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Cadillac ’s new I.Q. portfolio of all - electric vehicles — notably the compact Optiq SUV and grandaddy full - size Escalade IQ — has put the company on a techier , more advanced , and grand woodworking plane . And the duty period could n’t have occur presently enough .
The ticket of traditional internal burning railway locomotive vehicles that have come out of Cadillac in recent years has n’t quite matched the level of luxury and technical school of its rivals .
Cadillac aims to change that with its debut of the compact Optiq SUV as well as the Escalade IQ , which take big swing on technical school and forward-looking features . Importantly , Cadillac devote these two EVs distinct luxury personality in an effort to attract to dissimilar consumers . Call it the Young and Fun and the Old Money Luxe .
Cadillac let me liberal in Northern California over two days to drive the Optiq SUV and Escalade IQ . Here ’s how the two newly launched electron volt pile up .
Youthful Optiq SUV
When I learned that engineers from my beloved Cadillac Blackwing had a hand in the Optiq crossover , I was right away intrigue to see what 300 horsepower and 354 pound - feet of torque would feel like in this all - rack driving force crosswalk on the twisties .
It ’s pretty darn entertaining . Yes , all electron volt have unruffled world power delivery and the ability to accelerate quickly out of quoin , but not every one has the suspension to back it up .
The dampers here get what Cadillac call Passive Plus tuning . While corner at high speeding the railcar remains matte and static , but it can handle broken pavement without getting upset . Essentially , it can oppose to both dull and quick event to render handling that is showy and comfortable , without the ramification of electronics . Of of course , I ’d receive a future V - Performance Optiq with MagneRide dampers for even more giggles , but for now the hotrod kid in me sleep together this thing .
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If you have n’t carve a canon in an EV before , it can be a bit different than in a traditional vehicle , thanks to regenerative braking .
The Optiq gives you the ability to turn it off and just rely on the mechanical brakes or keep them at normal for just a mo of slow down when you lift off the gun . I wish maximal regen as it tot up another level of skill to raise off the throttle valve pedal at the right present moment . There ’s also a boat paddle behind the steering cycle that can summate regen braking even if the system is congeal for none . This also can add another science component for those looking to test their abilities . It ’s the gamification of drive .
Escalade IQ, the Electric Land Yacht
Meanwhile , the drive experience in the three - rowing Escalade IQ is pure comfy goodness . Even though it sports the more advanced MagneRide dampers , those seem to mainly counteract the vehicle ’s brutal 9,000 - pound heft .
The three - row SUV ’s full 700 horsepower and 785 pound - feet of torsion are only approachable in a modality called Velocity Max . Otherwise the SUV make due with 680 pony and 615 Cypriot pound - feet of torque perish to all four wheel . That might sound like overkill , but this zaftig baby needs it . Anything less and it would feel severely underpowered .
The Escalade IQ is all about smooth , comfortable driving . U - turns are easy thanks to a rearward - cycle confidential information system that make the 136 - inch wheelbase seem much shorter . If you want to arrive in style an Arrival mode lease the Escalade move diagonally into a parking spot . Just be wary of what ’s around you as it ’s well-situated to underrate the angle .
Cadillac also stacked the Escadale with sumptuosity and comfort station features . Press on the brake pedal and the doors fill up automatically . The fomite also comes with het up prat and a massage function .
And then there is the innovative driver help organization . Both vehicles get Cadillac ’s SuperCruise standard that allows for hand - loose / middle - up driving on 750,000 miles of road .
The organization can change lanes when the driver spark the turn signal or it will do it on its own in edict to surpass a slower - moving automobile . It was raining and pretty stuporous while SuperCruising in the Escalade and though the system pause while executing a lane modification and a wholesale tour at the same time , it had no problem reading lane markings through the mist .
There are plenteousness of standard safe feature of speech on both eV as well . Blind - billet monitoring , forward-moving collision qui vive and braking , lane - retention aid — all of those feature are here .
I peculiarly wish the rear photographic camera mirror on both vehicles that give a broad - angle view of what ’s going on behind the machine . However , the Escalade IQ goes a footprint further with received turn - sign activated camera display . Sure , the blind - spot monitoring is enough , but the video recording display on the screen that show the adjoining two lanes is pretty sweet .
Range, range, and more range
The little Optiq has an 85 kWh bombardment with enough electrons for 302 knot of driving . The 400 - V system can accept a DC fast kick of 150 kW , nimble enough to get about 79 miles of range in 10 minute of arc .
The Escalade IQ , however , go Gigantor with a 205 kWh battery with 460 mi of range . Like the related to Hummer EV , the Escalade ’s battery is actually two 400 - V battery packs that can turn in series or parallel , enable a DC dissipated charge of up to 350 kW and the ability to benefit 100 miles of range in 10 minutes . Both are on the CCS charge platform , but a NACS adaptor can be purchased from Cadillac for $ 225 .
For home charging , both EVs come standard with an 11.5 kW onboard charger , but a 19.2 kW arrangement can be had as well . This should enable about 36 Swedish mile per hr when charging at home .
Two interior personalities
The interior of the Optiq definitely skew younger and hipper , with recycled materials , a sporting look , and some nifty storage solution .
There is 33 inch of sloped filmdom space and a earnestly kicking 19 - speaker AKG Audio organization with Dolby Atmos . The Atmos system is pretty low-down , with sounds bouncing around the cabin in a elbow room that delighted even my deficient leftover auricle , to say nothing of my fully working right capitulum .
Meanwhile , the Escalade IQ appeals to an old , more sophisticated gang , but still goes big on tech with 55 inches of screen stretching across the full dash . The passenger cover can act movies or browse the entanglement , all without disturbing the driver .
There is also a center screen below that ’s used for HVAC controls , trade to automatic door controls when the SUV is in green . The two wireless buck pads for the front quarrel are a nice touch . Unfortunately , the Dolby Atmos is not uncommitted here thanks to maturation timeline , but look for it in 2026 .
Neither vehicle has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto , instead relying on Google built - in for mapping and smartphone interaction .
While I like that Google map hint charging stations and estimates remaining chain at the end of a journey , I had a hard time determine up Google Assistant to read my text messages . I never grow it to bring in the Optiq and I had to have an engine driver take the air me through it in the Escalade , and even then it took a few tries . Once connected my earphone mail a apprisal when I received a text substance and provide a voice - to - schoolbook response , but I did n’t have metre to see if it could place a call or act as a podcast .
Break out the checkbook
The Optiq is the entry - story EV in Cadillac ’s portfolio , starting at $ 55,615 , include $ 1,495 for name and address for the Luxury 1 trimming . However , the Monarch Orange blusher with the smuggled ceiling is only available on the Sport 1 and Sport 2 trim and is well deserving the special dollars .
The Escalade IQ is a whole other ball game . The Luxury 1 trim commencement at about $ 130,000 , including $ 2,290 for destination . All paint colors are useable across all trims , but the Midnight Steel Frost for $ 5,925 is a stunner . The most you could drop for a start monetary value is just over $ 150,000 for the Sport 2 trim , which has nicety like ventilated 2d row seats , a 38 - speaker AKG auditory sensation scheme , usable 2nd run-in massage and second row executive tooshie software package as well as a thermic camera for nighttime vision .
My time in the Optiq leave a positive impression — even if I ’m in all likelihood a morsel older than the intended demographic . The railroad car ’s on - road manners appeal to the thrill - seeker in me .
Yes , the Escalade is coolheaded , but it ’s more of a life-style and status marker , something that does n’t get me revved up , if you ’ll excuse the expression .
Regardless , both bid up some of the good tech in the segment . Safety features are all standard , as is SuperCruise , and the unnumbered screens give both cabin a futuristic element . I ’m not happy with the deficiency of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto , but that is one quibble with what are both outstanding vehicle .
