Driving the 2025 Cadillac Optiq

Each automotive shopper has a listing of rational necessities their superego places collectively, in addition to a subconsciously understood properly of irrational pangs that come straight from the id. Practically each automaker can fulfill the primary. The second is why we don’t all drive the identical two or three automobiles.

What intuitively soothes my soul? Fascinating design. I’m glad to personal any sensible automotive, however I really feel related to 1 with surfaces that really feel crafted and creative. That doesn’t should imply costly. Simply distinctive.

I settled into the cabin of the Cadillac Optiq and immediately felt calm and in command. Somebody took their time and put their greatest work into this inside.

I spent per week driving the 2025 Optiq Luxurious 2 in city and suburban settings. I didn’t put it by any uncommon testing. Simply drove it for informal errands and to take buddies to dinner. However I didn’t wish to get out.

Which Trim Degree

Cadillac sells the Optiq in 4 trim ranges: Luxurious 1 and a pair of, and Sport 1 and a pair of. All 4 use the identical dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup, making 300 horsepower and having the identical 302-mile vary. There’s nothing sportier concerning the Sport fashions. The Sport variants use darkish trim in locations the place Luxurious fashions use chrome.

My take a look at car was the Optiq Luxurious 2, giving it embroidered and quilted seats in Inteluxe fake leather-based, massaging entrance seats, and customizable ambient inside lighting. The Black Raven exterior got here at no further price. The Autumn Canyon inside added $1,100 — steep for a colour scheme, nevertheless it wound up being my favourite function of the automotive.

Favourite Function

Sliding into the motive force’s seat of the Optiq, the automotive instantly feels particular. The Autumn Canyon colour theme offers you a deep caramel fake leather-based on the seats, wide-grain black wooden on the middle console, and a multilayer dashboard in a mixture of easy grey and a canvas-like coarse materials in an identical grey.

It offers a distinction of colours and textures that offers the entire expertise depth. It feels curated, not slapped collectively.

The Cadillac Mondrian brand influences every part, from the form of the ambient lighting to the sew sample on the seats. It’s refined. You don’t really feel such as you’re sitting on a brand. You are feeling enveloped in a purposeful design.

It’s a triumph at this value vary.

What It’s Prefer to Drive

All EVs are fast, however 300 hp in a compact SUV feels extraordinarily sporty. Acceleration is exponential, particularly in Sport mode.

Steering really feel is mild. In case you’re used to true hydraulic steering, an EV’s digital copy of it could possibly really feel a bit of unresponsive. Cadillac engineers have mitigated that downside properly. It is a cheap facsimile, and also you’re not prone to race your compact SUV, anyway.

Like different EVs, the Optiq makes use of regenerative braking, which captures some vitality from slowing right down to partially recharge the battery. Cadillac’s model takes a bit of acclimation. The start of pedal journey is barely smooth earlier than the slightly massive brakes chew.

You’ll get used to it shortly.

Inside Consolation and Expertise

I don’t wish to belabor the purpose, however in the event you’re contemplating the Optiq, you must see and really feel its cabin earlier than you understand if this automotive is best for you. It’s distinctive, and to me, that’s the very best purpose to think about it. However its charms are all aesthetic, and never everybody cares.

In sensible phrases, a 19-speaker AKG sound system is the standout function.

A 33-inch curved show homes each a display screen for the motive force and a central touchscreen controlling leisure, info, and local weather features. That’s changing into the norm in automotive design, nevertheless it means the steering wheel blocks your view of components of the display screen. Just a few automakers have provide you with higher display screen positions, however that is what you’ll encounter in most automobiles you take a look at drive this 12 months.

Passenger area is cheap in each back and front, although you’ll wish to improve to Cadillac’s midsize Lyriq EV in the event you incessantly carry shoppers or different adults within the rear seats.

A sloped roofline robs some cargo area. It presents 26 cubic ft — three lower than a Tesla Mannequin Y. Unusually, for an EV, it lacks a frunk (entrance trunk).

Limitations

The Optiq’s largest competitors is throughout the showroom. Its value begins within the mid-$50,000 vary and climbs into the low-$60,000 figures. That overlaps with that of the Lyriq, which presents extra energy, extra passenger and cargo area, and a smidge extra vary.

I’d nonetheless doubtless select the Optiq, as I believe its inside has extra character. However, in sensible phrases, a low-end Lyriq may beat out a high-end Optiq for a lot of patrons.