2026 Cadillac Optiq AWD Review: Free Power

The Optiq debuted last year as Caddy’s smallest electric offering, essentially offering an electron-munching alternative for those who might’ve otherwise looked at an XT5 (the brand’s only remaining gas-powered SUV not named Escalade). It arrived with a sole powertrain option: a dual-motor setup good for 300 hp and 354 pound-feet of torque. An 85.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided a useful 303 miles (488 kilometers) of range.

That setup is gone for 2026. Newly standard is a rear-drive setup, still pulling from the same battery pack but now making 315 horsepower. The AWD model uses that same motor with an additional unit acting on the front, for a combined system output of 440 hp and 498 lb-ft. There is no drop in estimated range, and the rear-drive setup even ekes out an additional five percent or so.

There are zero changes to the exterior of the Optiq, so if you liked it last year, that’s great. It’s a sharp-looking thing with a more traditional face and tail than the outré Lyriq, and while it’s the smallest option in the Caddy corral, at a hair short of 190 inches (4,826 millimeters) it’s not actually small. The art deco rear quarter-glass is a confident touch, while an available gloss black roof keeps the visual weight low down.

This tester rolls on the same upsized 21-inch wheels and tires that we saw when we drove the Optiq last year, as well.

Powertrain and Fuel Economy:

I’m not going to say yesteryear’s Optiq was slow, because it wasn’t. And 300 hp hits even harder when you have the instant access afforded by an electric setup. Around town, the ‘25 was plenty.

This new setup simply requires less effort for everything. Short on-ramp? Easy peasy. Need to get that pass done tout de suite? Sorted. The Optiq is brawny but subtle about it, just as a luxury vehicle should be. There’s no faux-sound theatrics either, just the barely-there hum of the motors putting in the work.

One-pedal driving is available at the touch of a button, and while it’s one of the stronger setups out there it’s easy to learn. Drivers can also apply additional regenerative braking as they desire via the left paddle on the wheel.

With colder-than-usual temperatures during the week, the Optiq’s efficiency didn’t quite hit the levels to match its official rating. Charging is also not necessarily better: while the NACS port opens up a lot more native access, parking at a short-cord Tesla Supercharger means getting the nose within mere inches of the charger itself.

Handling and Drivability:

The benefit of this dual-motor rethink is that the Optiq adopts a more engaging driving balance. With the more powerful motor out back, there’s a newfound eagerness to how the Optiq changes directions. It’s no sports car, but that distinct rear bias does endow the EV with a more premium feel than the safe, fancy-Equinox setup of last year.

The improvements apply to the steering itself, too. Freed from having to wrangle the majority of the power and handle direction changes, the front-end is crisper and cleaner, translating to smoother and more predictable steering. The wheel rim is still light on feedback but it’s appropriate for the class.

Ride Quality and Comfort:

I don’t remember the Optiq being this jiggly when I drove it last summer. While it is generally well-damped on winding country roads and the highway, potholes and speedbumps result in pronounced body movement. Diagonal crossings only exacerbate the issue. There is no adaptive suspension setup here, so there’s no way to simply drive mode the problem away, either.

Contributor James Riswick compared the 2026 and 2025 Optiqs and found the ride much more forgiving on the standard 20-inch wheels.

I loved the interior of the 2025 Optiq, as the Phantom Blue option is easily the standout of the bunch. Oozing style and class with its confident blend of materials and colors, it might just be one of the best interiors under six figures currently on the market.

So this mostly-black setup is a bit of a letdown. The quality is all there, but the monotone design has it looking more rental than regal. At least the pleasantly tactile knit is still used generously, across the dashboard and upper door panels. It wraps around the top-most part of the center console too, though even here it’s a little disappointing: a clear lacquer covers it, where the recycled newspaper faux-wood trim sat in the last tester.

I praised the ‘25 Optiq for its long list of standard tech and this year’s model is no different. A 33-inch curved display is sharp and generally easy to use—here’s where I put the standard criticism about the lack of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, however. While the screen controls to the left of the wheel allow for variation than physical items, it’s nonetheless fiddly to use. Other good stuff includes a sharp 360-degree camera, digital rearview mirror, and an excellent 19-speaker AKG sound system. Don’t forget Super Cruise, which now works in tandem with Google Maps to show just how much of your trip can be done with the hands-free driving assist.

The same criticisms apply this year as well, including the aforementioned lack of phone mirroring and an over-eagerness from select safety assists. The blind-spot monitoring seat-rumble will regularly activate when making a right-turn with a car behind the Optiq, for example.

Value, Dollars, and Sense:

2026 Optiq pricing starts below last year’s model, all thanks to the rear-drive setup. We’re talking $52,695 ($60,199 CAD) including destination, which is only slightly above where the (admittedly AWD) mainstream EVs hit their top trims. America sees a slight price gap between Sport and Luxury trims (and their Premium counterparts), while Canadian buyers simply get to choose the design they prefer for the same price.

The bad news is that yes, the AWD model is slightly more money than before. This tester rings in at $61,594 ($71,218 CAD): roughly two grand more than last year’s Premium Sport tester in America and a couple hundo above in Canada. If you don’t need all-paw power, however, you’re still getting more power and range than last year’s model.

Final Thoughts: 2026 Cadillac Optiq AWD Review