Preview: 2025 Cadillac Optiq Electric SUV Has 300 Miles of Range and Premium Ambience 

The American luxury brand is all in on electrics. We look forward to seeing if it will add sedans to the lineup eventually. For now, focusing on SUVs puts it in the heart of the market, but perhaps a bit upmarket for mainstream buyers who may be looking for lower prices and smaller models, such as an XT4-scale model. 

We applaud the “safety comes standard” approach that sees Cadillac piling on a truckload of active safety and driver assistance features. The real ace there is the Super Cruise hands-free active driving assistance system, which, in other Cadillacs that we have tested, has stood out for its clear communication of when the car is in control and when the driver needs to take charge. It benefits from teaming road-facing sensors with GPS mapping data, allowing Super Cruise to both predict routes and react to real-world situations. Plus, the vigilant driver monitoring system helps keep the user engaged. 

We have found some of the Lyriq’s controls to be unintuitive, making us a bit apprehensive here. Further, the Google software integration gives us pause. While such systems can have great promise by bringing familiar functionality from phones and computers to cars, some implementations (such as Polestar and Volvo’s) have been less than ideal. 

On the other hand, the Lyriq’s interior accouterments have been both premium and understated, bringing sophistication to that SUV’s cabin. The same looks to be true here as well. 

All told, this looks like a right-sized SUV that is well-positioned to further define Cadillac as an electric-embracing luxury brand.

The exterior bears a strong family resemblance with the current XT5 and Lyriq models, with a slender grille flanked by dramatic front lighting. The rear pillars are blackened, creating a floating roof. Black accent pieces lend a sporty flair.

Ultimately, it may be the flush-mounted door handles that are the primary tip-off to this being an electric vehicle. Aerodynamics play an important role in the vehicle’s driving range, with Cadillac employing several bits of wizardry such as a vented rear spoiler, diffusers, wind-tunnel sculpted design elements, and low-rolling-resistance tires to help the Optiq achieve its range figures. 

Less obvious in pictures are the glass roof and the rear-quarter glass showcasing an etched graphic pattern.

The SUV comes with 20-inch wheels; 21-inch wheels are optional. Either way, the wheels are wrapped in all-season tires.

The length matches the XT5 at 190 inches, and the height is similar. The Optiq tips the scales at 5,192 pounds, making it about 900 pounds heavier than the last XT5 we tested. 

Following recent Cadillac tradition, as seen in many current models, the interior has an elegant simplicity, offset with simple textures and contrasting colors. And it features a 33-inch-wide display that encompasses instrument panel and infotainment system functions. Despite the brag-worthy screen, there are still physical buttons for many common climate functions—a move we appreciate.

The Optiq comes standard with dual electric motors and all-wheel drive, producing a Cadillac-estimated 300 hp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. It is fitted with an 85-kWh, lithium-ion battery pack that the automaker estimates is good for 300 miles of range. 

Its standard 11.5-kW Level 2 charging can replenish up to 33 miles to the battery in an hour; an optional 19.2-kW onboard charger can provide up to 55 miles in an hour provided it’s installed on an 80-ampere circuit breaker.

The 150-kW DC fast charging acceptance rate enables up to 79 miles being added in about 10 minutes on public chargers. Of course, that rate will vary depending on a number of factors.

The Optiq can be commanded using one-pedal driving, a convenient mode in many EVs that allows the driver to modulate both acceleration and braking with just the accelerator pedal.

There are several drive modes available, including Tour (for everyday driving), Sport (for performance-oriented driving), and Snow/Ice (to reduce wheel spin in foul weather). These modes adjust acceleration, braking, and steering. 

Maximum trailering capacity is a low 1,500 pounds—a limit more often associated with small SUVs.

Fitting with its high-tech image, the Optiq has a comprehensive suite of active safety and driver assistance features. 

The standard features include blind spot warning, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic warning, with signals conveyed to the driver via a vibrating seat. Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front cross traffic warning with braking, lane keeping assistance, reverse automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind zone steering assist, and active parking assistance are among its many features. Combined, these tap radar, camera, and ultrasonic sensors to provide the 360-degree aids. 

Further, Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance is standard and supported for three years. This is a partly automated active driving assistance system that can handle acceleration, braking, and steering on premapped divided highways.