2027 Cadillac VISTIQ

Cadillac’s midsize 3-row electric vehicle (EV), the Vistiq, is one of the industry’s darkest horses. Sized like a Rivian R1S, luxurious like a Volvo EX90, and quick like a Cadillac V performance sedan, it checks a ton of boxes without screaming, “I’m important.”

The design language that has graced the company’s existing portfolio of electric vehicles translates well to the Vistiq. Now in its second model year, Cadillac has made two tweaks to that design that are coming to the broader lineup soon. For example, the intricate graphics on the rear-most side windows are now gone. Likely too polarizing for too many customers, Cadillac models with any variation of this array will also lose it in the future.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury electric SUVs, including the Cadillac Vistiq.

For years Cadillac and other luxury brands have resorted to naming structures for their powertrains that confused shoppers and car reviewers alike. That changes for 2027 with a simpler nomenclature for the company’s electric lineup. The new badge on the tailgate simply reads “E4,” with “E” representing electric propulsion and “4” referencing all four wheels being powered, aka all-wheel drive. This year also sees the Vistiq getting a NACS charge port, which opens access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.

The Vistiq is available in four trim levels, two of which lean into a more luxurious ethos, the other two into a sportier one. All models come standard with a 615-horsepower, 650 lb-ft dual-motor electric powertrain and at least 300 miles of range. The lowest two trims can reach 305 miles due to different AC charging hardware.

Other standard features include a panoramic moonroof with a power sunshade and a separate panel above the third row, a 23-speaker AKG audio system, massaging front seats, and Super Cruise. As such, the entry-level Vistiq Luxury would be our trim of choice at $79,495, including destination fee.

The Vistiq shares a sub-$80,000 base price with the Volvo EX90, starting at $79,495 including destination fee. Similar in size to the Volvo, the Vistiq packs more power, more range, and standard AWD for only $1,405 more. In order to match the Cadillac’s performance, you’ll need to spend at least $86,000.

Rivian’s more adventurous R1S, which squeezes more passenger and cargo space into its boxier shape, starts at around $84,000. That model comes with a standard dual-motor arrangement and delivers 329 miles of range. Cadillac does not offer a larger battery with greater range, but Rivian will gladly take $7,000 for an upgraded battery that delivers 81 more miles. There are also tri- and quad-motor variants of the R1S that push the performance envelope beyond the Vistiq’s realm.

Piggybacking off the excellence of Super Cruise, the Vistiq is more than amply powered for the various scenarios you’ll find yourself in as a driver. The previously mentioned output figures are higher than the base trims of its closest competitors: Rivian R1S, Volvo EX90, and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

Cadillac tunes throttle mapping to be on the duller side here, so you won’t experience as much neck-snapping when you floor it. Instead, you’re met with a fluid swell of power that will still outdo most cars beside you at a stoplight. The red ‘V’ button on the steering wheel unlocks the maximum power from the electric motors, giving you the potential to hit 60 mph in as little as 3.7 seconds from a standstill. Honestly, this kind of performance is more than enough, but absolutely welcome here at this price.

Riding on massive 23-inch wheels, the air suspension and 4-wheel steering found on Premium Luxury and Platinum trims do a solid job of masking their size. Road imperfections are muted, and the setup strikes a pleasant balance between soft and sporty. Lower trims with the regular springs are still agreeable for absorbing around-town potholes and cracks, but you won’t be able to adjust the ground clearance on the fly.

The Platinum trim adds Brembo front brakes for improved stopping performance, but GM’s regenerative braking is programmed so well that you will rarely use them in the first place. Two levels of one-pedal are available, while a pressure-sensitive paddle on the left side of the steering wheel allows you to control the regen and bring the Vistiq to a stop with just your hand.

While not quite as hushed as the Volvo, this Cadillac still manages to have one of the quietest cabins you’ll find in a 3-row SUV. The AKG audio system is powerful and well-designed for the Vistiq’s cabin, so the serenity makes it feel more like you’re driving around in a recording studio than an amphitheater when you crank up the volume. If you use a Dolby Atmos-compatible platform, things get even better. The surround sound is one of the best-executed out there, avoiding the muddy profile that comes with many other systems in a similar setting.

Being that this is a Cadillac, comfort takes priority in all three rows. The third row is graced with a skylight up above, helping passengers forget they are in a somewhat tight compartment. You won’t find heated seats back there, but the second row has them. There is more than enough headroom and legroom for average adults in that row, with separate rear climate control accessible via a touchscreen at the back of the center console. The Cadillac Vistiq can seat a total of seven or six people, depending whether the second row is a bench or pair of captain’s chairs.

Up front, the dashboard forgoes the nearly full-width display found on the larger Escalade IQ but keeps its lower center touchscreen for climate and auxiliary functions. The main screen is a 33-inch curved OLED unit that is easy on the eyes and powered by Android Automotive. This system is excellent, though GM forbids phone projection from Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Instead, you are encouraged to use Google software and the Play Store to access your daily features, such as navigation and music streaming. They all work very well without making it feel like you need to switch phone makers to enjoy them.

Two things we don’t necessarily enjoy about this interior are more physical in nature. The control wheel on the center console and the buttons that surround it feel a step or two below the rest of the cabin in build quality. You’re met with clunky, cheap sensations when you operate them, forcing you to touch the screen and leave fingerprints all over it. Then there are the air vents. Luckily, Cadillac didn’t go the Lincoln route with in-screen airflow controls, but the joystick-style knobs used here make it a little difficult to tell where the air is going.

Super Cruise

As with the rest of General Motors’ portfolio equipped with Super Cruise, this hands-free system thoroughly impresses in the Vistiq. Combined with the smooth, authoritative power delivery of the electric motors, the system is confidence-inspiring and utterly relaxing.

AKG premium audio

Both the standard and upgraded AKG audio systems are excellently tuned, with the added enhancement of Dolby Atmos compatibility, which turns up the wow factor even higher.

Massaging seats

Massaging front seats are ideal for long drives, and the Vistiq offers them on every model. The same cannot be said for its competitors.

The Vistiq rides on the GM Battery Platform that supports most of the company’s electric portfolio today. Here, it is a standard dual-motor AWD setup producing up to 615 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Energy is stored within a 102-kWh battery that enables up to 305 miles of total range, depending on trim.

Priced higher than its gas-powered predecessor, the XT6, and with less range than some lower-priced offerings from Hyundai and Kia, the Vistiq could really benefit from improved fast-charging speeds. The Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90 use an 800V architecture that enables DC fast charging rates of up to 350 kW. The Vistiq only manages up to 190 kW through its 400V system, though it does now work directly at Tesla Superchargers without an adapter, just like the rest of the competition.

Essentially, the Vistiq will take roughly 40 minutes to do the 10%-80% fast charge — about twice as long as some rivals. Cadillac does get the edge with its maximum AC charging output of 19.2 kW on upper trims. That will fill the 102-kWh battery much faster at home than anything else in this segment, so long as you have hardware capable of supporting that speed. GM offers a proprietary bidirectional charger through its GM Energy division that will do the trick.