If you\u2019re looking for an electric car and Cadillac sounds like your kind of brand, but the $64,000 Lyriq<\/a> is too rich for your blood (to say nothing about the $340,000 bespoke Celestiq<\/a>), you may find what you\u2019re looking for in the 2025 Optiq. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Since first revealing the Optiq last November<\/a>, Cadillac has been pitching this two-row SUV as its entry-level model \u2014\u00a0and now we know exactly what that means. The 2025 Optiq starts at $54,000, which is affordable for a luxury brand like Cadillac. And it will come with all sorts of standard goodies to help boost its sales pitch, including dual-motor all-wheel drive, Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance, and a ton of native Google apps. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n What it won\u2019t have is the ability to mirror your smartphone on the central display, so no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto<\/a>. But you knew that already<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n We\u2019ll have to wait and see how customers, especially younger ones that Cadillac is desperate to win over, react to the absence of the popular phone projection systems. For what it\u2019s worth, Cadillac, which has said it will have a \u201cfully electric portfolio\u201d by the end of the decade, is bullish on its appeal to younger customers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In a press release, Global Cadillac VP John Roth said the brand\u2019s percentage of younger buyers \u201chas increased 5 percent in the U.S.\u201d In other words, Cadillac isn\u2019t your grandfather\u2019s car company anymore. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The 2025 Optiq sports an 85kWh battery pack that can add about 79 miles of range in 10 minutes when plugged in to a DC fast charger. The total range estimate is 300 miles, but that\u2019s General Motors\u2019 estimate, not the Environmental Protection Agency, which tends to have the final word. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cadillac says the Optiq is designed to be a sportier drive than most compact SUVs, with low-rolling tires, diffusers, and a rear spoiler. The dual-motor setup also helps, putting out 300 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. That\u2019s a little less horsepower and a little more torque than the Lyriq, which should be interesting to experience when behind the wheel. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Optiq\u2019s wheelbase of 116 inches makes it slightly longer than Cadillac\u2019s gas-powered XT5 but a half-foot shorter than the Lyriq. With its second row up, the Optiq has 26 cubic feet of cargo space and 57 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. With its 10-module Ultium battery in the floor of the vehicle, the compact SUV will have a base curb weight of 5,192 lbs. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In a briefing with reporters last month, John Cockburn, chief engineer of the Optiq, said the EV would feel quicker and more nimble than the Lyriq. \u201cIt is not a Lyriq,\u201d he said. \u201cThe vehicle feels considerably different.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In addition to typical EV features like one-pedal driving, the Optiq will also have a regen system that allows drivers to slow down or stop the vehicle using shifter paddles behind the steering wheel. There will be four drive modes, including Tour, Sport, Snow\/Ice, and a personalized My Mode. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Optiq sits on 20-inch wheels, with an option to switch up to 21 inches. The \u201cblack crystal\u201d grille is laser-etched and offsets Cadillac\u2019s unique vertical headlights. And a rear-quarter panel features a Mondrian pattern in the acoustic laminate glass that\u2019s also found throughout the vehicle \u2014 and most notably in the Cadillac logo. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Inside, you\u2019ll find leather trim, a spacious moonroof, and a 33-inch curved display that combines the instrument cluster with the central touchscreen in one solid piece of glass. The Optiq features Google\u2019s built-in Android software, including Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and a Google-powered voice assistant. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lots of Google apps, but no Android Auto. GM is betting that customers won\u2019t revolt over the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto \u2014\u00a0even though many have said it could be a dealbreaker. When asked about this during the briefing, Roth said that a \u201ctightly integrated\u201d software experience will help win customers over. \u201cImaging and mirroring just can\u2019t give you the experience that we believe we can give you with a fully integrated system,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n What the Optiq may be lacking in UI options, it could make up for in price. The list price of $54,000 isn\u2019t that attractive on its face, but it could come down a lot when applying the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. GM spokesperson Stephanie Obendorfer said the company expects the Optiq to qualify for the credit at launch. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Cadillac Optiq will go on sale in the late fall and will be available in two trims, Luxury and Sport. It will soon be joined by two more Cadillac EVs: the Escalade IQ<\/a> and Vistiq<\/a>. In addition to the US, the new EV will be available in Europe as well as four other international markets. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n