Cadillac shakes up its entry-level EV with more power, new price, and Tesla plug

Just a year after introducing the Optiq as its most accessible electric vehicle, Cadillac is already rolling out big updates for the 2026 model year. In anything but a typical move for a sophomore model, the brand is boosting power, adding a new entry-level option, and unleashing a high-performance variant - an aggressive strategy for the busy American electric SUV market.

For its first year, the 2025 Cadillac Optiq came in one flavor: a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup. For 2026, that's changing. Cadillac is introducing a new standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model, which is expected to lower the vehicle's starting price from the 2025 model's initial $54,000 tag. This new base model isn't a slouch, delivering a respectable 315 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, that's more horsepower than the outgoing 2025 AWD version.

Not to be outdone by its new, less expensive sibling, the 2026 Optiq AWD gets a dramatic power increase. Engineers have dialed up the output to 440 horsepower and 498 lb-ft of torque. That's a massive leap of 140 horsepower over the 300-horsepower 2025 model. It seems Cadillac decided its entry-level EV needed to be anything but entry-level in performance. Both the RWD and AWD configurations will be powered by the same 85 kWh Ultium battery pack, with Cadillac estimating a range of around 300 miles on a full charge.

For those looking for even more performance from their electric cars, Cadillac has recently unveiled the 2026 Optiq-V. This high-performance model joins Cadillac's V-Series lineup, which is reserved for its most powerful and track-capable vehicles. The Optiq-V gets a dual-motor system with 519 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque. With the "Velocity Max" mode engaged, Cadillac claims the Optiq-V can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, putting it squarely in competition with some serious performance EVs.

All versions of the Optiq are built on General Motors' flexible BEV3 platform, which underpins other EVs like the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV. The Optiq measures 189.8 inches in length, 75.3 inches in width, and 64.7 inches in height, making it quite a competitive player in the compact luxury SUV segment. Inside, drivers are greeted by a sweeping 33-inch LED display that dominates the dashboard. For 2026, the only notable aesthetic change is in the paint department, where the Crystal White Tricoat is being retired in favor of a new Vibrant White Tricoat.

The big change comes when it's time to recharge. The Optiq's 85 kWh battery can still add approximately 79 miles of range in just 10 minutes using a DC fast charger, but the now standard NACS port gives the drivers access to Tesla's expansive Supercharger network.

Production for the 2026 Cadillac Optiq will kick off on August 25, 2025, at the GM facility in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. Dealers will be able to start configuring orders from June 26, with the first customer orders to start processing on July 24.

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