Most of my work at TheCarMagazine is in our video review department, and if you’ve watched any of our videos, you’ll know that’s where I’m probably most comfortable. I genuinely enjoy producing shorter, fun reviews that get right to the point. The problem is, there are always things I don’t get to talk about because we intentionally keep our videos brief. Let’s face it—most people today are watching on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, and many decide whether they’re going to watch based solely on how long the video is before they even press play.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve started doing more written reviews. It gives me an opportunity to spend more time with a vehicle, share a few more personal experiences and, quite honestly, continue learning about the incredible technology that’s finding its way into today’s automobiles.
My latest tester was Cadillac’s 2026 OPTIQ Premium Sport AWD, and after spending almost a full week with it, I came away genuinely impressed.
First Impressions… That Kept Getting Better
The first thing I noticed was the driving range.
Like many Canadians, I don’t yet have a home charger installed in my garage (although that’s probably coming sooner rather than later), so range is still something I pay close attention to. Knowing I could drive the OPTIQ for several days without constantly thinking about charging made the entire experience much more relaxing.
Then there was the styling.
It’s funny because I liked it immediately, but every day I liked it a little more.
Some electric vehicles seem almost too futuristic for me. They remind me of high-end kitchen appliances—beautifully engineered, but almost sterile. The OPTIQ somehow avoids that trap. It still looks modern and progressive, but its sleek coupe-inspired profile gives it personality and style without making it look like something from a science-fiction movie.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so.
Several of my neighbours gave me thumbs-up as I drove through the neighbourhood, and I caught more than a few double-takes while running errands. That’s usually a pretty good indication that Cadillac’s designers got this one right.
A Cabin That Feels Special
The interior was another pleasant surprise.
The first thing that grabs your attention is the massive curved infotainment display stretching across the dashboard. It’s essentially iPad-sized and looks absolutely stunning.
Fortunately, it isn’t just there for looks.
Most of the menus, controls and applications were surprisingly intuitive. Like most people, I eventually found a couple of features that had me scratching my head, but thankfully YouTube came to the rescue. Honestly, if you ever find yourself wondering how a particular feature works on any modern vehicle, don’t hesitate to look it up. There are some fantastic tutorials available that can save you a lot of frustration.
One feature that immediately stood out was the colour-adjustable ambient lighting.
If you enjoy the lighting effects you see in upscale lounges, theatres or concerts, you’re going to have a lot of fun personalizing the interior. At night especially, the cabin feels elegant without being overdone.
SuperCruise Is Every Bit As Good As People Say
Before driving the OPTIQ, I’d certainly heard plenty about Cadillac’s SuperCruise system.
Now I understand why.
This wasn’t simply adaptive cruise control.
It genuinely changes the way highway driving feels.
Once I became comfortable with it, I found myself allowing the vehicle to handle the steering, speed adjustments and lane-centering while I continued supervising everything around me.
It was remarkably smooth.
Maybe a little too smooth.
Here’s where I had to laugh at myself.
I had the wonderfully comfortable leather seats adjusted perfectly, discovered the massage function, turned on the ventilated seat cooling and then activated SuperCruise.
Suddenly I realized I was becoming SuperRelaxed instead of simply using SuperCruise.
At that point I decided it was probably smarter to switch SuperCruise off for a while and do a little more of the driving myself.
Not because the technology wasn’t impressive—it absolutely was—but because I still enjoy driving, and I wanted to stay completely engaged.
Comfort Done Right
Speaking of those seats…
Wow.
The leather felt soft and genuinely premium, and the seat design provided outstanding comfort whether I was driving across town or spending longer periods on the highway.
Once I discovered the massage feature, it became one of those little luxuries that you immediately start wishing every vehicle offered.
Combined with the quietness of an electric vehicle, the overall experience was incredibly relaxing.
Smart Navigation That Actually Thinks Ahead
One feature I especially appreciated was Cadillac’s navigation system.
Once I entered my destination, it wasn’t simply telling me where to turn.
It was actually monitoring my remaining battery range, determining whether charging would be necessary along the way, suggesting appropriate charging locations and even calculating how much charging I’d need before continuing my trip.
For someone still becoming familiar with EV ownership, that’s a huge confidence builder.
Instead of worrying about whether you’ll make it to your destination, the vehicle is constantly helping you plan ahead.
Which OPTIQ Is Right For You?
Jim always reminds readers that understanding trim levels is important before shopping, and after talking with him I completely agree.
The OPTIQ is available in five versions:
- Luxury
- Premium Luxury
- Sport
- Premium Sport (my tester)
- OPTIQ-V
The high-performance OPTIQ-V sits at the top of the lineup for buyers wanting maximum performance, while the other trims can all be equipped with Cadillac’s Dual Motor AWD system for less than $5,000.
Personally, I think that represents good value, especially for Canadian winters.
What Does It Cost?
Before writing this review, Jim suggested I speak with the data specialists at CarCostCanada to learn a little more about pricing and market demand.
They told me their electric vehicle Market Value Reports continue to grow in popularity as gasoline prices remain unpredictable, with more Canadians researching EV ownership before making purchasing decisions.
My Premium Sport AWD tester came in at $72,017, including:
- Dual Motor AWD
- Argent Silver Metallic paint
- 21-inch After Midnight alloy wheels
- Floor Liner Package
- Three-year SiriusXM subscription
- Freight and Air Tax
Everything on the vehicle felt appropriate for a luxury Cadillac.
If I had one criticism, it would simply be the cost of freight and the SiriusXM subscription. Personally, I’m an Apple Music person, so I wouldn’t choose to pay extra for satellite radio, and freight charges have become increasingly difficult to swallow on almost every new vehicle these days.
Otherwise, I honestly found very little to complain about.
I also tried calculating a lease payment using CarCostCanada’s payment calculator, but by the time I completed my review, the 2027 OPTIQ models had already replaced the 2026 in the calculator. The closest comparison yielded a payment of approximately $922 per month, plus taxes, over 36 months, with 20,000 kilometres annually, at a competitive 2.9% lease rate.
To get a leasing perspective, I checked with Michael Gordon at LeaseBusters. Michael told me the payment and interest rate looked quite competitive and mentioned that while OPTIQ listings remain relatively limited due to the model’s early life cycle, they’ve been attracting strong interest whenever they appear on the marketplace.
And finally,
After almost a week together, I completely understood why Cadillac believes the OPTIQ will introduce new buyers to the brand.
It’s stylish without trying too hard.
It’s packed with technology that actually makes everyday driving easier.
The driving range inspires confidence, the interior feels genuinely luxurious, and features like SuperCruise make long highway trips surprisingly enjoyable.
More importantly, it never felt intimidating.
Instead, it felt like an EV designed for people who simply want a beautiful luxury vehicle that’s easy to live with every day.
Would I miss it after handing back the keys?
Absolutely.
Although if Cadillac insists on including those massage seats in every future press vehicle, I may need to start scheduling a few extra coffee stops just to stay awake after all that relaxing.
About Chantale Abbott-Keith: Chantale Abbott-Keith is a social media content creator, on-camera personality and automotive reviewer for TheCarMagazine.com. She also creates engaging digital content for LeaseBusters and CarCostCanada, specializing in automotive reviews, lifestyle content and social media campaigns. Chantale also partners with businesses and organizations to produce creative branded content and is always interested in new collaboration opportunities. She can be reached at c.abbott.keith@thecarmagazine.com.