Cadillac has unveiled its cheapest model yet for the Australian market, ahead of sales starting “shortly”.
The Cadillac Optiq arrives here in a single sports class with all-wheel drive and dual motor at the price of $80,000 before on-road costs.
It produces 224 kW of power and 480 Nm of torque and uses a 75 kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery.
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At least for now, the Optiq is missing various updates that were made to US market models for the 2026 model year (MY26). These updates brought a new 232kW/450Nm single-motor rear-wheel drivetrain and a more powerful 328kW/675Nm dual-motor all-wheel drivetrain.
The Optiq range is now topped in the US market by a hot V-Series that makes 387kW and 880Nm.
It’s unclear if and when the updated Optiq powertrains will arrive in Australia, although GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala previously ruled out the Optiq-V.
The Optiq on the Australian market also has a DC charging capacity of 110 kW, as it uses a 75 kWh battery like the models on the European market. Both the US market models before and after the update can be charged with DC power at up to 150 kW.
However, Australian-market Optiqs have something their US-market counterparts lack: wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, features that General Motors controversially dropped from its electric vehicles in the US.
The Optiq, like the rest of the local Cadillac lineup, features Cadillac Connected Services. This allows owners to use the myCadillac mobile app to remotely control functions such as air conditioning and view charging status.
A free eight-year subscription is included.
The Optiq launches alongside the full-size, three-row Vistiq, another electric crossover SUV. The pair will join the Lyriq, which launched the Cadillac brand in Australia when customer deliveries began in early 2025. All three run on a special platform for electric vehicles.
While the Lyriq competes against models like the BMW iX and the Vistiq competes against the Volvo EX90, the Optiq – a fairly large midsize SUV – is arguably Cadillac’s answer to models like the Polestar 4.
Prices
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 Cadillac Optiq Sport | $80,000 |
Drives and efficiency
The Optiq is exclusively equipped with a two-motor all-wheel drive.
It features a strut front suspension and a five-link rear suspension. There are no adaptive dampers, but these can be found on the hot Optiq-V offered in the US.
The Optiq features adjustable regenerative braking with a one-pedal drive mode and GM’s rain-on-demand paddle that you can pull to slow the vehicle.
It can be charged with up to 22.1kW of AC power, with Cadillac saying it can add up to 100km of range per hour.
With DC power, up to 60 miles of range can be added in about 10 minutes of charging, according to Cadillac.
| Specifications | Cadillac Optiq |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Double electric motors |
| battery | 75 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt |
| Performance | 224kW |
| Torque | 480 Nm |
| Drive type | Four-wheel drive |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 19.9 kWh/100 km (WLTP) |
| Claimed area | 425 km (WLTP) |
| Max. AC charging rate | 22.1kW |
| Max. DC charging rate | 110kW |
Dimensions
| Dimensions | Cadillac Optiq |
|---|---|
| length | 4820mm |
| Width | 1912 mm (2126 mm including mirror) |
| Height | 1644mm |
| wheelbase | 2954mm |
| Ground clearance | 153mm |
| Loading capacity | 744L (rear seats folded up) 1603L (rear seats folded down) |
Maintenance and warranty
Cadillac Australia offers a five-year, unlimited mileage vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty on its models.
It also offers free scheduled service and roadside assistance for five years.
Security
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 assistant
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Reverse AEB
- Blind Spot Assist
- Lane keeping assistant
- Track centering
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Surround view camera
- Traffic sign recognition
- 7 airbags
Standard equipment
Standard equipment includes:
- Panoramic glass roof with electric sun protection
- 21-inch Dark Android alloy wheels with 275/40R21 self-sealing tires
- Brembo front brakes
- LED headlights
- Automatic high beam
- Black crystal grille
- Obsidian chrome and gloss black exterior finishes
- Improved automatic parking assistant
- 33-inch wraparound display including digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen
- Google integrated
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Over-the-air updates
- 8-year free subscription to Cadillac Connected Services
- Digital rearview mirror
- Wireless phone charger
- AKG Studio Audio System with 19 speakers and Dolby Atmos
- 126-color dual-zone ambient lighting
- Upholstery in perforated Intelux synthetic leather
- 8-way power adjustable front seats
- Heating
- ventilation
- massage
- 4-way lumbar adjustment
- Memory
- Fabric dashboard, center console accents
Colors
The Optiq is offered with three different interior colors:
- Noir
- Sky Cool Gray with Santorini Blue accents
- Phantom blue
MORE: Explore the Cadillac Optiq showroom
