Every car shopper has a list of rational requirements their superego puts together, as well as a subconsciously understood well of irrational pangs that come straight from the id. Nearly every automaker can satisfy the first. The second is why we don’t all drive the same two or three vehicles.
What intuitively soothes my soul? Interesting design. I’m happy to own any practical car, but I feel connected to one with surfaces that feel crafted and artistic. That doesn’t have to mean expensive. Just distinctive.
I settled into the cabin of the Cadillac Optiq and instantly felt calm and in command. Someone took their time and put their best work into this interior.
I spent a week driving the 2025 Optiq Luxury 2 in urban and suburban settings. I didn’t put it through any unusual testing. Just drove it for casual errands and to take friends to dinner. But I didn’t want to get out.
Which Trim Level
Cadillac sells the Optiq in four trim levels: Luxury 1 and 2, and Sport 1 and 2. All four use the same dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup, making 300 horsepower and having the same 302-mile range. There’s nothing sportier about the Sport models. The Sport variants use dark trim in places where Luxury models use chrome.
My test vehicle was the Optiq Luxury 2, giving it embroidered and quilted seats in Inteluxe faux leather, massaging front seats, and customizable ambient interior lighting. The Black Raven exterior came at no additional cost. The Autumn Canyon interior added $1,100 — steep for a color scheme, but it wound up being my favorite feature of the car.
Favorite Feature
Sliding into the driver’s seat of the Optiq, the car immediately feels special. The Autumn Canyon color theme gives you a deep caramel faux leather on the seats, wide-grain black wood on the center console, and a multilayer dashboard in a combination of smooth gray and a canvas-like coarse material in a matching gray.
It provides a contrast of colors and textures that gives the whole experience depth. It feels curated, not slapped together.
The Cadillac Mondrian logo influences everything, from the shape of the ambient lighting to the stitch pattern on the seats. It’s subtle. You don’t feel like you’re sitting on a logo. You feel enveloped in a purposeful design.
It’s a triumph at this price range.
What It’s Like to Drive
All EVs are quick, but 300 hp in a compact SUV feels extremely sporty. Acceleration is exponential, especially in Sport mode.
Steering feel is light. If you’re used to true hydraulic steering, an EV’s electronic copy of it can feel a little unresponsive. Cadillac engineers have mitigated that problem nicely. This is a reasonable facsimile, and you’re not likely to race your compact SUV, anyway.
Like other EVs, the Optiq uses regenerative braking, which captures some energy from slowing down to partially recharge the battery. Cadillac’s version takes a little acclimation. The beginning of pedal travel is slightly soft before the rather large brakes bite.
You’ll get used to it quickly.
Interior Comfort and Technology
I don’t want to belabor the point, but if you’re considering the Optiq, you need to see and feel its cabin before you know if this car is right for you. It’s distinctive, and to me, that’s the best reason to consider it. But its charms are all aesthetic, and not everyone cares.
In practical terms, a 19-speaker AKG sound system is the standout feature.
A 33-inch curved display houses both a screen for the driver and a central touchscreen controlling entertainment, information, and climate functions. That’s becoming the norm in car design, but it means the steering wheel blocks your view of parts of the screen. A few automakers have come up with better screen positions, but this is what you’ll encounter in most cars you test drive this year.
Passenger space is reasonable in both front and back, though you’ll want to upgrade to Cadillac’s midsize Lyriq EV if you frequently carry clients or other adults in the rear seats.
A sloped roofline robs some cargo space. It offers 26 cubic feet — three less than a Tesla Model Y. Strangely, for an EV, it lacks a frunk (front trunk).
Limitations
The Optiq’s biggest competition is across the showroom. Its price starts in the mid-$50,000 range and climbs into the low-$60,000 figures. That overlaps with that of the Lyriq, which offers more power, more passenger and cargo space, and a smidge more range.
I’d still likely choose the Optiq, as I think its interior has more personality. But, in practical terms, a low-end Lyriq might beat out a high-end Optiq for many buyers.
