Our Rides: This is Today’s Cadillac

What we’re witnessing is a transformation of a highly desirable and respected brand of automobiles.

Once dubbed the “Standard of the World,” Cadillac was the first name in luxury automobiles. You expected nothing but the best for over a century of innovation and engineering. When you drove a Cadillac, people noticed you.

As the years go on, the luxury car market has changed. It seemed that Cadillac was left behind. If you wanted to be noticed, you would get something German or Japanese with better engineering and technology.

However, Cadillac is enjoying a renaissance of late. To transform the “Standard of the World” for the 21st century, you have to change the way it drives. That meant switching to a battery-electric vehicle architecture.

The result is a lineup of five Cadillac EVs based on General Motors’ Ultium platform. This is a common battery and drive motor architecture that is adaptable to specific vehicle segments or needs. In the case of Cadillac, these models stretch from a two-row compact SUV to a bespoke flagship sedan.

We have the compact-sized Optiq. Equivalent in size to the XT4, the Optiq not only rides on this common platform, but it also follows the latest design signature that has helped change Cadillac’s fortunes of late.

The Optiq itself is a handsome, sporty SUV. Never before has a Cadillac of its size attracted more customers. The smallish crest-shaped “grille” is flanked by a set of LED lighting signatures up front. The sloping roofline works visually and incorporates a Mondrian pattern on the C-pillar glass panes. In the rear is the latest lightning design that emulates the classic Cadillac “fins.” A strip of lights defines the roofline and the liftgate with a similar lower lighting element.

We should mention that this is not just any mere Optiq; it’s the V model. In the Cadillac lexicon, the letter V denotes a performance-oriented model. On top of its sportier style, our test vehicle added 21-inch dark-finished alloy wheels, blue-painted Brembo brake calipers and carbon fiber exterior elements.

The new generation of Cadillac EVs brought back a lot of quality and style to the brand. They combine these elements with the latest technology and switchgear. In front of the driver is a 33-inch Horizon display that combines driver information and an infotainment touchscreen. The latter is driven by Google Built-in, which enables their apps to be the primary source for voice commands and navigation. To fully utilize this system, you have to log in to your Google account. Sadly, smartphone integration is not available. You can still tether your phone through a Bluetooth connection.

There is a head-up display available for you to keep your eyes on the road. That is important, since the 2026 Optiq-V has standard Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance technology. Sound is emitted through a 19-speaker AKG Studio Audio System.

The seats are upholstered in a very nice Sky Cool Gray “signature driving seat” upholstery. Space is fine, allowing for up to five people to sit inside. There is 26 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. It is expandable to 57 cubic feet with those rear seats folded. You are also reminded that this is the V model inside and out, with emblems from the seats to the wheel caps.

The 2026 Optiq-V is powered by a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system. It puts down 519 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. An 85-kilowatt-hour battery is fed through a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port with a charging rate of up to 150 kilowatts. You can recoup 81 miles of range in 10 minutes through DC Fast Charging or up to 59 miles of range per hour using Level 2 charging at home.

As for range, the 2026 Optiq-V is rated to go up to 278 miles at a full state of charge based on EPA ratings.

If you press the accelerator down to the floor, hold on! It was quick. Cadillac did state that it can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds with Launch Control enabled, for those who have a need for speed. However, if you just depress the pedal without Launch Control engaged, it will go at a less brisk pace.

Handling is fine, weighed down by the battery pack. It can go near flat through turns. Steering seems a bit artificial and could yield a larger-than-expected turning radius. On-center feel is quite good and solid. The Brembo front brakes are part of a powerful system that yields good stops. One-pedal driving is available and can precisely bring the 2026 Optiq-V to a complete halt without any intervention from your right foot.

The 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V is one of five trim levels available for its smallest EV SUV. Pricing for the entire lineup starts at $50,900. Our Optiq-V test vehicle came with a sticker price of $78,570.

Clearly, this is not the Cadillac of your grandfather’s generation. It is a modern take on the “Standard of the World” that exudes quickness with a sportier look, all with familiar tenets of what makes a Cadillac something worth considering, especially in today’s modern luxury car world.