Cadillac likes its chances in the Australian market.
Before commencing deliveries of its electric Lyriq SUV and its high-performance sibling, the Lyriq V, the all-American brand has gone and announced two new SUVs for its Australian line-up.
Poised to land on our shores in 2026, the Optiq and Vistiq electric SUVs will serve as two luxury electric SUVs on either side of its middle-of-the-road Lyriq.
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The Optiq will be the brand’s entry point, Cadillac said, while the full-sized, seven-seat Vistiq will resemble the closest thing Australia has ever had to an Escalade.
Pricing for either models is yet to be determined, but we do expect a starting price of near the $100,000 mark for the Optiq and closer to $140,000 for the Vistiq, based on the Lyriq’s local starting price of $117,000 and the Lyriq V’s estimated price of $125,000 (both at before on-road costs).
The Optiq lines up at 4820mm long, 2126mm wide and 1644mm tall, making it the smallest electric Cadillac model to date.
It still exceeds the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and more luxurious models such as the BMW iX3 and Genesis GV70 in size.
It comes equipped with dual electric motors for an all-wheel drive setup and an output of 224kW/480Nm available from the pedal.
An 85kWh battery provides 482km of range, while 150kW DC fast-charging capability can add up to 130km range in ten minutes, the brand claims.
Inside, it carries a 33-inch LED 9K display for the driver's instruments and the car's multimedia functions. It has Google Built-in, a 19-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos, heated front seats and steering wheel, synthetic leather seats and a fixed glass roof.
Over to the Vistiq, it lines up at 5222mm, 2203mm wide and 1804mm tall, giving it additional room for a third row.
That will make it one of the largest EVs on the Australian market, exceeding rivals such as the Volvo EX90, BMW iX and Hyundai Ioniq 9, while falling roughly 300mm shy of LDV's eTerron 9 ute, which will line up at 5500mm long when it lands here later this year.
Underpinning the Vistiq is a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup that provides 452kW/880Nm on US-specified versions, although Cadillac hasn’t confirmed outputs for Australia just yet.
A 102kWh battery pack delivers approximately 482km of range in the US, while the Vistiq is quoted with a staggering 3.7 second 0-98km/h sprint time, which is mighty impressive for a nearly 3-tonne beast.
Inside it carries the same 33-inch touchscreen, which sits above an 8.0-inch display for climate control functions, of which the Vistiq has five-zones. Additionally, there is a 23-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, optional 21-, 22- or 23-inch alloy wheels, along with carbon-fibre and real wood trims.
Cadillac says supreme ride comfort is delivered via GM’s adaptive damping control which provides coil springs or air springs as customisable options.
Both the Optiq and Vistiq will come equipped with Cadillac’s blind zone steering assist system, cyclist alert, forward collision alert and night vision, the latter of which uses infrared camera technology to give the driver better vision of cyclists and pedestrians at night.
More details on Australian specifications, including prices, are expected closer to either models launch in 2026.
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