Cadillac's EV Range Explained: Optiq vs. Lyriq vs. Vistiq vs. Escalade IQ (and Celestiq)

Cadillac has quietly assembled the deepest all-electric lineup of any luxury brand sold in America. As of mid-2026 it runs five models deep: the compact Optiq, the midsize Lyriq, the three-row Vistiq, the full-size Escalade IQ, and the hand-built Celestiq flagship. It's a genuine ladder — each model steps up in size, price, and presence — and every one of them comes standard with Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance (Cadillac).

Two notes before the details. First, the federal EV purchase tax credit expired on September 30, 2025, so none of these vehicles qualifies for a federal purchase credit — the MSRP is the real starting point. Second, Cadillac is mid-transition on charging ports: the 2026 Optiq has a native Tesla-style NACS port, while the rest of the 2026 lineup uses CCS with an available NACS adapter (Cadillac). More on that below.

The Cadillac EV Ladder at a Glance

Model	Size / rows	2026 starting price	Range (best config)	Power (max)
Optiq	Compact SUV, 2 rows	$52,395	317 mi (EPA)	519 hp (Optiq-V)
Lyriq	Midsize SUV, 2 rows	$59,200	326 mi (EPA)	615 hp (Lyriq-V)
Vistiq	Midsize SUV, 3 rows	$77,395	305 mi (EPA)	615 hp
Escalade IQ	Full-size SUV, 3 rows	$129,795	465 mi (Cadillac est.)	750 hp
Celestiq	Hand-built flagship sedan	~$400,000+	303 mi (EPA)	655 hp

Cadillac Optiq: The Entry Point

The Optiq is Cadillac's gateway EV — a compact luxury SUV that shares its bones with the Chevrolet Equinox EV but adds Cadillac styling, a 33-inch display, a standard AKG audio system, and standard Super Cruise. For 2026 it gained a cheaper single-motor rear-wheel-drive version and, notably, became the first Cadillac with a native NACS charge port across the whole lineup, so it plugs into Tesla Superchargers with no adapter (Cadillac).

2026 Optiq Trims

Trim	Starting MSRP	Drivetrain	EPA range	Power
Luxury	$52,395	RWD (AWD +$3,500)	317 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	315 hp / 440 hp AWD
Sport	$52,995	RWD (AWD +$3,500)	317 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	315 hp / 440 hp AWD
Premium Luxury	$54,595	RWD (AWD +$3,500)	317 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	315 hp / 440 hp AWD
Premium Sport	$55,095	RWD (AWD +$3,500)	317 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	315 hp / 440 hp AWD
Optiq-V	$68,795	AWD	278 mi	519 hp / 650 lb-ft

Prices include destination (GM Authority). Luxury and Sport are parallel styling themes rather than steps — Sport gets darker exterior trim — and the Premium versions layer on equipment. The Optiq-V is the performance play: 519 horsepower, a sub-4-second 0–60 sprint with Velocity Max engaged (Cadillac), and V-Series chassis tuning, at a price that lands right on top of mid-tier Lyriqs. The main con: the Optiq's 150-kW DC fast-charging peak is modest for the class, and the V gives up almost 40 miles of range versus the RWD cars (EPA).

Cadillac Lyriq: The Core of the Lineup

The Lyriq is the volume Cadillac EV, and its trim walk is the longest: two styling themes (Luxury and Sport) across three equipment tiers, plus two V-Series models. All non-V versions use a single 365-hp rear motor as standard, with a 515-hp dual-motor AWD option; the Lyriq-V gets 615 horsepower and is the quickest Cadillac ever built, at 3.3 seconds to 60 mph (Cadillac).

2026 Lyriq Trims

Trim	Starting MSRP	EPA range	Highlights
Luxury	$59,200	326 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	33-in display, Super Cruise, glass roof, 20-in wheels
Sport	$59,700	326 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	Same equipment, darker sport styling
Premium Luxury	$63,200	326 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	23-speaker AKG audio, ventilated seats
Premium Sport	$63,700	326 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	As Premium Luxury, sport styling
Signature Luxury	$67,800	326 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	Head-up display, heated rear seats, 22-in wheels
Signature Sport	$68,300	326 mi RWD / 303 mi AWD	As Signature Luxury, sport styling
Lyriq-V	$78,595	285 mi	615 hp, 3.3 s 0–60, Brembo brakes
Lyriq-V Premium	$83,795	285 mi	Adds Nappa leather, full equipment

Trim data per Cadillac and US News. The base Luxury is the quiet bargain here: unlike most luxury rivals, Super Cruise, the 33-inch screen, and the glass roof are already standard, and the 326-mile RWD version is the longest-range Cadillac short of the Escalade IQ (EPA). The honest cons: rear visibility is poor, the touchscreen-heavy controls take acclimation, and the Lyriq still uses a CCS port — Supercharger access requires an adapter (Cadillac).

Cadillac Vistiq: The Three-Row Sweet Spot

New for 2026, the Vistiq is effectively a baby Escalade IQ: a genuine three-row luxury EV that replaced the gas XT6. Every Vistiq is dual-motor AWD with 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft with Velocity Max engaged, drawing on a 102-kWh battery good for an EPA-estimated 300–305 miles depending on wheels (Cadillac). It will also hit 60 mph in the high-3-second range — absurd pace for a family hauler — and Super Cruise is standard.

2026 Vistiq Trims

Trim	Starting MSRP	Range	Highlights
Luxury	$77,395	305 mi (EPA)	615 hp AWD, Super Cruise, 33-in display
Sport	$77,895	305 mi (EPA)	Sport styling, 21-in wheels
Premium Luxury	$91,895	300 mi (EPA)	Air suspension, rear-wheel steering, 23-in wheels
Platinum	$96,495	300 mi (EPA)	Everything standard, executive second row

The value read is clear: the $14,500 jump from Sport to Premium Luxury buys air springs, rear steer, and equipment, not more range or power. For most families the Luxury or Sport is the smart buy — either one undercuts a comparable Escalade IQ by more than $50,000 while offering the same standard driver tech. Cons: it's a heavy vehicle that tops $100,000 fully optioned, third-row space trails the biggest gas rivals, and 2026 models still carry a CCS port (Cadillac).

Cadillac Escalade IQ: The Statement Piece

The Escalade IQ takes the most recognizable nameplate in American luxury and electrifies it with staggering numbers: a 205-kWh battery, 680 horsepower (750 with Velocity Max), 615–785 lb-ft of torque, and a Cadillac-estimated 465 miles of range — the longest of any electric SUV sold in the US (Cadillac). Its 800-volt architecture fast-charges at up to 350 kW, adding around 117 miles in 10 minutes (Cadillac), and its cabin is dominated by a curved 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display.

2026 Escalade IQ Trims

Trim	Starting MSRP	Range	Highlights
Luxury	$129,795	465 mi (Cadillac est.)	680/750 hp, 55-in display, 11.5-kW AC charging
Sport	$130,295	465 mi (Cadillac est.)	Monochrome sport exterior
Premium Luxury	$150,095	465 mi (Cadillac est.)	Executive second row, 19.2-kW AC charging
Premium Sport	$150,595	465 mi (Cadillac est.)	As Premium Luxury, sport styling

Pricing per GM Authority. New for 2026 is the stretched Escalade IQL, which trades a little range (up to 460 miles, Cadillac est.) for substantially more third-row and cargo room. Four-wheel steering and a low-speed diagonal "Cadillac Arrival Mode" help this three-ton-plus SUV manage parking lots. Cons are what you'd guess: enormous mass, enormous price — a Premium trim crests $150,000 — and real-world efficiency around 2 miles per kWh means road-trip charging stops move a lot of electrons.

Celestiq: The Halo

The Celestiq isn't really a car you cross-shop; it's Cadillac's argument that it belongs in Rolls-Royce territory. Each one is custom-commissioned and hand-assembled in Warren, Michigan, with production limited to roughly 100–150 cars per year (Cadillac). For 2026 the starting price climbed from about $340,000 into the low-$400,000s before personalization (GM Authority). The spec sheet — 655 horsepower, 0–60 in 3.7 seconds, a 303-mile EPA range, a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display — almost misses the point: this is a brand statement, and its design and materials language previews where the rest of the lineup is headed.

Super Cruise: The Common Thread

Every 2026 Cadillac EV, from the base Optiq to the Celestiq, includes Super Cruise, GM's hands-free driver-assistance system, as standard equipment (Cadillac). It allows true hands-off driving on hundreds of thousands of miles of mapped North American highways, with automatic lane changes and — on properly equipped models — hands-free trailering support. A driver-attention camera ensures you keep your eyes on the road, and the included connectivity plan covers the first three years. Among luxury rivals, only a handful of systems (Ford BlueCruise, Mercedes Drive Pilot in limited states) play in the same space, and none is standard across an entire EV lineup the way Super Cruise is here. If you regularly drive long interstate stretches, this feature alone is a legitimate reason to put Cadillac on your shortlist.

Charging Specs Compared

Model	Battery	DC peak	Port (2026)	Max AC (Level 2)
Optiq	85 kWh	150 kW	Native NACS	11.5 kW
Lyriq	102 kWh	190 kW	CCS (NACS adapter)	11.5 kW / 19.2 kW avail.
Vistiq	102 kWh	~190 kW	CCS (NACS adapter)	11.5 kW / 19.2 kW avail.
Escalade IQ	205 kWh	350 kW	CCS (NACS adapter)	11.5 kW / 19.2 kW avail.
Celestiq	111 kWh	200 kW	CCS (NACS adapter)	11.5 kW

Specs per Cadillac. Two practical takeaways. First, the Optiq is the only 2026 Cadillac that plugs straight into a Tesla Supercharger; every other model needs GM's NACS adapter, and native NACS ports arrive on other models starting with the 2027 model year. Second, the Escalade IQ's giant battery makes a 19.2-kW home charger (and the 100-amp circuit it requires) genuinely worth considering — on a standard 11.5-kW setup, an empty-to-full charge is a very long night. Our charging calculator can model your exact circuit and rates.

Which Cadillac EV Fits Which Buyer?

• First luxury EV, city-friendly size: Optiq Luxury or Sport RWD ($52,395–$52,995). Standard Super Cruise, 317 miles, and the only native NACS port in the lineup.
• The all-around pick: Lyriq Luxury RWD ($59,200). The longest range of the non-Escalade Cadillacs at 326 miles (EPA), with flagship-grade tech already standard.
• Enthusiast on a (relative) budget: Optiq-V ($68,795) or Lyriq-V ($78,595). The Lyriq-V is the faster, more complete car; the Optiq-V delivers most of the thrill for $10,000 less.
• Family of six or seven: Vistiq Luxury ($77,395). Three usable rows, 615 hp, 305 miles, and $50,000-plus of daylight between it and an Escalade IQ.
• Maximum presence and range: Escalade IQ Luxury ($129,795). A 465-mile estimate no other electric SUV matches — just budget for electricity and tires.
• Money genuinely no object: Celestiq. A commissioned, hand-built piece of American industrial design.

If you're weighing a Cadillac against the broader market, EV Decoder's tools can help you decide with data instead of brochures: estimate real-world charging times and costs with the charging calculator, check current EV deals, or tell Find My EV how you drive and let it shortlist the right electric SUV — Cadillac or otherwise — for your life.