Cadillac Optiq sets its European spec and pricing
Cadillac’s compact electric SUV is officially Europe-bound, and the 2025 Cadillac Optiq arrives with a spec sheet tailored for the region. Standard dual-motor all-wheel drive, big front brakes, and standard 21-inch wheels signal a chassis tuned for Autobahn runs and alpine roads. Orders open October 15, 2025 in France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, with first deliveries expected February 2026. Two trims—Premium Luxury and Premium Sport—will be offered at identical prices in each market.
Design that leans athletic without losing the badge
The Optiq reads as sporty and tidy for a small luxury EV. The roof is one uninterrupted pane of glass, integrated cleanly into the sheetmetal, and the nose wears Cadillac’s black crystal grille with vertical lighting and a subtle laser-etched pattern that avoids shouty gimmicks. Out back, a vented rear spoiler and a diffuser are there to help aero, but they also visually clean up the profile.
One neat touch: the rear quarter window uses acoustic laminated glass with a precise graphic that nods to the brand’s crest, and that motif reappears in the cabin. Proportions lean coupe-ish without going full fastback, and the 21-inch wheels (275/40 R21 summer tires) sit flush in the arches. Premium Luxury spec fits Pearl Nickel alloys with aero inserts; Premium Sport swaps in Dark Android painted wheels for a moodier look. The stance is confident. It’s also a lot of tire for a compact SUV—great for grip, though we’ll see how European pavement and winter fitments treat ride quality and costs.
Powertrain, performance, and chassis hardware
European-market Optiqs fit a 75-kWh battery and dual motors driving all four wheels. Output is listed at 304 hp and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft). Cadillac claims 0–100 km/h in 6.3 seconds when in Sport mode and a top speed of 184 km/h (114 mph). WLTP range is quoted up to 425 km (about 264 miles). Keep in mind this is WLTP, which usually reads higher than the U.S. EPA method; even so, the number looks realistic for the pack size and tire.
DC fast charging adds up to 144 km (about 89 miles) in 15 minutes under ideal conditions. Regenerative braking is handled two ways: One-Pedal Driving for everyday deceleration, and a pressure-sensitive steering-wheel paddle—Regen on Demand—when you want to dial up braking with the right hand. Drive modes cover Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and a configurable My Mode that lets you tweak steering heft and brake feel.
The Europe tune leans on hardware. Brembo performance front brakes are standard, with sizeable 508 mm fixed caliper discs up front and 432 mm sliding calipers in the rear. That’s serious surface area for a compact EV and should pay off on long grades and higher-speed touring. Aero bits—a vented spoiler, diffuser, and careful surface management—aim to trim drag without sacrificing the familiar Cadillac face.
Sustainable cabin, proper tech
Inside, the Optiq blends a warmer, almost Scandinavian palette with some clever materials. The center console veneer is PaperWood, made from equal parts tulip wood and recycled newspaper; the print fibers are subtly visible in the grain, and each piece ends up a little different. The patterned accent fabric, called Tide, is a soft polyester woven from 100 percent recycled content.
A curved 33-inch LED display runs at 9K resolution and, according to Cadillac, is the largest currently offered in the class. Audio is handled by a 19-speaker AKG Studio system with Dolby Atmos processing, including height information for a more three-dimensional stage. Space is generous for the segment, and Cadillac cites over 500 liters of cargo room, helped by that fixed panoramic glass roof that comes standard and keeps the cabin feeling open.
Driver assistance and connectivity
European Optiqs are built with Super Cruise capability, signaling the brand’s intent to offer hands-free highway assistance as mapping and regulatory approvals allow in Europe. The vehicle is loaded with sensors—radar, cameras, and ultrasonic—to support the driver. Standard assists include adaptive cruise control, Blind Zone Steering Assist, Enhanced Automatic Parking, and Forward Collision Alert, among others.
The infotainment stack runs Google built-in with Google Maps and Google Assistant. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported as well, which should make many European buyers happy given the ongoing debates around smartphone mirroring in EVs.
European pricing, trims, and timing
The 2025 Cadillac Optiq launches in two trims—Premium Luxury and Premium Sport—priced identically within each market:
France: €69,500; Germany: €65,000; Sweden: SEK 740,000; Switzerland: CHF 66,680. Orders open October 15, 2025, with first deliveries projected for February 2026. Standard kit includes those 21-inch wheels, the panoramic fixed glass roof, dual-motor AWD, Brembo fronts, the 33-inch 9K display, 19-speaker AKG audio with Dolby Atmos, Google built-in, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a full suite of driver aids.
What changes versus the U.S.-market Optiq
We’ve already covered the U.S. 2025 Cadillac Optiq, and the European specification takes a slightly different path in a few areas:
- Battery and range: Europe lists a 75-kWh battery with up to 425 km WLTP. The U.S. model is described with about 85 kWh usable and an EPA target around 302 miles. Different test cycles and possible pack calibrations are at play, but the numbers suggest a smaller usable capacity for Europe.
- Power: Europe quotes 304 hp and 480 Nm; the U.S. figure is 300 hp and 354 lb-ft. Practically a wash.
- Performance: Europe states 0–100 km/h in 6.3 seconds (Sport mode) and 184 km/h top speed. U.S. estimates land in the mid-6-second 0–60 mph range.
- Charging claims: Europe says up to 144 km in 15 minutes on a DC fast charger. U.S. guidance has been roughly 79 miles in 10 minutes. Comparable on paper, with different yardsticks.
- Wheels and chassis: Europe makes 21-inch wheels standard across trims, with 275/40 R21 summer rubber. In the U.S., 20s are standard with 21s optional. Europe also touts Brembo front brakes and region-specific tires and suspension tuning as baseline.
- Trims and equipment names: Europe uses Premium Luxury and Premium Sport; the U.S. naming skews simpler (Luxury and Sport). Both approaches split along brighter versus darker exterior detailing.
- Cabin and space: Europe highlights “over 500 liters” of cargo space; the U.S. figure is 26 cubic feet behind the second row and 57 cubic feet when folded. Different measurement standards likely explain the spread. U.S. materials also detail a 116-inch wheelbase, 190-inch overall length, and a curb weight around 5,192 pounds, plus a 1,500-pound tow rating.
- Super Cruise: Europe labels the vehicle “capable,” which reads as readiness pending regional rollout; the U.S. model has been positioned with a defined trial period bundled up front.
Lineup context
The Optiq slots below the Lyriq in Cadillac’s EV family and sits alongside the upcoming Vistiq. European buyers will also see the Lyriq-V in the range, giving the brand a broader spread from entry luxury to performance. That portfolio approach matters here; compact premium EVs are hot in Europe, but credible choice across sizes and performance levels is what gets attention.
How it fits the European brief
On paper, the European-spec 2025 Cadillac Optiq looks like a focused small luxury SUV: standard AWD, stout braking, and a design that reads confidently without going ostentatious. The switch to a 75-kWh battery and those standard 21-inch wheels is a bold combination—great for stance and steering precision, less ideal for tire costs and outright range. But the cabin has real charm with its recycled materials and that big, high-resolution screen, and the driver assistance stack is thoroughly modern.
If Cadillac’s tuning team really dialed in the tires and suspension for European roads—as the hardware hints—they may have found the right balance for the region. Add the straightforward pricing, identical across trims in each country, and the Optiq makes a clear, if slightly unconventional, case for itself against the usual suspects in the compact luxury EV crowd.
-Ed
2026 Cadillac OPTIQ (Euro-Spec)
