Cadillac Optiq during the Chicago Auto Show. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)Anadolu via Getty ImagesThe 2026 Cadillac Optiq is an aggressively priced, compact luxury EV. With a bonus: standard vehicle autonomy.TL:DR: The 2026 Cadillac Optiq RWD Premium Sport that I tested is rated at 317 miles of range. Upside: It's battery-efficient, nimble, comfortable, compact and comes standard with General Motors Super Cruise advanced driver assist system. Downside: no frunk so cargo volume comes up a little short. Trim as tested is $59,600. It starts at $50,900.The Optiq I tested included a glass roof with power shade, Google navigation (including voice-based), an AKG 19-speaker system with Dolby Atmos, a head-up display, ambient interior lighting, an air quality indicator, and Super Cruise.2026 Cadillac Optiq in the Mojave Desert.A Smaller GM ElectricGeneral Motors has plenty of big electric SUVs and pickups, including the Hummer EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ, and the Chevy Silverado EV. (I've tested all of them.) I would not call any of the above nimble. That's not necessarily a criticism. That's GM's approach to the market they're serving.AdvertisementAdvertisementMy point: the Cadillac Optiq is not your typical GM electric. I would say it hits the sweet spot in size. At 190 inches, it's 3 inches longer than the Tesla Model Y. Why is that good? It's easy to maneuver in tight spaces and takes up less space in the garage but still big enough to be comfortable for a family of four.Tesla Charging NetworkAnother big upside is the Optiq's Tesla NACS charging port, which means you can use Tesla Superchargers. That's huge because Superchargers are far superior to the competition: faster charging, more uptime and usually plenty of available chargers.The Optiq has a Tesla NACS charging port.Battery EfficiencyThe Optiq strikes a good middle ground on battery pack size. It is rated at over 300 miles of range but doesn't have a massive battery pack to weigh it down and add cost. (Optiq battery pack is 85 kWh versus 102 kWh for the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq).I didn't have the vehicle long enough to do a thorough test of the battery efficiency (You need to test an EV for months to do that.) But the Optiq's relatively small size and smaller battery pack scream efficiency. Bigger battery packs don't always mean more range because batteries add weight, which is an anathema to range. I would say that if you travel at the lower end of highway speeds (70 mph or under), you can probably get in the neighborhood of the rated range of 317 miles – give or take 20 miles. With the stipulation that we're talking about summer range not winter range. (I do my testing in Los Angeles.) Faster driving can reduce the range pretty dramatically, however. That applies to any EV.Super Cruise ADAS Is A Boon – With A FootnoteSuper Cruise, GM's Advanced Driver Assistance System, or ADAS, should not be overlooked. It comes standard on the Optiq, which is a better deal than Full Self-Driving (FSD) on the Tesla Model Y, which is an extra $99/month.AdvertisementAdvertisementSome drivers have the attitude of "What? Have a computer drive my car? No way." That's a mistake. A good ADAS can make driving safer and more enjoyable. Super Cruise, for instance, can handle most of the driving on monotonous long-distance highway trips. As well as bumper-to-bumper traffic in urban areas. Super Cruise handled most of a three-hour round trip I took to the Mojave Desert.One thing GM should fix, however: Super Cruise needs to be better at reading construction zones. There are construction zones all over Los Angeles. But many are inactive and simply consist of some concrete blocks on the side of the road. In these areas, Super Cruise is very unpredictable. Turning itself off, then on again, then off again. That can be frustrating and dangerous if you're not paying close attention when Super Cruise disengages (because you have to quickly seize back control).Google-Based NavigationThe included infotainment system is based on Google software running on a curved 33-inch, 9K-resolution display. Google is baked directly into the system so you get Google Maps for native navigation, Google Assistant for voice control, and Google Play for downloading apps straight to the car. You can interact with it via touchscreen or voice.ConclusionI would highly recommend the Cadillac Optiq. But then I'm partial to smaller, more efficient EVs. Electrics like the Cadillac Escalade IQ and Cadillac Vistiq are fine if you need a big car. But most buyers would be perfectly happy with the Optiq. It's not too small, not too big and delivers efficient battery range and luxury, to boot.This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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