Cadillac OPTIQ Review

That’s certainly what Cadillac is hoping, anyway. And on paper, the OPTIQ looks good. It’s a rival for cars like the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW iX3, although at over 4.8m long and 1.9m wide, it’s actually a bit bigger than those alternatives and is more like the size of a BMW iX. And if the OPTIQ just just isn't big enough for you, you’ll probably want the Cadillac LYRIQ, which is also coming to Europe and the UK as part of the American brand’s new launch as an electric-only brand. The super-luxurious LYRIQ and the slightly smaller and more modest OPTIQ SUV are both rumoured to be arriving in the UK before the end of 2024.

Despite being fairly hefty, the OPTIQ is a ‘compact SUV’ by American standards, and it’s going to arrive in the UK with a standard dual-motor setup delivering four-wheel drive and 304bhp. We went to have a look around and see what it’s all about. Watch this space, and we'll bring you driving impressions as soon as we can.

Styling and dimensions

Standing next to it, I’d say that the OPTIQ is anything but compact. I reckon that most of us Brits would say that it’s in the ‘really rather large’ SUV category, actually! The blocky styling, those dual headlamps, the way the haunches rise towards the back of the car… It all adds up to a pretty purposeful-looking car but, is it also a little bit samey compared to other big, blocky SUVs? Does it look a bit like the offspring of a modern Vauxhall and Peugeot? Maybe. I’d certainly say that a BMW iX looks more interesting, although that’ll cost a lot more than the Cadillac, of course.

Regardless of what you think of the styling of the OPTIQ, the door handles are probably going to annoy you a bit, as they open the wrong way – which is just odd, really. 

Interior 

It looks pretty classy inside the Cadillac OPTIQ, too. You get a crystal dial, rather like you get in modern BMWs, and the touchscreen and driver’s readout are all housed together on top of the dashboard, which looks smart. I prefer that to the Tesla Model Y’s big, stuck-on iPad touchscreen. 

Cadillac has also aimed to use as much recycled material as possible, so the patterned fabric is made from 100% recycled yarn, and there’s also a ‘PaperWood’ veneer on offer, which is made of blended tulip wood and recycled newspaper. 

I do really like that fabric finish, particularly, it looks really lovely and feels really tactile, too. Not that I spend that much time stroking the dashboard, but if you do fancy it then you’ll enjoy the experience! Another thing I really like is that the Cadillac has proper buttons for the air-con, which should be easier to use on the move than in-screen controls, so that’s good news. 

I’m a bit less taken with the chrome-effect trim around the cupholders. That feels like exactly the kind of thing that would go down well in the American market, where a bit of bling always seems to be welcome, but which feels a bit tacky for European tastes. Is it just me, or has the Cadillac logo been squashed? It’s right in the middle, and although it's quite a newly designed version of the logo, it really does look like the old one that’s been accidentally re-sized incorrectly in Photoshop. 

For a final flourish, there is also Cadillac's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assist technology, which is a bit like Tesla's semi-autonomous features, but with Cadillac you get a steering-wheel light bar that indicates when the system is active. 

The OPTIQ is really roomy, too - both in the front, and in the back. Plus you get lots of light from the glass roof, charging ports and a centre rear armrest, so it does feel pretty good back there. This is a bit of a guess given that I haven’t lined its rivals up alongside, or anything, but I’d say you’re getting more space in the back seats of the Cadillac OPTIQ than you are in an Audi Q4 e-tron, but probably not quite as much as in the Tesla Model Y. 

Boot space

As for boot space, there’s plenty enough room for a couple of big dogs, or some big holiday suitcases, and there’s a bit of underfloor storage for your cables, too. The seats fold flat in a 60/40 split, so it does the stuff that most families will expect. There’s no seven-seat option, though, which is a shame. If you want that kind of flexibility your best options are the Kia EV9 or Mercedes EQB. 

Battery, charging and efficiency

The OPTIQ sits on a modified version of the same Ultium platform that underpins the Hummer EV and the Cadillac LYRIQ, and it gets an 85kWh usable battery. At the moment it’s estimated that it’ll manage around 300 miles, despite having a dual-motor setup as standard. We’d expect that’ll improve quite a bit when it’s tested under European test regulations. If it doesn’t, then the Cadillac is going to disappoint for efficiency, as lots of alternative electric cars manage a longer range from a big battery like this. 

Full charging details haven’t been confirmed, but the Ultium platform is capable of supporting 800V rapid charging – which is the super-fast charging that we’ve seen on the Kia EV6 and Porsche Taycan – and Cadillac says that the OPTIQ will be able to suck up 79 miles of range in just ten minutes. That suggests that it'll be able to top-up at speeds of usefully over 200kW, which could make this one of the fastest-charging electric SUVs. 

Price and equipment

Full details haven’t been confirmed yet, as Cadillac is still finalising details of how and when the OPTIQ will arrive in Europe and – hopefully – the UK. What we can say is that it’ll be very well equipped, and lavishly finished, just like the car that you can see in our video. After all, Cadillac is pitching itself as a luxury brand, and while it plans to undercut the obvious rivals initially, it’s eventually got ambitions to take on Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Volvo at their own game. 

Verdict

It’s early days with Cadillac. I really like the cars; they're rather lovely, and we even had a little passenger ride in the back of the LYRIQ, which was super-lavish and comfy. Even so, I can’t help but feel that the brand will struggle to gain sales, initially; our market’s never been kind to Cadillac, and competition is really strong for premium electric SUVs. But, the OPTIQ does look smart and is great inside, so with the right finance deals, warranty and incentives, this could finally be the car to give Cadillac a foothold on this side of the pond. 

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