Latest news with #Optiq
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
123-Year-Old Detroit Car Company Betting Big on Its Electric Future
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. With an influx of new models arriving in market, Cadillac is wearing the crown as America's top-selling luxury electric vehicle company, beating out the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It's a level of popularity that has led to what the brand's global vice president, John Roth, calls, "a pretty good run." That run is the product and financial realization of years of planning. The company has been on a quest to leverage strategic and creative marketing, as well as its motorsports and performance credentials, to conquest new, younger customers as part of its efforts to make Cadillac, "the most prestigious luxury brand here in America," Roth told Newsweek. The changes kicked off in 2015 and have continued through today. "As we come into 2025 this is really the epicenter of when the plan comes completely together as it relates to our product portfolio, the work that we've done around the dealer network, our marketing and advertising, what our investment in customer experience looks like, essentially everything we can do to elevate the overall brand," Roth said, noting that the plan isn't complete and that Cadillac continues to look at the horizon. Cadillac claims to be the top-selling luxury electric vehicle manufacturer. Using Cadillac-provided parameters, Newsweek was unable to confirm that claim. Fresh additions to the Cadillac lineup include the battery-electric Vistiq, Optiq and Escalade IQ SUVs. The Lyriq SUV went on sale two years ago and is slated to get a high-performance variant, Lyriq-V, soon. The forthcoming Optiq-V and Escalade IQL were revealed recently. NACS charging port on the 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V. NACS charging port on the 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V. Cadillac "Cadillac isn't just talking about transformation — it's aggressively launching products at a pace unseen from the brand in decades. Four EVs across multiple segments in quick succession is no small feat. Cadillac is finally starting to behave like a brand with something to prove and something worth chasing," Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific, told Newsweek. Roth echoed that sentiment, saying, "I got to tell you, this is one of the best product portfolios I've ever had to work with in my 30 plus years here at General Motors and Cadillac." Along with the introduction of new EVs, Cadillac has enhanced its existing portfolio, updating its CT5 and Escalade with a fresh suite of technology and refined looks. It's part of a pledge to keep its combustion engine vehicles in service for a while longer, giving buyers preference to choose gas or electric when they start their new car shopping. Outside the U.S., Cadillac continues to gain momentum as well. The company has launched its Lyriq in China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, France and Germany, among other international markets. "Models like Optiq and Vistiq show a clear intent to grow Cadillac's global EV presence beyond flagship products. While not positioned as headline-grabbers today, they serve a strategic role in normalizing Cadillac as an electric luxury brand in the market, forming the backbone of Cadillac's EV volume story," Waatti said. Seventy-nine to 80 percent of people who buy a Lyriq are conquested customers. For Optiq, that number is 76. Those customers, Roth said, are seven to eight years younger than the average age of a new car buyer in the auto industry. "Right now, Cadillac's EV lineup is surprisingly competitive — distinctive design, improved interiors, and the right tech like Super Cruise are helping the brand punch above expectations. But the window to stand out may narrow quickly. German rivals, in particular, are about to unleash their next-gen EV platforms with faster charging, better efficiency, and smarter software. Cadillac must keep up and prove that it can maintain momentum beyond the early sales success of its fresh models, amid added competitive pressure," Waatti said. "The Escalade IQ is Cadillac at its best: unapologetically bold, effortlessly recognizable, and designed with customer expectations in mind. It's poised to be a runaway success and a key bridge for loyalists transitioning to EVs. Its presence also reinforces Cadillac's role as GM's crown jewel, raising fundamental questions about whether Hummer, with its more polarizing identity and shrinking momentum, can remain viable as a parallel flagship," he continued. Cadillac also sells Celestiq, a hand-built, made-to-order, electron-powered sedan that is meant to be a showcase of the company's luxury prowess. The car debuted in 2022 and just went into production a few months ago. "The Celestiq won't move the sales needle, but it's Cadillac's most daring brand statement in decades. It's a deliberate, high-stakes bet meant to shift perception and prove the brand still knows how to lead, not follow. That kind of symbolic swing can be invaluable — or it can land with a thud if not backed by broader relevance. Right now, it's a brand-defining risk. Whether it becomes a turning point or a footnote depends on what comes next," Waatti said.
Miami Herald
22-07-2025
- 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:
Miami Herald
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Cadillac EVs Are Luring Buyers Away From Audi And Mercedes
Cadillac reached higher luxury peaks than most other automakers back in the 1960s and 1970s, both in terms of actual car design and sales. These days, German automakers easily outsell Cadillac, but the American brand is reclaiming some of its prominence in the luxury segment, and it's all because of its EVs. Not only was Cadillac number 1 in second-quarter EV sales for luxury brands, but what stands out is the brand's conquest sales. Conquest rates for Cadillac's EVs are incredibly high, at 79% for the Lyriq and 76% for the newer Optiq. In other words, more than three-quarters of customers are new to the Cadillac brand. Asked which brands these customers are coming from, Cadillac Vice President John Roth dropped some very prestigious names. "Tesla, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus," said Roth, according to Inside EVs. "Yeah, all the big luxury tier one buyers are coming our way and we're super happy about that. We're giving them a great vehicle and a great experience with great range, great technology, great customer experience, and a great dealer network to service them." Interestingly, Cadillac EV buyers are around 47 or 48 years old, significantly below the average age for luxury car buyers in general. It's noteworthy that Cadillac is selling more luxury brands than the likes of Audi, since the latter has been in the EV game for longer, and has an extensive EV lineup with models like the S e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron, Q6 e-tron, and Q8 e-tron. Cadillac's EV range starts with the compact Optiq, which starts at $52,895. Last month, the brand revealed the first Optiq-V, a high-performance version of the crossover with 519 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of only 3.5 seconds. The mid-size Lyriq has been around for longer and begins at $58,595. This looks and feels like a plush, high-tech luxury car in every aspect, and is also topped by a high-performance V derivative. Related: 5 Reasons Why the New Optiq-V Might Be Cadillac's Best EV Yet The three-row Vistiq hasn't been on sale for long enough to determine how successful it'll be, but we know how popular three-row mid-size SUVs are in America, so it's expected to do well. The Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, and Celestiq are all much more expensive models expected to sell in lower volumes, but all add an aspirational element to the brand's EV lineup. This range of EVs - from compact crossovers to the $300,000 ultra-luxury Celestiq - covers a multitude of segments, yet all of them have the competitive range, performance, and luxury appeal they need to win over buyers. Profitability in EV production remains a challenge, and that won't get any easier once the tax credit falls away at the end of September; the Lyriq is already more expensive than it was. For now, though, Cadillac has clearly found a winning recipe with its EV lineup. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2026 Cadillac Optiq Gets Cheaper and More Powerful for 2026
Cadillac's push into the electric era started with the Lyriq, but it's the smaller Optiq that's shaping up to be the brand's most approachable EV. Positioned as the most compact and affordable electric vehicle in the Cadillac lineup, the Optiq already offers a sharp design, solid range, and a more premium feel than most compact electric crossovers. For 2026, the Optiq receives a host of updates, including more powerful powertrains and increased charging access, but the biggest headline is a surprising one: it's getting cheaper. According to dealer order guides accessed by CarsDirect, Cadillac is trimming thousands off the Optiq's sticker, making its most attainable EV even more competitive against rivals from Audi, BMW, and Tesla. For the 2026 model year, Cadillac is slashing $1,995 off the price of every Optiq trim except the high-performance V variant. That puts the base Optiq RWD at just $50,990, a 3.8% drop from the 2025 model's $52,895 MSRP. The Sport trim follows suit at $51,500, while Premium Luxury and Premium Sport drop to $53,100 and $53,600, respectively. Apart from being a better deal in isolation, the price cut also makes the Optiq more competitive against similarly sized rivals like the Audi Q4 e-tron. It's worth noting that the Audi starts at $49,800 with less power and fewer standard features. These price cuts come as part of a broader strategy: Cadillac has reconfigured the powertrain offerings, moving the base model to a single-motor RWD layout. We just didn't expect the price cut across the range. The 2026 Optiq RWD makes 315 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, outgunning the 2025 AWD model's 300 hp. For buyers wanting more, the 2026 AWD variant gets a massive upgrade, now making 440 hp and 498 lb-ft – up 140 hp and 144 lb-ft from last year. All 2026 models continue using an 85-kWh battery, good for around 300 miles of range, depending on the drivetrain. DC fast charging enables 79 miles of range in 10 minutes, and a new NACS plug means Optiq drivers can now access Tesla's Supercharger network. A new Vibrant White Tricoat replaces the outgoing white paint option, but otherwise, the exterior design remains unchanged. Production of the 2026 Optiq begins August 25, with order books opening later this month. If you've been waiting for a luxury EV that doesn't break the bank, this could be Cadillac's strongest pitch yet. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
