Cadillac has detailed its most affordable model yet for the Australian market, ahead of sales beginning “shortly”.
The Cadillac Optiq is arriving here in a single dual-motor all-wheel drive Sport grade, priced at $80,000 before on-road costs.
It produces 224kW of power and 480Nm of torque, and uses a 75kWh nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery.
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For now at least, the Optiq misses out on various updates made to US-market models for model year 2026 (MY26). These updates brought a new 232kW/450Nm single-motor rear-wheel drive powertrain, plus a more powerful 328kW/675Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain.
The Optiq range is now topped by a hot V-Series in the US market, which pumps out 387kW and 880Nm.
It’s unclear if or when the updated Optiq powertrains will arrive in Australia, though GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala has previously ruled out the Optiq-V.
The Australian-market Optiq also makes do with a DC charge rate of 110kW as it uses a 75kWh battery like European-market models. Both the pre- and post-update US-market models can be charged on DC power at up to 150kW.
Australian-market Optiqs do have one thing their US-market counterparts lack, however: wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, features General Motors has controversially dropped from its EVs in the US.
The Optiq, like the rest of the local Cadillac range, features Cadillac Connected Services. This allows owners to use the myCadillac mobile app to remotely control functions like the climate control and view the charging status.
An eight-year complimentary subscription is included.
The Optiq is launching alongside the full-size, three-row Vistiq, another electric crossover SUV. The two will bookend the Lyriq, which debuted the Cadillac brand in Australia when customer deliveries commenced early in 2025. All three ride on a dedicated electric vehicle platform.
With the Lyriq taking on the likes of the BMW iX and the Vistiq tackling the Volvo EX90, the Optiq – being a fairly large mid-size SUV – is arguably Cadillac’s answer to models like the Polestar 4.
Pricing
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 Cadillac Optiq Sport | $80,000 |
Drivetrains and Efficiency
The Optiq comes exclusively with a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain.
It features strut front and five-link rear suspension. There are no adaptive dampers, though these can be found on the hot Optiq-V offered in the US.
The Optiq has adjustable regenerative braking, with a one-pedal drive mode and GM’s Regen on Demand paddle which you can pull to slow the vehicle.
It can be charged at up to 22.1kW on AC power, with Cadillac claiming up to 100km of range can be added per hour.
On DC power, up to 94km of range can be added in around 10 minutes of charging, says Cadillac.
| Specifications | Cadillac Optiq |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Dual electric motors |
| Battery | 75kWh nickel manganese cobalt |
| Power | 224kW |
| Torque | 480Nm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 19.9kWh/100km (WLTP) |
| Claimed range | 425km (WLTP) |
| Max AC charge rate | 22.1kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 110kW |
Dimensions
| Dimensions | Cadillac Optiq |
|---|---|
| Length | 4820mm |
| Width | 1912mm (2126mm incl. mirrors) |
| Height | 1644mm |
| Wheelbase | 2954mm |
| Ground clearance | 153mm |
| Cargo capacity | 744L (rear seats up) 1603L (rear seats folded) |
Servicing and Warranty
Cadillac Australia backs its models with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty.
It also offers five years of complimentary scheduled servicing and roadside assistance.
Safety
The Cadillac Optiq has yet to be assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Intersection assist
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Reverse AEB
- Blind-spot assist
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane centring
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Surround-view camera
- Traffic sign recognition
- 7 airbags
Standard Equipment
Standard equipment includes:
- Panoramic glass roof with power sunshade
- 21-inch Dark Android alloy wheels in 275/40R21 self-sealing tyres
- Brembo front brakes
- LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- Black Crystal grille
- Obsidian chrome and gloss black exterior finishes
- Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist
- 33-inch wraparound display incl. digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen
- Google Built-in
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Over-the-air updates
- 8-year complimentary subscription to Cadillac Connected Services
- Digital rear-view mirror
- Wireless phone charger
- 19-speaker AKG Studio Audio System with Dolby Atmos
- 126-colour dual-zone ambient lighting
- Inteluxe perforated leatherette upholstery
- 8-way power-adjustable front seats
- Heating
- Ventilation
- Massage
- 4-way lumbar adjustment
- Memory
- Fabric dashboard, centre console accents
Colours
The Optiq will be offered with three different interior colourways:
- Noir
- Sky Cool Grey with Santorini Blue accents
- Phantom Blue