2025 Cadillac Optiq First Drive Review

Compared to the rest of the brand’s electric vehicle (EV) lineup, the 2025 Cadillac Optiq looks about as conventional as can be — and it drives that way, too.

OK, not quite; but just like the Chevrolet Blazer EV it shares a platform with, this crossover feels as familiar for first-timers as emissions-free ones come. It also makes a compelling case for picking a premium model, with competitive pricing that’s well within reach of similarly sized mainstream models.

Reasonably Priced

The Optiq is still a Cadillac, which means the bargain it drives is relative to its upmarket positioning. Even so, the asking price is well shy of astronomical, with an entry point of $62,499 with freight ($2,500). That’s for both the Luxury 1 and Sport 1 trims; moving up to the Luxury 2 or Sport 2 adds $4,000 to the bottom line. Regardless, that’s for an EV with all-wheel drive and an estimated range of 486 km with its 85-kWh battery fully juiced.

For the sake of cross-shopping, opting for an all-wheel-drive version of the Blazer EV that uses the same battery means pre-tax pricing between $60,499 and $72,499, while the Volkswagen ID.4 with four-wheel traction and an 82-kWh battery means paying $57,995 or $60,495, depending on trim. Then there’s the Honda Prologue that’s underpinned by the same platform and battery as the Blazer and Optiq, which started at $61,990 last year and went up to $71,990. (Pricing for the 2025 version wasn’t yet announced at the time of this writing.)

A Unique Approach

What the Optiq delivers for the money — even one like this tester that was finished with an upgraded interior ($1,320) to go with premium paint ($900) and wheels ($840) — is something that’s perhaps short of expectations in terms of materials, but it hits a high-water mark when it comes to uniqueness. The perforated faux-leather upholstery, with its accent stitching and piping, is a convincing fake that’s paired with a fabric-like finish on the dash, doors, and console. Better still, that stuff’s made of entirely recycled polyester.

The console panel pictured here might look like wood grain, but it’s actually made of recycled newspaper — a novel approach to interior trim that’s shared with Genesis. Meanwhile, the light grey upholstery that’s available in each of the four trims is paired with bold blue plastic panels on the dash and doors that provide a rare splash of colour in what’s often a more staid segment.

Despite being the entry point to Cadillac’s EV lineup, the Optiq isn’t short of features. An impressive 19-speaker stereo is standard, as is the same 33-inch digital display found in the larger Lyriq that relies on a Google-based interface that includes integrated Google Maps (but not Android Auto or Apple CarPlay compatibility here). Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard, and so is a camera-based rearview mirror and hands-free highway driving assist by way of Super Cruise from Cadillac parent company General Motors (GM).

Those last two features in particular exceed expectations for entry-level luxury, and are part of a larger advanced safety and driver-assistance suite that’s included across the four-trim lineup. Super Cruise, which requires a paid subscription after the included trial period ends, works on a growing network of pre-mapped highways throughout Canada and the United States, allowing entirely hands-free operation including automated lane changes.

A Delight to Drive

When Super Cruise isn’t active — and even when it is — the Optiq is a smooth and satisfying EV that feels almost like a gas-powered crossover from behind the wheel. Sure, electric torque delivery is smoother and quicker than the combustion-based kind; but as far as overall drivability is concerned, there’s little discernible difference between this EV and, say, the slightly smaller Cadillac XT4 that has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine under its hood.

While it uses a conventional suspension setup instead of an adaptive one — don’t forget this is Cadillac’s entry-level EV — the ride quality is impeccable, with few bumps and bruises making their way inside the cabin. Body roll is well managed, too, with the Optiq’s low centre of gravity leaving it feeling planted to the road even through tightly winding switchbacks. Meanwhile, the adjustable regenerative braking can be dialled up to a pleasantly aggressive one-pedal setting, or shut off so the mechanical brakes are required the way they would be in a gas crossover.

One Spot of Concern

For all the pleasantries the Optiq offered on the roads in and around San Francisco, one stretch of asphalt threw up a serious red flag. In fairness, bugs and other unresolved issues aren’t entirely uncommon in the kind of pre-production units often used during media drive events like this one; but this particular experience was cause for concern.

To provide a bit of context, heavy rainfall punctuated the first part of the drive that spanned the Golden Gate Bridge and into Marin County on the north side of San Francisco. The other consideration is that, as delightful as the Optiq is to drive, it’s not what would rightly be described as sporty. Together with the conditions, it meant an extra degree of caution was exercised along the sinuous journey. But for the better part of 30 km the Optiq was slipping and sliding into almost every turn — sometimes alarmingly.

Whether regenerative braking was on or off, the traction control system was in a repeated state of panic as the Optiq struggled to find grip, slipping and understeering even at speeds as slow as 20 km/h. With a combined experience of nearly 50 years as automotive journalists, both this author and his co-driver were stumped. And then just as quickly as it happened the problem went away, never to appear again when travelling along the same route in reverse, although it was much drier the second time.

After reporting the issue to Optiq chief engineer John Cockburn, he drove the vehicle and was apparently unable to replicate it. A GM Canada spokesperson wrote the matter is “being taken seriously and will be actively investigated.” However, since the data from the vehicle had to be pulled and analyzed to figure out exactly what happened, there was no detailed response as of this writing.

Final Thoughts

That’s probably not the unresolved ending any prospective buyer is hoping for, but rest assured an answer will be provided as soon as it’s available. It’s also worth noting that production versions of the Optiq’s platform-mates haven’t exhibited these issues, even on a rain-soaked road trip around Cape Breton behind the wheel of the Blazer EV, or during a wintertime test of the Lyriq. (However, three other attendees reported the same problems at the Optiq event).

Looking past what’s quite possibly a pre-production issue, the 2025 Cadillac Optiq serves up a unique take on the typical approach to premium positioning. With driving dynamics that are at least adjacent to those of a conventionally powered crossover — and plenty of driving range to go with them — it’s an intriguing option for first-time EV owners and veterans alike. Now consider its competitive pricing, and the Optiq is an appealing offering that’s a quick fix away from excellence.