Boasting a impressive audio setup and a groovy cabin design, Cadillac’s compact electric vehicle creates a strong impression.

Perhaps you’ve come across the
2025 Cadillac Optiq
Perhaps you haven’t noticed. Perhaps you identify the -iq suffix as Cadillac’s latest addition for their electric car range, yet find them indistinguishable from each other. That’s understandable. Regardless of how well-acquainted you are with Cadillac’s new “IQ” models, the common denominator remains clear: Cadillac is swiftly transitioning towards electric vehicles.

And guess what? I enjoy it.

The Optiq represents a significant change for Cadillac. Over the past few years, the company has launched numerous new electric cars through the IQ line-up, typically identified by model names concluding with “-iq” (which sounds like ‘ick,’ rather than ‘eek’). Alongside the Optiq, you have options such as the Lyriq, Vistiq, and Celestiq. However, the Cadillac Escalade IQ stands out because saying “Escaladiq” just wouldn’t sound right.
I took the IQ for a drive lately.
, making the Escalade feel significant once more.)

The Optiq is the
the most affordable car in Cadillac’s latest electric range
Starting at $56,390 including destination charges, this two-row, five-seater crossover shares its platform with the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Each Optiq model comes equipped with an 85.0-kWh battery pack and a twin motor system providing all-wheel drive, delivering 300 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Although Cadillac predicts a driving range of up to 302 miles, the EPA has not published verified figures for the Optiq as of now.

The Optiq comes equipped with a comprehensive set of standard safety features, featuring General Motors’ Super Cruise hands-off driver assistance technology. This feature operates on approximately 750,000 miles of pre-mapped routes across the U.S. and Canada, typically covering many highways. For those who purchase a new vehicle fitted with Super Cruise, this service is complimentary for three years; after which, it requires a subscription. Should you frequently drive on highways, it makes sense to invest in it.

Advantages: Peaceful and Fashionable Cabin, Exceptional Audio Setup

At present, the Optiq comes with just two trims: Luxury and Sport. Both versions carry comparable price tags but feature distinct designs. The exterior of the Luxury trim showcases gleaming chrome highlights, whereas the Sport variant opts for a darker aesthetic. Additionally, those opting for the Luxury model can choose a distinctive royal blue hue known as Coastal Blue Metallic. In contrast, the Sport version features an exclusive vibrant lava-inspired shade named Monarch Orange.

Within the Optiq, you have four fabric choices: black, deep navy, harvest orange, and light grey with regal blue highlights. If I were configuring an Optiq, I would opt for the Sport edition, painted in Monarch Orange, paired with a gray-and-regal-blue cabin design; however, I can’t say whether this combination works well since my “gaudy” detector has malfunctioned around 29 years ago. (I am 29 years of age.)

Operating the Optiq may not be thrilling, but it’s quite comfortable. The cabin is extremely silent; stepping inside requires an adjustment as your hearing recalibrates after closing the door. This peacefulness persists even at higher speeds: During a heavy downpour, I only realized the severity of the storm once outside the vehicle—inside, it seemed nothing more than a routine drizzle.

The sole disruptions in sound stemmed from the Optiq’s safety mechanisms. Its forward and lateral impact detectors were highly sensitive, emitting alerts unexpectedly. Occasionally, these alarms would go off near lamp posts along the roadside and even beside stationary vehicles. While I preferred an abundance of warnings over insufficient ones, it was initially quite startling.

Drawbacks: Doesn’t Cut Canyons

The Optiq comes with several driving modes including Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and My Mode. In Sport mode, the throttle response becomes more immediate, and despite its dimensions and heft, the vehicle packs ample power. Although heavy rainfall prevented me from flooring it fully, whenever I pressed down on the gas, the car accelerated briskly enough to satisfy an average purchaser seeking a spirited ride.

That’s significant since Cadillac markets the Optiq as a more performance-oriented variant. During my test drive, they highlighted its sleek, wind-cheating windshield slope and big 20-to 21-inch rims. The brand even urged me to push the vehicle aggressively through twisty routes.

Recently, I’ve aggressively tested two electric crossover vehicles with sporty features on twisty roads: the Optra and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Both left me feeling queasy. The likely cause is the silent operation coupled with their significant heft as electric cars; this disorientation stems from my body expecting some engine noise and feedback typically associated with conventional engines.

When navigating twisty routes (whether driving yourself or being chauffeured), the Optiq would shift its weight forward sharply during braking and lean considerably through tight corners. For potential buyers who enjoy pushing their vehicles on well-paved roads—even those with an EV crossover—consider testing whether this handling makes you queasy beforehand.

However, the Optiq isn’t focused on aggressive driving. Instead, it prioritizes the cabin experience, with its standout feature being the audio system. This model comes equipped with a standard 19-speaker Dolby Atmos setup, which keeps capturing my attention.

Dolby Atmos essentially offers 3D audio technology; well-known tracks are engineered with Atmos to create a “3D” experience, allowing vocals, instruments, and rhythms to envelop listeners from every direction. Sound engineers have the capability to position these elements overhead, beneath, ahead, and even behind you. Additionally, they can make sounds move dynamically, circling around both your body and head. (Within the Amazon Music application, Dolby Atmos-enabled tunes were marked with a “Dolby Atmos” label underneath the artist and track title on Optiq’s display). Cadillac mentions that this feature will be featured in select car models starting in 2025, expanding to their complete electric vehicle range by 2026.

In the song “Hush” by The Marías, there’s an introductory rhythm that goes for roughly 10 seconds. Typically, this would be delivered directly through standard speakers. However, upon playing the Atmos version using the Optiq system, that very same beat seemed to move around me like a circular path, almost as though a spherical mass of sound was circling my head.

In many songs played through Atmos, the backup vocals came from the speakers above and behind me. It was angelic, as if the clouds parted and the singers were harmonizing down toward Earth.

The two limitations of this audio setup are as follows: Firstly, not all tracks come in Atmos format; hence, if you have niche musical tastes akin to mine, a significant portion of your library might lack the 3D mixing effect. Secondly, even among those available in Atmos, the quality varies—with some relying predominantly on the front speakers, thus diminishing their immersive impact compared to true Atmos experiences.

Nevertheless, the experience remains extraordinary. When recalling my memories, hearing a song in Atmos at the Optiq a couple of weeks back ranks among the first times I visited an immersive movie theater where they sprayed water on you. It left quite an impression.

The remainder of the Optiq’s cabin also exudes luxury. My test vehicle featured a light-gray theme complemented by royal-blue highlights. It was adorned with various materials including woven yarn crafted from recycled resources, wooden panels created using repurposed newspapers, silver-colored speaker grilles, along with royal-blue fabric and plastics.

The interior design brought to mind an ongoing internet meme about “Millennial burger places” in America. Think of somewhere you’ve probably seen described this way: appetizers dubbed “shareables,” burgers served on wooden boards, ketchup presented in tiny metal containers, and desserts featuring milkshakes topped with whole slices of cake. This style appeals to millennials as it gives off a sense of individuality through commercialized eccentricities, despite everyone ending up at identical spots getting the exact same order.

The inside of the Optiq also gives off that vibe, which isn’t necessarily negative. Cadillac aims at attracting younger customers with this vehicle, hoping they will choose it because it caters specifically to their preferences.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the Optiq as much as I do, particularly since, being a car enthusiast, it can be challenging to get excited about a luxury electric SUV. These vehicles tend to be sleek, silent, and swift—occasionally more than what an average consumer might want. You may share this sentiment or perhaps have not been able to distinguish between the -IQ models yet.

The Optiq stands out. Though it might not excel as an aggressive canyon-carving vehicle, it shines in another way: it focuses on nurturing a sense of uniqueness for the driver, their tunes, and their space, ensuring every journey—be it to the office, back home, or that trendy millennial-themed eatery—is memorable.

Make sure you don’t spill the cake and milkshake on the seats, okay?

Competitors

• Audi Q4 E-Tron
• Genesis Electrified GV70
• Tesla Model Y
• Volvo EX40

Competitor Reviews

• 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Review: A Stunning Electric Vehicle
• 2025 Volvo EX30 Initial Drive Test: Small Electric Vehicle Packs Plenty of Appeal

2025 Cadillac Optiq Luxury
Motor	Permanent Magnet (Front) / induction type (Rear)
Battery	85.0-Kilowatt-Hour Lithium-Ion
Output	300 Horses Power / 354 Pound-Feet
Drive Type	All-Wheel Drive
EV Range	302 Miles (est.)
Charge Time	79 Kilometers in 10 Minutes
Charge Type	150 Kilowatts Direct Current Rapid Charging
Seating Capacity	5
Cargo Volume	26.0 / 57.0 Cubic Feet
Base Price	$56,390
On Sale	Now