Opinion: The Cadillac Optiq is a Fantastic EV with One Red Flag

Cadillac is on a roll when it comes to new electric vehicles (EVs). More than any other luxury brand, it has been burning the candle at both ends, launching four new battery-powered vehicles since 2022.

The Lyriq was the first, borrowing the design language from the half-million-dollar yet-to-be-released Celestiq. It showed an understanding of what consumers are looking for in a luxury electric vehicle. Not only does it look great, but it gets 500 km of range, has plenty of power, and all the luxury amenities you could ask for, including a level interior quality that’s a marked change for Cadillac.

The new 2025 entry-level Optiq is more of the same. It shares a front fascia with its siblings, including the synchronized light show as you approach. It’s equipped with an 85-kWh battery pack and is rated to travel 487 km between charges. It has a wonderful ride, the cabin is quiet, and it makes 300 hp from dual electric motors — more than enough for any situation you’d encounter on public roads. It’s not as big as the Lyriq, but you really can’t tell from the inside. Legroom is generous, as is the cargo space.

The news gets better when you look at the price and what’s included. Starting at $63,433 including freight, the Optiq gets a large 33-inch display with 9K resolution, a Google-built-in infotainment system, a 19-speaker AKG sound system with Dolby Atmos, and an advanced hands-free driver assistance system. Compared to the Genesis GV60 or Audi Q4 e-tron, it’s less expensive, more powerful, and has more range. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the Cadillac’s design is better than either of those EVs.

Like the Lyriq, the Optiq feels like another home run. Cadillac’s continued success with the Lyriq cannot be overstated. It accounted for 22 per cent of the total sales for Cadillac Canada in 2024, and 80 per cent of those buyers were new to the brand. This vehicle is encroaching on Escalade sales and giving Cadillac a fresh new image. But there’s one nagging issue.

Like many new GM vehicles, the Optiq doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, instead relying on its Google-based infotainment system for navigation and entertainment. This could be a deal breaker for some, but in itself, it’s not such a bad thing. Phone mirroring technology is great, but taking a break from your device when you're driving can be a good thing. 

Google Maps is also the best navigation system you can get because it’s so comprehensive and easy to use. Android users can sign in to their Google accounts to access text messaging or e-mail, but Apple users have no way of using messages or the Music app, of which I am a subscriber. That means accessing music from my phone was done the old-fashioned way by scrolling through pages of folders, like I was using an early version of Windows.

The system essentially locks out users of the Apple ecosystem, of which there are many. Cadillac says using a single Google interface is required to enhance and integrate the EV experience. Sure.

The AKG sound system is amazing, too, with roof-mounted speakers that add another level of dimension to surround sound that immerses you in your music. But to take advantage of the Dolby Atmos surround sound capability, you need to be using a music app that supports it. Prime Music and Apple Music both do, but I wasn’t able to download Apple Music for some reason, and if I had access to CarPlay, this wouldn’t have been an issue.

But I can get over all of this. What I can’t get over is all of that good stuff I just mentioned — Google Maps, Dolby Atmos, access to apps and connected services, including the hands-free driving capability — expires after three years. Unless, of course, you pay for  $69.99 plus tax a month for an OnStar subscription to keep it. Subscriptions are becoming a sad reality of our lives, and this is just another one.

For those who lease a Cadillac Optiq on a three-year term and don’t plan on buying the vehicle after, it’s no big deal. But when the flood of used Optiqs hits the market in three to four years, subsequent owners are going to be in for a bit of a surprise. Let’s hope they did their research beforehand. The Optiq is another excellent EV from Cadillac, but make sure to read the fine print before you sign up for one.