freeing up more for me. I had plenty of headroom, with the fixed glass panel – which is available with a shade – actually providing me with more space for my noggin. Toe room wasn't a problem either. This makes the third row more spacious than, say, that of a Kia EV9. Amenities back here include air vents, cupholders and padded armrests on each side, as well as a pair of USB-C outlets. Cadillac quotes 431 litres of boot space behind the third row, expanding to 1218L with the third row dropped and 2272L with the second and third rows dropped. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool There's just one powertrain available in the Vistiq. Cadillac publishes two different range figures for the Vistiq in the US, both based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test cycle. It has 491km of range, dropping to 483km when equipped with the optional 19.2kW onboard charger. It separately advertises a 460km figure under the WLTP test cycle in Europe. The European-market Vistiq is advertised as having a 91kWh NCMA battery, while the US-market Vistiq has a 102kWh capacity. Powertrain specifications are otherwise the same. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Vistiq features multi-link front and five-link rear suspension with semi-active Chassis Damping Control dampers as standard. Unlike the smaller Optiq and Lyriq, the Vistiq can be had with air suspension – something which typically promises a plusher feel. You don't need to step up to an air-suspended Vistiq, however, to enjoy a comfortable ride. A caveat here: we'll get the export chassis tune in Australia and not the American one we tested. Cadillac says export markets like Europe and Australia expect a sportier though not harsh or aggressive feel. "[There's] not much of a difference. A lot of it's on-centre steering feel… and on-centre damper control," lead development engineer Drew Mitchell told CarExpert. "The way we calibrate damper current and firmness… We try to give you a little bit more on-centre stiffness, help a little bit with some of that motion control, so it's going to feel in the American variant a little softer." We had a relatively limited test route along mostly suburban roads, though I was able to take a detour or two to drive the Vistiq across some unsealed roads. First, we drove a Premium Luxury riding on huge 23-inch alloy wheels and fitted with air suspension. It didn't quite smother train tracks, but it gobbled up some rather jagged Michigan roads. It also settled quickly over rises, though we didn't find too many undulating roads along our route. Driving Vistiqs back to back, we found those with air suspension had a touch more float but didn't feel barge-like by any means. Still, Cadillac says the standard suspension offers a sportier feel, though it's still very comfortable. The Vistiq has a similarly classy feel to the Lyriq over the road, and this extends beyond a plush ride. The propulsion sound is subdued, and throttle response is smooth and progressive; Cadillac says it worked hard on what's called 'lash controlling', with the aim of limiting the jerky feeling you get with some high-performance EVs. As a result, the Vistiq won't rock you back in your seat, so if you want thrills like that you'll likely have to wait for a Vistiq-V… if Cadillac decides to build one. You can press a red V button on the steering wheel to engage Velocity Max mode and give you quicker acceleration. This isn't tied to a drive mode setting, and pushing it changes only the pedal response, giving you maximum power and torque albeit while depleting the battery quicker. There are Tour, Sport and Snow/Ice drive modes selectable via an anchored bar at the bottom of the touchscreen, with a custom My Mode allowing you to adjust settings for the steering, brakes, suspension, acceleration, and motor sound. We mostly drove in Tour mode, and the Vistiq has light, manageable steering at low speeds. It's not completely vacant, mind you, but flicking the Vistiq over to Sport mode doesn't do much to change the steering weighting and feel. Making the Vistiq more nimble is available rear-wheel steering. This sees the rear wheels turn in the the opposite direction of the front wheels, up to 3.5 degrees, at low speeds to improve maneuverability; at higher speeds, they turn with the front wheels to improve control. Cadillac is planning to offer a 'Stealth' sound, getting rid of the artificial propulsion sound. But the regular sound is hardly obtrusive, and the Vistiq is blessed with a serene cabin. Very little wind noise makes its way in. As with the Lyriq, Cadillac has included a 'regen on demand' paddle behind the steering wheel that effectively allows you to brake the vehicle without putting your foot on the brake pedal. You can also activate a typical one-pedal driving mode. We saw energy consumption of between 22.2kWh/100km and 28.2kWh/100km, though again we must note this was a limited test route. The Vistiq comes standard in the US with Super Cruise, allowing for hands-free driving across over a million kilometres of roads in North America – typically divided highways. This feature is unlikely to come here. While GM vehicles equipped with Super Cruise haven't offered a lane-centring function for use on roads on which the system doesn't function, the automaker is introducing what it calls hands-on centring assist on certain vehicles for 2026. It's unclear if we'll get this feature in Australia; we should hope so, given how unusual it is that the Lyriq lacks such a feature in our market. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac hasn't confirmed precisely what the local Vistiq lineup will look like, but it has confirmed it'll only offer high-end trims. In the US it's offered in four different trim levels, and we'd expect only the top two to be offered here. 2025 Cadillac Vistiq Luxury equipment highlights: The Sport features darker exterior elements. The Premium Luxury adds: The Platinum adds: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Cadillac Vistiq has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, or American safety authorities such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety equipment across the range includes: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac Australia hasn't released local servicing and warranty information for the Vistiq. However, the Lyriq is currently backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. The Lyriq also comes with five years of free roadside assistance and free scheduled servicing, with visits to a service location required every 12 months or 12,000km. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool While most luxury brands have been focusing on large, two-row electric SUVs, Cadillac has developed a three-row SUV that offers spacious and comfortable accommodation across all three rows. It might share much with the Lyriq, but Cadillac has also given the Vistiq a significantly different visual identity inside and out. Cadillac's new EVs all have a classy look and feel inside out, and the Vistiq builds on the Lyriq base with new features like rear-wheel steering, air suspension, Night Vision, and a head-up display… though the removal of smartphone mirroring grates. There are some question marks here. We don't yet know how much it'll cost in Australia – it likely won't be cheap, especially if Cadillac is bringing only up-spec models, but just how much pricier will it be than, say, a Volvo EX90? It also remains to be seen how much of a difference in feel the global suspension tune will bring. Cadillac's dealer network is also tiny in Australia at the moment – one Experience Centre in Sydney, another one opening soon in Brisbane, but nothing yet locked in for Melbourne. However, based on our short time with the vehicle, we found an impressive mix of performance, practicality, style and comfort that should make the Vistiq worth considering if you need a three-row electric SUV. Interested in buying a Cadillac Vistiq? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Cadillac Vistiq Content originally sourced from: Almost every luxury brand has an electric SUV nowadays, but these typically have two rows of seating. The Cadillac Vistiq, in contrast, has seating for up to seven, which sees it rival the Volvo EX90, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and… well, not much else. It's closely related to the Lyriq, General Motors luxury brand's debut product in Australia. Cadillac explains it uses the same "upscale architecture" as that smaller, two-row SUV, with the two SUVs using a "different branch" of GM's BEV3 dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform. To that end, the Vistiq and Lyriq share the same wheelbase, battery, and front and rear electric motors. But the Vistiq stretches 217mm longer at 5222mm, or 185mm longer than an EX90. Given the flagship, body-on-frame Escalade iQ and Escalade iQL aren't coming to Australia, the Vistiq – which Cadillac executives are all too happy to hear referred to as a 'baby Escalade' – will be the brand's flagship SUV in Australia. It's due here in 2026, part of a dramatically expanded Cadillac lineup that will also include a hotter V-Series version of the Lyriq, as well as the new entry-level Optiq crossover SUV. All are electric, as Cadillac has committed to being an EV-only brand in Australia. Even in its home market, Cadillac is focusing more on EVs than many other luxury brands. It's phasing out its petrol-powered XT4 and XT6 crossovers there, with the XT5 likely to follow, leaving buyers with the similarly sized Optiq, Lyriq and Vistiq – plus the petrol-powered Escalade and electric Escalade iQ atop the range. The good thing is Cadillac's new electric crossover SUVs are much more impressive than its moribund petrol-powered ones. Not since the first-generation (2004-09) SRX has Cadillac offered a crossover SUV that can truly put the fight to rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. While Cadillac hasn't announced pricing for the Vistiq in Australia, it has confirmed it will offer only up-spec variants featuring adaptive air suspension and a six-seat configuration with second-row captain's chairs. In the US, the Vistiq is offered in Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury and Platinum trim levels, with prices ranging from $US79,090 to $US98,190 (~A$120,000-149,000). All feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain. The most affordable all-wheel drive Lyriq is priced from US$63,590 (~A$97,000) in its home market. Here, it's priced from $122,000. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac has done a terrific job giving each of its electric SUVs a unique feel inside, even if they may share key components. The Vistiq, like the Optiq and Lyriq, has a 33-inch curved display. This comprises a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen. It also includes an additional touch panel between the steering wheel and the driver's door that can be used to control the headlights, view trip information and change the instrument cluster layout. But the Vistiq is alone among this trio in featuring an additional touchscreen used for the climate control, similar to screens you'll find in Audi and Range Rover products. While the Optiq and Lyriq's row of physical climate control switches didn't really need replacing, this screen does at least feature haptic feedback. The centre console has a unique design too. Behind the climate touchscreen are a pair of wireless charging pads, while aft of it you'll find a pair of cupholders and a rotary dial to control the infotainment system. There's a two-spoke steering wheel, which looks attractive but does occasionally feel weird in operation – "Which way is up?" As with the Optiq and Lyriq, there are some eye-catching interior colourways available. We drove a Premium Luxury, for example, which featured blue on the dashboard, seats and doors, with suede pillar and headliner trim, and beautiful wood inlays. Modern Cadillac interiors often employ many different types of materials. By that, we don't mean multiple types of black plastic trim with different graining, but rather mixtures of wood, leather, metal and plastic. Some may find this style busy, but to my eyes the Vistiq's interior feels appropriately posh with an elegant design and interesting material choices. I like touches like the (admittedly Mercedes-Benz-like) seat controls on the doors, as well as the knurled metal volume wheel and infotainment dial and cupholder surrounds. The latter sit near touch-capacitive shortcut buttons which you may accidentally "press" with your sleeve. There are a few material and design choices I don't care for. The bottoms of the doors are finished in hard plastic, though this is something we've also noticed in $200,000-plus Audis and $500,000-plus Porsches. The hard plastic glove compartment lid feels a bit cheap, too, while the patterned trim on the top of the dashboard behind the curved screen results in major glare on the windscreen. Everything feels generally well screwed together, mind you. If we're nitpicking, the centre console bin lid is just a tad wobbly. After unusually launching the Lyriq without a head-up display, a common feature among luxury brands and plenty of non-luxury ones too, the Vistiq features a dual-pane augmented reality head-up display. Information like speed is displayed on one tier, with turn-by-turn directions on the other. However, the Vistiq does without Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which feature on the Lyriq. General Motors has been moving away from this smartphone mirroring technology in its EVs, arguing its Android Automotive-based infotainment system gives you a raft of embedded Google apps and the opportunity to download more The embedded Google Maps will helpfully tell you what your charge level will be at your destination, and suggest charging stops along your route. But after years of getting us used to smartphone mirroring apps, to drop them is a frustrating choice by GM. Second-row occupants also get a touchscreen for adjusting climate settings, while other amenities include air vents, map pockets, a pair of USB-C outlets, and a 110V power outlet. There's plenty of room, and the floor is flat aft of the first-row seats. There's the choice of a three-seat bench or individual captain's chairs, the latter of which will be standard fitment in Australia. With the captain's chairs, you can easily scramble to the third row via the middle. Alternatively, there's a button on each seat that sees it tilt and slide forward. At 180cm tall, my knees were just touching the second-row seatbacks when I sat in the third row. However, someone my height in the second row was able to move their seat forward ever so slightly and still enjoy plenty of space, while also freeing up more for me. I had plenty of headroom, with the fixed glass panel – which is available with a shade – actually providing me with more space for my noggin. Toe room wasn't a problem either. This makes the third row more spacious than, say, that of a Kia EV9. Amenities back here include air vents, cupholders and padded armrests on each side, as well as a pair of USB-C outlets. Cadillac quotes 431 litres of boot space behind the third row, expanding to 1218L with the third row dropped and 2272L with the second and third rows dropped. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool There's just one powertrain available in the Vistiq. Cadillac publishes two different range figures for the Vistiq in the US, both based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test cycle. It has 491km of range, dropping to 483km when equipped with the optional 19.2kW onboard charger. It separately advertises a 460km figure under the WLTP test cycle in Europe. The European-market Vistiq is advertised as having a 91kWh NCMA battery, while the US-market Vistiq has a 102kWh capacity. Powertrain specifications are otherwise the same. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Vistiq features multi-link front and five-link rear suspension with semi-active Chassis Damping Control dampers as standard. Unlike the smaller Optiq and Lyriq, the Vistiq can be had with air suspension – something which typically promises a plusher feel. You don't need to step up to an air-suspended Vistiq, however, to enjoy a comfortable ride. A caveat here: we'll get the export chassis tune in Australia and not the American one we tested. Cadillac says export markets like Europe and Australia expect a sportier though not harsh or aggressive feel. "[There's] not much of a difference. A lot of it's on-centre steering feel… and on-centre damper control," lead development engineer Drew Mitchell told CarExpert. "The way we calibrate damper current and firmness… We try to give you a little bit more on-centre stiffness, help a little bit with some of that motion control, so it's going to feel in the American variant a little softer." We had a relatively limited test route along mostly suburban roads, though I was able to take a detour or two to drive the Vistiq across some unsealed roads. First, we drove a Premium Luxury riding on huge 23-inch alloy wheels and fitted with air suspension. It didn't quite smother train tracks, but it gobbled up some rather jagged Michigan roads. It also settled quickly over rises, though we didn't find too many undulating roads along our route. Driving Vistiqs back to back, we found those with air suspension had a touch more float but didn't feel barge-like by any means. Still, Cadillac says the standard suspension offers a sportier feel, though it's still very comfortable. The Vistiq has a similarly classy feel to the Lyriq over the road, and this extends beyond a plush ride. The propulsion sound is subdued, and throttle response is smooth and progressive; Cadillac says it worked hard on what's called 'lash controlling', with the aim of limiting the jerky feeling you get with some high-performance EVs. As a result, the Vistiq won't rock you back in your seat, so if you want thrills like that you'll likely have to wait for a Vistiq-V… if Cadillac decides to build one. You can press a red V button on the steering wheel to engage Velocity Max mode and give you quicker acceleration. This isn't tied to a drive mode setting, and pushing it changes only the pedal response, giving you maximum power and torque albeit while depleting the battery quicker. There are Tour, Sport and Snow/Ice drive modes selectable via an anchored bar at the bottom of the touchscreen, with a custom My Mode allowing you to adjust settings for the steering, brakes, suspension, acceleration, and motor sound. We mostly drove in Tour mode, and the Vistiq has light, manageable steering at low speeds. It's not completely vacant, mind you, but flicking the Vistiq over to Sport mode doesn't do much to change the steering weighting and feel. Making the Vistiq more nimble is available rear-wheel steering. This sees the rear wheels turn in the the opposite direction of the front wheels, up to 3.5 degrees, at low speeds to improve maneuverability; at higher speeds, they turn with the front wheels to improve control. Cadillac is planning to offer a 'Stealth' sound, getting rid of the artificial propulsion sound. But the regular sound is hardly obtrusive, and the Vistiq is blessed with a serene cabin. Very little wind noise makes its way in. As with the Lyriq, Cadillac has included a 'regen on demand' paddle behind the steering wheel that effectively allows you to brake the vehicle without putting your foot on the brake pedal. You can also activate a typical one-pedal driving mode. We saw energy consumption of between 22.2kWh/100km and 28.2kWh/100km, though again we must note this was a limited test route. The Vistiq comes standard in the US with Super Cruise, allowing for hands-free driving across over a million kilometres of roads in North America – typically divided highways. This feature is unlikely to come here. While GM vehicles equipped with Super Cruise haven't offered a lane-centring function for use on roads on which the system doesn't function, the automaker is introducing what it calls hands-on centring assist on certain vehicles for 2026. It's unclear if we'll get this feature in Australia; we should hope so, given how unusual it is that the Lyriq lacks such a feature in our market. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac hasn't confirmed precisely what the local Vistiq lineup will look like, but it has confirmed it'll only offer high-end trims. In the US it's offered in four different trim levels, and we'd expect only the top two to be offered here. 2025 Cadillac Vistiq Luxury equipment highlights: The Sport features darker exterior elements. The Premium Luxury adds: The Platinum adds: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Cadillac Vistiq has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, or American safety authorities such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety equipment across the range includes: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac Australia hasn't released local servicing and warranty information for the Vistiq. However, the Lyriq is currently backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. The Lyriq also comes with five years of free roadside assistance and free scheduled servicing, with visits to a service location required every 12 months or 12,000km. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool While most luxury brands have been focusing on large, two-row electric SUVs, Cadillac has developed a three-row SUV that offers spacious and comfortable accommodation across all three rows. It might share much with the Lyriq, but Cadillac has also given the Vistiq a significantly different visual identity inside and out. Cadillac's new EVs all have a classy look and feel inside out, and the Vistiq builds on the Lyriq base with new features like rear-wheel steering, air suspension, Night Vision, and a head-up display… though the removal of smartphone mirroring grates. There are some question marks here. We don't yet know how much it'll cost in Australia – it likely won't be cheap, especially if Cadillac is bringing only up-spec models, but just how much pricier will it be than, say, a Volvo EX90? It also remains to be seen how much of a difference in feel the global suspension tune will bring. Cadillac's dealer network is also tiny in Australia at the moment – one Experience Centre in Sydney, another one opening soon in Brisbane, but nothing yet locked in for Melbourne. However, based on our short time with the vehicle, we found an impressive mix of performance, practicality, style and comfort that should make the Vistiq worth considering if you need a three-row electric SUV. Interested in buying a Cadillac Vistiq? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Cadillac Vistiq Content originally sourced from: Almost every luxury brand has an electric SUV nowadays, but these typically have two rows of seating. The Cadillac Vistiq, in contrast, has seating for up to seven, which sees it rival the Volvo EX90, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and… well, not much else. It's closely related to the Lyriq, General Motors luxury brand's debut product in Australia. Cadillac explains it uses the same "upscale architecture" as that smaller, two-row SUV, with the two SUVs using a "different branch" of GM's BEV3 dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform. To that end, the Vistiq and Lyriq share the same wheelbase, battery, and front and rear electric motors. But the Vistiq stretches 217mm longer at 5222mm, or 185mm longer than an EX90. Given the flagship, body-on-frame Escalade iQ and Escalade iQL aren't coming to Australia, the Vistiq – which Cadillac executives are all too happy to hear referred to as a 'baby Escalade' – will be the brand's flagship SUV in Australia. It's due here in 2026, part of a dramatically expanded Cadillac lineup that will also include a hotter V-Series version of the Lyriq, as well as the new entry-level Optiq crossover SUV. All are electric, as Cadillac has committed to being an EV-only brand in Australia. Even in its home market, Cadillac is focusing more on EVs than many other luxury brands. It's phasing out its petrol-powered XT4 and XT6 crossovers there, with the XT5 likely to follow, leaving buyers with the similarly sized Optiq, Lyriq and Vistiq – plus the petrol-powered Escalade and electric Escalade iQ atop the range. The good thing is Cadillac's new electric crossover SUVs are much more impressive than its moribund petrol-powered ones. Not since the first-generation (2004-09) SRX has Cadillac offered a crossover SUV that can truly put the fight to rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. While Cadillac hasn't announced pricing for the Vistiq in Australia, it has confirmed it will offer only up-spec variants featuring adaptive air suspension and a six-seat configuration with second-row captain's chairs. In the US, the Vistiq is offered in Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury and Platinum trim levels, with prices ranging from $US79,090 to $US98,190 (~A$120,000-149,000). All feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain. The most affordable all-wheel drive Lyriq is priced from US$63,590 (~A$97,000) in its home market. Here, it's priced from $122,000. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac has done a terrific job giving each of its electric SUVs a unique feel inside, even if they may share key components. The Vistiq, like the Optiq and Lyriq, has a 33-inch curved display. This comprises a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen. It also includes an additional touch panel between the steering wheel and the driver's door that can be used to control the headlights, view trip information and change the instrument cluster layout. But the Vistiq is alone among this trio in featuring an additional touchscreen used for the climate control, similar to screens you'll find in Audi and Range Rover products. While the Optiq and Lyriq's row of physical climate control switches didn't really need replacing, this screen does at least feature haptic feedback. The centre console has a unique design too. Behind the climate touchscreen are a pair of wireless charging pads, while aft of it you'll find a pair of cupholders and a rotary dial to control the infotainment system. There's a two-spoke steering wheel, which looks attractive but does occasionally feel weird in operation – "Which way is up?" As with the Optiq and Lyriq, there are some eye-catching interior colourways available. We drove a Premium Luxury, for example, which featured blue on the dashboard, seats and doors, with suede pillar and headliner trim, and beautiful wood inlays. Modern Cadillac interiors often employ many different types of materials. By that, we don't mean multiple types of black plastic trim with different graining, but rather mixtures of wood, leather, metal and plastic. Some may find this style busy, but to my eyes the Vistiq's interior feels appropriately posh with an elegant design and interesting material choices. I like touches like the (admittedly Mercedes-Benz-like) seat controls on the doors, as well as the knurled metal volume wheel and infotainment dial and cupholder surrounds. The latter sit near touch-capacitive shortcut buttons which you may accidentally "press" with your sleeve. There are a few material and design choices I don't care for. The bottoms of the doors are finished in hard plastic, though this is something we've also noticed in $200,000-plus Audis and $500,000-plus Porsches. The hard plastic glove compartment lid feels a bit cheap, too, while the patterned trim on the top of the dashboard behind the curved screen results in major glare on the windscreen. Everything feels generally well screwed together, mind you. If we're nitpicking, the centre console bin lid is just a tad wobbly. After unusually launching the Lyriq without a head-up display, a common feature among luxury brands and plenty of non-luxury ones too, the Vistiq features a dual-pane augmented reality head-up display. Information like speed is displayed on one tier, with turn-by-turn directions on the other. However, the Vistiq does without Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which feature on the Lyriq. General Motors has been moving away from this smartphone mirroring technology in its EVs, arguing its Android Automotive-based infotainment system gives you a raft of embedded Google apps and the opportunity to download more The embedded Google Maps will helpfully tell you what your charge level will be at your destination, and suggest charging stops along your route. But after years of getting us used to smartphone mirroring apps, to drop them is a frustrating choice by GM. Second-row occupants also get a touchscreen for adjusting climate settings, while other amenities include air vents, map pockets, a pair of USB-C outlets, and a 110V power outlet. There's plenty of room, and the floor is flat aft of the first-row seats. There's the choice of a three-seat bench or individual captain's chairs, the latter of which will be standard fitment in Australia. With the captain's chairs, you can easily scramble to the third row via the middle. Alternatively, there's a button on each seat that sees it tilt and slide forward. At 180cm tall, my knees were just touching the second-row seatbacks when I sat in the third row. However, someone my height in the second row was able to move their seat forward ever so slightly and still enjoy plenty of space, while also freeing up more for me. I had plenty of headroom, with the fixed glass panel – which is available with a shade – actually providing me with more space for my noggin. Toe room wasn't a problem either. This makes the third row more spacious than, say, that of a Kia EV9. Amenities back here include air vents, cupholders and padded armrests on each side, as well as a pair of USB-C outlets. Cadillac quotes 431 litres of boot space behind the third row, expanding to 1218L with the third row dropped and 2272L with the second and third rows dropped. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool There's just one powertrain available in the Vistiq. Cadillac publishes two different range figures for the Vistiq in the US, both based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test cycle. It has 491km of range, dropping to 483km when equipped with the optional 19.2kW onboard charger. It separately advertises a 460km figure under the WLTP test cycle in Europe. The European-market Vistiq is advertised as having a 91kWh NCMA battery, while the US-market Vistiq has a 102kWh capacity. Powertrain specifications are otherwise the same. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Vistiq features multi-link front and five-link rear suspension with semi-active Chassis Damping Control dampers as standard. Unlike the smaller Optiq and Lyriq, the Vistiq can be had with air suspension – something which typically promises a plusher feel. You don't need to step up to an air-suspended Vistiq, however, to enjoy a comfortable ride. A caveat here: we'll get the export chassis tune in Australia and not the American one we tested. Cadillac says export markets like Europe and Australia expect a sportier though not harsh or aggressive feel. "[There's] not much of a difference. A lot of it's on-centre steering feel… and on-centre damper control," lead development engineer Drew Mitchell told CarExpert. "The way we calibrate damper current and firmness… We try to give you a little bit more on-centre stiffness, help a little bit with some of that motion control, so it's going to feel in the American variant a little softer." We had a relatively limited test route along mostly suburban roads, though I was able to take a detour or two to drive the Vistiq across some unsealed roads. First, we drove a Premium Luxury riding on huge 23-inch alloy wheels and fitted with air suspension. It didn't quite smother train tracks, but it gobbled up some rather jagged Michigan roads. It also settled quickly over rises, though we didn't find too many undulating roads along our route. Driving Vistiqs back to back, we found those with air suspension had a touch more float but didn't feel barge-like by any means. Still, Cadillac says the standard suspension offers a sportier feel, though it's still very comfortable. The Vistiq has a similarly classy feel to the Lyriq over the road, and this extends beyond a plush ride. The propulsion sound is subdued, and throttle response is smooth and progressive; Cadillac says it worked hard on what's called 'lash controlling', with the aim of limiting the jerky feeling you get with some high-performance EVs. As a result, the Vistiq won't rock you back in your seat, so if you want thrills like that you'll likely have to wait for a Vistiq-V… if Cadillac decides to build one. You can press a red V button on the steering wheel to engage Velocity Max mode and give you quicker acceleration. This isn't tied to a drive mode setting, and pushing it changes only the pedal response, giving you maximum power and torque albeit while depleting the battery quicker. There are Tour, Sport and Snow/Ice drive modes selectable via an anchored bar at the bottom of the touchscreen, with a custom My Mode allowing you to adjust settings for the steering, brakes, suspension, acceleration, and motor sound. We mostly drove in Tour mode, and the Vistiq has light, manageable steering at low speeds. It's not completely vacant, mind you, but flicking the Vistiq over to Sport mode doesn't do much to change the steering weighting and feel. Making the Vistiq more nimble is available rear-wheel steering. This sees the rear wheels turn in the the opposite direction of the front wheels, up to 3.5 degrees, at low speeds to improve maneuverability; at higher speeds, they turn with the front wheels to improve control. Cadillac is planning to offer a 'Stealth' sound, getting rid of the artificial propulsion sound. But the regular sound is hardly obtrusive, and the Vistiq is blessed with a serene cabin. Very little wind noise makes its way in. As with the Lyriq, Cadillac has included a 'regen on demand' paddle behind the steering wheel that effectively allows you to brake the vehicle without putting your foot on the brake pedal. You can also activate a typical one-pedal driving mode. We saw energy consumption of between 22.2kWh/100km and 28.2kWh/100km, though again we must note this was a limited test route. The Vistiq comes standard in the US with Super Cruise, allowing for hands-free driving across over a million kilometres of roads in North America – typically divided highways. This feature is unlikely to come here. While GM vehicles equipped with Super Cruise haven't offered a lane-centring function for use on roads on which the system doesn't function, the automaker is introducing what it calls hands-on centring assist on certain vehicles for 2026. It's unclear if we'll get this feature in Australia; we should hope so, given how unusual it is that the Lyriq lacks such a feature in our market. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac hasn't confirmed precisely what the local Vistiq lineup will look like, but it has confirmed it'll only offer high-end trims. In the US it's offered in four different trim levels, and we'd expect only the top two to be offered here. 2025 Cadillac Vistiq Luxury equipment highlights: The Sport features darker exterior elements. The Premium Luxury adds: The Platinum adds: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool The Cadillac Vistiq has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, or American safety authorities such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety equipment across the range includes: To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Cadillac Australia hasn't released local servicing and warranty information for the Vistiq. However, the Lyriq is currently backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. The Lyriq also comes with five years of free roadside assistance and free scheduled servicing, with visits to a service location required every 12 months or 12,000km. To see how the Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool While most luxury brands have been focusing on large, two-row electric SUVs, Cadillac has developed a three-row SUV that offers spacious and comfortable accommodation across all three rows. It might share much with the Lyriq, but Cadillac has also given the Vistiq a significantly different visual identity inside and out. Cadillac's new EVs all have a classy look and feel inside out, and the Vistiq builds on the Lyriq base with new features like rear-wheel steering, air suspension, Night Vision, and a head-up display… though the removal of smartphone mirroring grates. There are some question marks here. We don't yet know how much it'll cost in Australia – it likely won't be cheap, especially if Cadillac is bringing only up-spec models, but just how much pricier will it be than, say, a Volvo EX90? It also remains to be seen how much of a difference in feel the global suspension tune will bring. Cadillac's dealer network is also tiny in Australia at the moment – one Experience Centre in Sydney, another one opening soon in Brisbane, but nothing yet locked in for Melbourne. However, based on our short time with the vehicle, we found an impressive mix of performance, practicality, style and comfort that should make the Vistiq worth considering if you need a three-row electric SUV. Interested in buying a Cadillac Vistiq? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Cadillac Vistiq Content originally sourced from:
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
2025 Cadillac Escalade review: V-8 power meets luxury tech in Sport Platinum trim
Cadillac's cash cow is now a franchise. You want an Escalade? You've got choices. There's the electric Escalade IQ in regular and large sizes, the 'baby Escalade' Vistiq, the long-body Escalade ESV, and the original from which the others sprouted. This rapid brand expansion has redefined what an Escalade represents. No longer just a big box with a big engine and leather seats, Cadillac's large SUVs are establishing a new standard of American luxury. Size and power are part of that, of course, but the Escalade experience is now as much about a swanky cabin, trailblazing tech, and iconoclastic style. That's on full display in the 2025 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD, the top-shelf gas guzzler. A midcycle refresh for 2025 lavishes attention on the interior like never before, and as a result you can no longer describe the big, bad Cad as a leather-lined Tahoe. Chevy who? The Escalade's redesigned cabin is so fresh that you might not even recognize it as a Cadillac's if it weren't for the badging. Cadillac's inside game While a new 55-inch screen dominates the cockpit, spend time in the updated Escalade, and it's the rich leather, real wood trim, aluminum-look accents, and upholstered lower dash that'll have you questioning if this is the same Cadillac that gave us the Catera. Many of these materials are recycled from the impressive 2021 redesign and now look even more premium thanks to the 2025 model's modern aesthetic. As with last year's Escalade, you'll have to hunt to find the few hard plastics hidden low in the cabin where the sun doesn't shine — and your hands rarely reach. That luxury carries through to the second and third rows even without the optional $7,500 Executive second-row seats. More luxury SUVs: The new 2025 Lincoln Navigator is here and it's spectacular The standard Super Cruise hands-free system can turn the driver into a passenger on mapped roads so long as they keep their eyes looking forward. One of 2025's MotorTrend Best Tech winners, Super Cruise isn't just a lane centering system — it's the closest thing to a safe and useful autonomous vehicle that you can buy today. Run up on slower traffic, and it will change lanes, make a pass, and move back to the right with the natural grace of an attentive and courteous human. A recent mapping expansion has opened even more miles of select two-lane highways and back roads. The Sport Platinum's doors can drive themselves, too, opening and closing at the tug of a handle. That might sound gimmicky or superfluous, but our initial skepticism gave way to genuine appreciation with use. Cadillac nailed the execution, using sensors in the doors to stop them from bashing into people or neighboring cars, and as a result you can get a taste of Rolls-Royce opulence for the bargain price of $125,020 as tested. While Cadillac's gas vehicles still offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the infotainment system is good enough not to need them. It features native Google Maps and the ability to download streaming apps such as Spotify directly to the vehicle wrapped in an easy-to-learn interface — that is if you're willing to lean forward in your seat to use the touchscreen. A redundant click wheel lets you navigate the system from a natural driving position, but it can take a lot of scrolling and tapping to get to where you want to go. As cool as the panoramic screen looks, it's a shame that huge swathes of it serve as nothing more than digital wallpaper. In particular, the right third can only show a giant Escalade logo when the passenger isn't streaming a video (in which case the driver sees a blank black pane of glass). Another annoyance: Although you can download apps to the infotainment portion of the 55-inch display, the passenger and rear entertainment screens can only stream YouTube or Hulu and can't be customized. If your crew wants to watch Netflix or Amazon Prime, you'll have to plug in your own streaming device. The cabin's only major letdown is the AKG sound system, which in our test car lacked the dynamic range and surround-sound effect we expected based on our experience with pre-refresh Escalades. Cadillac sent a tech out to confirm everything was working as intended, but to our editors' ears it sounded like all 36 speakers were mounted either entirely in front of or entirely behind the driver depending on the settings. Last V-8 standing The Escalade's midcycle refresh drops the optional diesel engine but otherwise leaves the mechanicals unchanged. That's largely a good thing, as the full-size SUV with the heart of a Corvette wasn't lacking in personality. The small-block 6.2-liter V-8 — the last V-8 in the full-size luxury SUV segment — cranks out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque with a threatening rumble to match the new menacing front fascia. 2025 Acura ADX: Pricing and features of Acura's new entry-level luxury SUV In MotorTrend testing, the Escalade hustled from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, shifting its 10-speed transmission with quick yet smooth action. Negotiating the real world, the engine jumps into action at the lightest poke of the throttle, building torque and revs with an immediacy that turbocharged engines struggle to match. It's quick to respond, but that's not the same as plain, old quick. The naturally aspirated V-8 doesn't have the juice to match its turbocharged six-cylinder competition. The Lincoln Navigator and Jeep Grand Wagoneer can hit 60 mph more than a second ahead of the Cadillac. We'd hate to see the Escalade drop its V-8, which is such a crucial part of its identity, but Cadillac at the very least needs to unlock some more power during the next redesign or risk being left in the dust. When the road twists and turns, the Escalade feels sharp, connected, and even playful for a 6,182-pound brick. The Caddy steers with confident precision, and the brake pedal has the same firm feel and short action you'll find in a CT5 sport sedan. A 117-foot stop from 60 mph places the Escalade ahead of the competition, but its overly aggressive stability control puts the kibosh on hard cornering at 0.71 g before the tires start to sing. Air springs and Magnetic Ride Control dampers keep body motions on a short leash in corners and over moonscape roads. The ride is firm yet forgiving, especially for something on 24-inch wheels (a $1,800 option). The pickiest luxury buyers might quibble over the occasional secondary ride motions and the way hard hits can excite some structural shake, but softening the suspension would likely erode some of the Cadillac's charm. Putting all the pieces together Cadillac set itself up for success with the 2021 redesign that poured more attention and money into the Escalade's interior. Doubling down on that investment with the latest makeover has pushed the Escalade even further upscale. The 2025 Escalade is a big, opulent cruiser with innovative technology, refined driving dynamics, and an impeccable sense of style. The last time Cadillac put all the pieces together like this, 'the Standard of the World' was more than just a slogan. Photos by Jim Fets
The Advertiser
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Cadillac's more affordable, Australia-bound EV getting major power bump
Deliveries of the Cadillac Optiq only started in the US earlier this year and it isn't launching in Australia until 2026, but already the mid-size electric SUV is in line for a major update. GM Authority reports the Optiq will get a new entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant for 2026, bringing more power – if less torque – than the sole powertrain available in the US at the moment, a dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration. The dual-motor option is reportedly getting a major power bump too, despite the recent reveal of a new high-performance Optiq-V flagship. Cadillac is launching the mid-size Optiq and the large three-row Vistiq in Australia in 2026 to bookend the Lyriq, first customer deliveries of which commenced earlier this year. The Lyriq lineup will gain a hot V-Series variant in 2026, though the Optiq-V hasn't been confirmed for our market. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new base rear-wheel drive variant will reportedly produce 232kW of power and 450Nm of torque – up 8kW but down 30Nm compared with the current dual-motor all-wheel drive variant. It'll reportedly continue to use the same 85kWh nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery, with estimated range of 483km on the US EPA cycle. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Optiq will reportedly receive a bump in power and torque to 328kW and 675Nm, up 104kW and 195Nm on the current model. That still leaves breathing room for the upcoming Optiq-V flagship, which will pump out 387kW/880Nm, making it good for a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint time of 3.5 seconds using launch control. The General Motors BEV3 dedicated EV platform underpinning the Optiq – as well as the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, and the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV – supports front-, rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. Unusually, the Blazer EV has offered all three simultaneously. The Optiq is getting a rear-wheel drive entry variant for Mexican-produced models, despite the Chinese-built Optiq lineup opening with a single-motor front-wheel drive variant. Other than the substantial powertrain lineup changes, GM Authority doesn't note any other changes to the Optiq for 2026, apart from a new paint colour. GM has previously announced certain vehicles equipped with its Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system will gain a hands-on lane centring assist feature for 2026. However, it's unclear if the Optiq is among these, and whether this feature will be available in Australia considering GM doesn't offer Super Cruise here. Notably, the Australian-market Lyriq offers only lane-keep assist despite lane centring aids being commonplace here. Production of the 2026 Optiq is reportedly set to begin on August 25, 2025 at GM's Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico. Cadillac has yet to announce pricing and specifications for the Optiq in Australia. It's set to slot in under the Lyriq price-wise, though by how much remains unclear. The BMW iX-rivalling Lyriq opens at $122,000 before on-road costs in Australia. The Optiq measures 4820mm long, 2126mm wide and 1644mm tall, making it 176mm shorter, 81mm narrower and 21mm taller than the Lyriq, but still longer and wider than the Audi Q6 e-tron mid-size electric SUV. Content originally sourced from: Deliveries of the Cadillac Optiq only started in the US earlier this year and it isn't launching in Australia until 2026, but already the mid-size electric SUV is in line for a major update. GM Authority reports the Optiq will get a new entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant for 2026, bringing more power – if less torque – than the sole powertrain available in the US at the moment, a dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration. The dual-motor option is reportedly getting a major power bump too, despite the recent reveal of a new high-performance Optiq-V flagship. Cadillac is launching the mid-size Optiq and the large three-row Vistiq in Australia in 2026 to bookend the Lyriq, first customer deliveries of which commenced earlier this year. The Lyriq lineup will gain a hot V-Series variant in 2026, though the Optiq-V hasn't been confirmed for our market. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new base rear-wheel drive variant will reportedly produce 232kW of power and 450Nm of torque – up 8kW but down 30Nm compared with the current dual-motor all-wheel drive variant. It'll reportedly continue to use the same 85kWh nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery, with estimated range of 483km on the US EPA cycle. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Optiq will reportedly receive a bump in power and torque to 328kW and 675Nm, up 104kW and 195Nm on the current model. That still leaves breathing room for the upcoming Optiq-V flagship, which will pump out 387kW/880Nm, making it good for a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint time of 3.5 seconds using launch control. The General Motors BEV3 dedicated EV platform underpinning the Optiq – as well as the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, and the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV – supports front-, rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. Unusually, the Blazer EV has offered all three simultaneously. The Optiq is getting a rear-wheel drive entry variant for Mexican-produced models, despite the Chinese-built Optiq lineup opening with a single-motor front-wheel drive variant. Other than the substantial powertrain lineup changes, GM Authority doesn't note any other changes to the Optiq for 2026, apart from a new paint colour. GM has previously announced certain vehicles equipped with its Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system will gain a hands-on lane centring assist feature for 2026. However, it's unclear if the Optiq is among these, and whether this feature will be available in Australia considering GM doesn't offer Super Cruise here. Notably, the Australian-market Lyriq offers only lane-keep assist despite lane centring aids being commonplace here. Production of the 2026 Optiq is reportedly set to begin on August 25, 2025 at GM's Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico. Cadillac has yet to announce pricing and specifications for the Optiq in Australia. It's set to slot in under the Lyriq price-wise, though by how much remains unclear. The BMW iX-rivalling Lyriq opens at $122,000 before on-road costs in Australia. The Optiq measures 4820mm long, 2126mm wide and 1644mm tall, making it 176mm shorter, 81mm narrower and 21mm taller than the Lyriq, but still longer and wider than the Audi Q6 e-tron mid-size electric SUV. Content originally sourced from: Deliveries of the Cadillac Optiq only started in the US earlier this year and it isn't launching in Australia until 2026, but already the mid-size electric SUV is in line for a major update. GM Authority reports the Optiq will get a new entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant for 2026, bringing more power – if less torque – than the sole powertrain available in the US at the moment, a dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration. The dual-motor option is reportedly getting a major power bump too, despite the recent reveal of a new high-performance Optiq-V flagship. Cadillac is launching the mid-size Optiq and the large three-row Vistiq in Australia in 2026 to bookend the Lyriq, first customer deliveries of which commenced earlier this year. The Lyriq lineup will gain a hot V-Series variant in 2026, though the Optiq-V hasn't been confirmed for our market. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new base rear-wheel drive variant will reportedly produce 232kW of power and 450Nm of torque – up 8kW but down 30Nm compared with the current dual-motor all-wheel drive variant. It'll reportedly continue to use the same 85kWh nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery, with estimated range of 483km on the US EPA cycle. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Optiq will reportedly receive a bump in power and torque to 328kW and 675Nm, up 104kW and 195Nm on the current model. That still leaves breathing room for the upcoming Optiq-V flagship, which will pump out 387kW/880Nm, making it good for a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint time of 3.5 seconds using launch control. The General Motors BEV3 dedicated EV platform underpinning the Optiq – as well as the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, and the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV – supports front-, rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. Unusually, the Blazer EV has offered all three simultaneously. The Optiq is getting a rear-wheel drive entry variant for Mexican-produced models, despite the Chinese-built Optiq lineup opening with a single-motor front-wheel drive variant. Other than the substantial powertrain lineup changes, GM Authority doesn't note any other changes to the Optiq for 2026, apart from a new paint colour. GM has previously announced certain vehicles equipped with its Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system will gain a hands-on lane centring assist feature for 2026. However, it's unclear if the Optiq is among these, and whether this feature will be available in Australia considering GM doesn't offer Super Cruise here. Notably, the Australian-market Lyriq offers only lane-keep assist despite lane centring aids being commonplace here. Production of the 2026 Optiq is reportedly set to begin on August 25, 2025 at GM's Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico. Cadillac has yet to announce pricing and specifications for the Optiq in Australia. It's set to slot in under the Lyriq price-wise, though by how much remains unclear. The BMW iX-rivalling Lyriq opens at $122,000 before on-road costs in Australia. The Optiq measures 4820mm long, 2126mm wide and 1644mm tall, making it 176mm shorter, 81mm narrower and 21mm taller than the Lyriq, but still longer and wider than the Audi Q6 e-tron mid-size electric SUV. Content originally sourced from: Deliveries of the Cadillac Optiq only started in the US earlier this year and it isn't launching in Australia until 2026, but already the mid-size electric SUV is in line for a major update. GM Authority reports the Optiq will get a new entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant for 2026, bringing more power – if less torque – than the sole powertrain available in the US at the moment, a dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration. The dual-motor option is reportedly getting a major power bump too, despite the recent reveal of a new high-performance Optiq-V flagship. Cadillac is launching the mid-size Optiq and the large three-row Vistiq in Australia in 2026 to bookend the Lyriq, first customer deliveries of which commenced earlier this year. The Lyriq lineup will gain a hot V-Series variant in 2026, though the Optiq-V hasn't been confirmed for our market. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new base rear-wheel drive variant will reportedly produce 232kW of power and 450Nm of torque – up 8kW but down 30Nm compared with the current dual-motor all-wheel drive variant. It'll reportedly continue to use the same 85kWh nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery, with estimated range of 483km on the US EPA cycle. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Optiq will reportedly receive a bump in power and torque to 328kW and 675Nm, up 104kW and 195Nm on the current model. That still leaves breathing room for the upcoming Optiq-V flagship, which will pump out 387kW/880Nm, making it good for a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint time of 3.5 seconds using launch control. The General Motors BEV3 dedicated EV platform underpinning the Optiq – as well as the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, and the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV – supports front-, rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. Unusually, the Blazer EV has offered all three simultaneously. The Optiq is getting a rear-wheel drive entry variant for Mexican-produced models, despite the Chinese-built Optiq lineup opening with a single-motor front-wheel drive variant. Other than the substantial powertrain lineup changes, GM Authority doesn't note any other changes to the Optiq for 2026, apart from a new paint colour. GM has previously announced certain vehicles equipped with its Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system will gain a hands-on lane centring assist feature for 2026. However, it's unclear if the Optiq is among these, and whether this feature will be available in Australia considering GM doesn't offer Super Cruise here. Notably, the Australian-market Lyriq offers only lane-keep assist despite lane centring aids being commonplace here. Production of the 2026 Optiq is reportedly set to begin on August 25, 2025 at GM's Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico. Cadillac has yet to announce pricing and specifications for the Optiq in Australia. It's set to slot in under the Lyriq price-wise, though by how much remains unclear. The BMW iX-rivalling Lyriq opens at $122,000 before on-road costs in Australia. The Optiq measures 4820mm long, 2126mm wide and 1644mm tall, making it 176mm shorter, 81mm narrower and 21mm taller than the Lyriq, but still longer and wider than the Audi Q6 e-tron mid-size electric SUV. Content originally sourced from:
