With a starting price of $63,433, it comes with a 300-horsepower dual motor powertrain and all-wheel drive.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Could Cadillac have found its calling with electric vehicles?
The brand is no stranger to hardships over the last few decades competing in a luxury sedan market dominated by German car companies. Its chase did lead to occasional gems, specifically some of the “V” and Blackwing models. However, those efforts didn’t pan out with the CT4 and CT5 never really gaining a strong enough market share to trouble leaders such as BMW and Mercedes.
Except for the Escalade, Cadillac’s SUVs have also failed to gain traction; the XT4 and XT6 will be discontinued by the end of this year. The company has now pivoted to launching a line of electric vehicles at a blistering pace relative to the rest of the industry, starting with the Lyriq in 2022.
The Lyriq distilled much of what was in the $500,0000 Celestiq, bringing it down to earth. It blended concept car styling, a great interior and excellent driving manners. It was also priced below many rivals.
Cadillac says more than 80 per cent of Lyriq buyers were new to the brand, suggesting consumers are taking notice. Overall sales for Cadillac in Canada were at their highest ever in 2024, with the momentum continuing this year.
The Optiq doesn't feel much smaller than the Lyric, but has a six-inch shorter wheelbase.The Globe and Mail
While most car companies are backing off their EV plans, Cadillac’s perseverance appears to be paying off.
The Optiq, the smallest in the lineup, has the potential to disrupt the compact luxury EV segment with aggressive pricing and impressive technology. Still, it might also siphon sales from the Lyriq and the Chevrolet Blazer EV, all three of which use GM’s Ultium battery electric platform.
The Lyriq and Blazer, both built on the same platform, are bigger than the Optiq, but the difference isn’t huge. The Optiq cabin feels just as spacious, especially in the back and cargo area. It has the same excellent new interior design language that’s become a standard for these electric Cadillacs. The loaner I was driving looked fantastic with dark blue seats, denim-like fabric on the doors and centre console, zebra-striped wood and matte aluminum trim.
The Optiq is modern and high-tech with a massive 33-inch diagonal advanced LED display with 9k resolution.The Globe and Mail
One option is this denim-like fabric on the doors and centre console.The Globe and Mail
With a starting price of $63,433, it comes with a 300-horsepower, dual-motor powertrain and all-wheel drive. The cost is $7,500 less than a Lyriq, which doesn’t come with all-wheel drive standard. The Optiq is more fun to drive, has excellent ride quality and a better sound system with Dolby Atmos surround-sound technology.
The Blazer EV is only $3,000 cheaper for a base all-wheel drive version. It’s a fine vehicle in its own right, but if it were my choice, I’d pick the Optiq.
I’d also take the Optiq over most of its competitors, where its value component still holds strong. Take the Genesis GV60, which is $10,000 more expensive, has less cargo space, nearly 100 kilometres less range and is missing advanced technology such as hands-free driver assistance. The Optiq looks a lot better, too.
The Volvo XC40, a popular choice, is an excellent EV with a lot of charming quirks, but the Optiq feels like a fully developed luxury product while the Volvo skirts the line between mainstream and premium. The XC40 can’t match the Cadillac in terms of range, nor can the Audi Q4 e-tron.
The Tesla Model Y has more power and range, but it’s more expensive and has two problems: It’s not a luxury product (and certainly doesn’t feel like one) and some people don’t want to own it right now because of Elon Musk. Sales have plummeted even with the updated 2026 model going on sale at the beginning of the year. Cadillac is better positioned than other luxury brands to capitalize on the current reversal of Tesla’s fortunes.
The Cadillac EVs I’ve tested so far, including the Optiq, have been bug-free with no warning messages, infotainment glitches or door handles that don’t pop out upon approach. The Google-based operating system is easy to use and very responsive, while the standard Super Cruise enables hands-free driving on more than 1.2 million kilometres of roads across North America. It will even automatically pass vehicles driving slower than your set speed.
Super Cruise is an impressive system, but after three years you lose it and all the other connected service such as Google Maps and the Play store unless you pay a monthly subscription, which frankly sucks. It weakens the value component and saddles the owner with yet another subscription to essentially lift a software lock on something their vehicle is already equipped with. There’s also no option for Apple CarPlay which, for me, meant no Apple Music.
If you ignore the subscription nonsense and the decision to get rid of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Cadillac’s line of EVs is setting a new standard for other brands to follow. With Canada’s plans to bring back the EV incentive, the company is exactly where it needs to be to continue growing and developing even better products.
A large, fixed-glass roof makes the Optiq feel spacious and airy in the back seats.The Globe and Mail
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