First Drive: 2025 Cadillac Optiq – A Good Look for an Entry Luxury EV

This is a busy year for Cadillac as it accelerates its push into the battery-electric market. In the coming weeks, the domestic luxury brand will bookmark its line-up with the Escalade EV at the high end and for those looking for something more affordable that still offers plenty of luxury features, there’s the new Cadillac Optiq. Headlight.News spent a couple days in San Francisco checking out Caddy’s new entry EV and here’s our review.

Few brands have made a bigger commitment to battery-electric vehicles, Cadillac so far confirming five separate EV models – with more reportedly on the way. The automaker began the roll-out two years ago with the debut of its mid-range Lyriq. Now, after a short delay, its set to deliver two more models that cover the brand’s extremes.

A week ago, Headlight.News posted the first review of the flagship Escalade EV. During a several day visit to San Francisco we also had the opportunity to test out the Cadillac Optiq, the model that will serve as the brand’s new entry model.

Starting at $54,000 – before factoring in a $1,495 delivery fee – Optiq comes in right at the median price of today’s EVs, but it offers a lot more for the money than many similarly priced battery-electric vehicles. That includes solid EPA range numbers, impressive performance and the sort of ride and handling you’d expect from Cadillac. It also provides an extensive list of standard high-tech features, including a 33-inch digital display, the new Dolby Atmos audio system and parent General Motors’ well-regarded hands-free Super Cruise system.

Here’s our review.

The basics:

Like Lyriq – and the other EVs set to flesh out the Caddy line-up — Optiq rides on one of parent GM’s skateboard-like platforms and uses the automaker’s new lithium-ion battery technology and electrical architecture.

One of the benefits is that the wheels have been pushed to the corners, stretching Optiq’s wheelbase to 116 inches. That’s a full 5 inches longer than the gas-powered XT5, though 5 inches shorter than the Lyriq.

The cabin, meanwhile, gains some of the space that would, with an ICE drivetrain, be used for the engine compartment. And there’ll be a flat load floor. While Optiq’s exterior footprint is that of a compact SUV, the interior will be closer to that of a midsize model. There’s a significant amount of rear legroom and a large cargo compartment. But, as with Lyriq, the new Optiq does not offer a frunk, or “front trunk,” unlike some competing models. That could disappoint some potential buyers, though Optiq claims to provide a segment-leading cargo bay – at 26.0 cubic feet – and even more with the second row of seats folded down.

A family resemblance

The compact Optiq picks up on key design cues we first saw with Lyriq, starting with the vertical LED headlights and lightbars. There’s a small grille with the latest iteration of the Cadillac crest at its center. The grille is, as with most EVs, sealed. There’s no engine compartment to push air into. But Optiq has a second, lower grille feeding cooling air to the motors and battery pack located under its load floor.

As with Lyriq, aerodynamics played a critical role in developing the crossover’s design. Among other details, it features twin rear spoilers.

That said, Optiq is by no means a downsized Lyriq. It has a lower, more aggressive stance. Dare I use the word? It is more wagonesque in its overall appearance, though not so much that it might turn off buyers in today’s SUV-centric market. The look is sportier and adds some intriguing details such as the distinctive striping of the rear quarter-panel glass.

More Cadillac News

• First Drive: 2025 Cadillac Escalade
• Caddy’s 1st Electric Performance Model, the Lyriq-V, is Coming
• The Shape of Things to Come? The Cadillac Opulent Velocity Concept

Interior

Though it slots in as the entry model for Cadillac’s growing EV line-up, Optiq’s interior features plenty of refined details, though many traditional luxury materials have been replaced by more sustainable alternatives. That includes patterned fabric woven from yarn made from recycled materials. And its “PaperWood” veneer, Caddy explained, “is made up of equal parts op tulip wood and recycled newspapers.”

There’s an intentionally high-tech feel, starting with the 33-inch digital display that stretches almost completely across the instrument panel. The portion of the display ahead of the driver is uncannily life-like with a 9K resolution. I was particularly pleased to see Caddy keep a router controller atop the floating center console. It makes things so much easier when you want to do things like zoom in on a map or change audio settings.

Caddy designers avoided the sort of spartan feel of some luxury EV competitors. But they didn’t scrimp on Optiq’s technology. That includes a standard, 3-year subscription to GM’s Super Cruise system which will soon allow hands-free driving on 750,000 miles of U.S. and Canadian roadways. Optiq also offers the Dolby Atmos system on the higher trim package. This feature is worth a more detailed explanation, which I’ll get to in a moment.

Powertrain

One of the surprising moves Caddy made with Optiq was the decision to offer the electric crossover solely with a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain. The bigger and more expensive Lyriq launched with a single motor drivetrain, only later adding AWD. Caddy officials hinted they might opt that lower-cost option at a later date, but the current layout certainly proved a plus during a drive through blustery weather heading up Marin County’s twisty Pacific Coast Highway.

As it stands, Optiq makes a combined 300 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, its motor drawing power from a usable battery capacity of 85.0 kilowatt-hours.

Since first introduced last May, Caddy engineers squeezed a couple extra miles of range out of that pack the 2025 Optiq now getting an EPA-estimated 302 miles per charge.

Drive Impressions

My route gave me a chance to experience the 2025 Cadillac Lyriq in a variety of different driving situations, starting out in downtown San Francisco before heading across the Golden Gate bridge and turning off in Mill Valley for the scenic Pacific Coast Highway.

Caddy engineers have done a great job of holding down wind and road noise, Optiq’s cabin almost tomb quiet, whether riding on city streets or screaming down the highway at 80.

EVs, in general, aren’t light, and Optiq is a good example, with a base curb weight of around 5,200 pounds. The good news is that much of that is in the battery pack which, by being placed underneath the load floor, translates into a low center of gravity. That became immediately apparent as I whipped along California 1 with its tight turns and frequent elevation changes.

I was particularly impressed by Optiq’s responsive steering which offered much better feedback than many of the other EVs I’ve driven lately. Another plus: the crossover’s frequency dependent dampers. While they’re passive – unlike Escalade’s magnetic ride control system – the Optiq suspension comes a reasonably close second in terms of adapting to both road conditions and driver demands.

Two other pluses: Optiq features 1-Pedal Mode which functions much like having a gas engine with a manual transmission downshifted several gears. No, it doesn’t reduce energy efficiency but it allows you to slow or speed up the vehicle simply by modulating the throttle. I found myself jumping over to the brakes about half as open as I would without that features, even in the city. Optiq also has a “regen-on-demand” button on the steering wheel that triggers even more aggressive regenerative braking.

Overall, I found the new EV to deliver the sort of ride I’d want from a Cadillac – and not just a compromised ride you might expect on an entry model.

Two-way charging

Depending upon the power of the public quick charger, Caddy claims Optiq will be able to add as much as 79 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Running for a 10 to 80% state-of-charge is likely to take a bit over 30 minutes, based on other GM EVs. And using a conventional home 240-volt system will likely take around 8 hours.

Like most automakers operating in the U.S., GM has announced plans to migrate to the NACS charging port used on Tesla’s nearly ubiquitous Supercharger network. At launch, the 2025 Cadillac Optiq will stick with the older CCS plug but that could change in 2026, we were advised. In the meantime, buyers will be able to purchase an adaptor for around $225. (I’d not be surprised if GM subsequently decides to make that a free bonus considering some other competitors are going that route.

One of the more compelling features of Lyriq (and the rest of the Caddy EV family) is its V2H function, shorthand for the ability to draw power from the vehicle’s battery pack to power a home – or a work or campsite and, at some point, even to help energize an overloaded grid.

Caddy is offering an expandable system that can start out simply as a charger or be expanded to allow your home to instantly draw on the battery pack in the event of a blackout, much like today’s common home chargers. The system can be upgraded to permit the use of solar power and to add another stationary battery pack at the home. Buyers will be eligible for up to $4,500 in credits depending upon the configuration they choose.

Dolby Atmos

We’ve come a long way over the past few decades when it comes to onboard audio. The basic AM/FM systems with their tinny little speakers I recall from my early days behind the wheel have been replaced by sophisticated head units that can access satellite radio and stream audio, even video, from your phone or online sources.

Optiq features a 19-speaker system powered by the new Dolby Atmos technology. It takes things to a new level beyond the surround sound systems you might have already experienced, providing both depth and height to create an astoundingly emergent sound.

There is one caveat that might be a turnoff: parent GM’s decision to move away from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in favor of its own Bluetooth-linked operating system. It features Google built-in mapping and adds a number of useful apps, including the high-resolution Tidal and Amazon Audio streamers, a 5G cell connection enhancing speed. A GM officials insist their system has a number of advantages, including the ability to better predict when an EV needs to charge up. But whether that satisfies those used to working with CarPlay or Android Auto remains to be seen.

Along with Super Cruise, Atmos and the Google built-in functions, Optiq has an extensive array of advanced driver assistance systems that come standard. I uses an AI-based camera and 10 radar sensors to watch the world around your vehicle.

Final word

Cadillac originally expected to launch production of both Optiq and Escalade EV last autumn. As it turns out, they’re just starting to roll off the line and headed for U.S. showrooms – and eventually to markets around the world.

Considering the initial problems Caddy has with Lyriq I’d say it was a wise decision to wait until the vehicles were ready, rather than taking the risk of angering early customers. Based on my experiences – and those of media colleagues who also had the chance to test out the new Optiq I’m comfortable the bugs have been worked out.

To my eyes, the 2025 Cadillac Optiq is a handsome, sporty looking crossover that won’t get lost in the crowd as more and more battery-electric vehicles come to market. It has plenty of appealing features at what is an affordable price for a luxury EV.

True, the growth of demand for electrics has slowed down and we can’t tell what might happen should the Trump administration follow through by ending tax credits of up to $7,500 for qualified EVs. But, based on my initial experience behind the wheel, I’d say there are plenty of reasons why there’ll still be plenty of buyers drawn to the new Cadillac Optiq.