Highlights –
- 519 hp and 650 lb-ft in Velocity Max mode, up 79 hp and 152 lb-ft over the standard Optiq AWD
- Tested at 3.4 seconds to 60 mph and 12.2 seconds through the quarter-mile
- Looks and cabin are deliberately low-key, with only small blue and badge touches
Cadillac has now given its compact electric SUV the V treatment. The 2026 Optiq-V is the performance version of the Optiq, and it follows the bigger Lyriq-V. Car and Driver drove it on Michigan roads and at M1 Concourse, then updated its review on October 8, 2026 with instrumented test results. The verdict is that it is a well-judged, sporty luxury EV, but not a jaw-dropping one.
Note: The source review does not quote an Optiq-V price. For reference, the standard 2026 Optiq starts at $57,399 (before destination charges).
Where the Optiq-V sits in Cadillac’s V family –
Not every V is equal. The CT5-V and CT4-V Blackwing sedans are the extreme ones, strong enough for track days and daily driving alike. The Optiq-V belongs to the other group, the more rounded performance models that are quicker and sharper than their regular versions without chasing lap times.
Chief engineer John Cockburn, a former Corvette chassis engineer, summed it up as a “canyon carver, not a track car”. Cadillac’s aim was an SUV aggressive enough for enthusiasts that still behaves like a comfortable daily driver.
Power and performance –
| Optiq AWD (standard) | Optiq-V (Velocity Max) | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 440 hp | 519 hp |
| Torque | 498 lb-ft (about 675 Nm) | 650 lb-ft (about 881 Nm) |
| Drivetrain | Dual-motor AWD | Dual-motor AWD |
The V also gets shorter final-drive ratios on both motors. As in a petrol car, these help it launch from a standstill and accelerate out of corners.
Test numbers (Car and Driver, launch control):
- 0 to 60 mph (about 97 km/h): 3.4 seconds
- Quarter-mile: 12.2 seconds at 108 mph
- 120 mph (about 193 km/h) arrives about four seconds after the quarter-mile mark
- Speed limiter: 126 mph (about 203 km/h)
- Cornering grip: 0.94 g
- Braking from 70 mph: 151 feet (about 46 m)
These are strong figures. But in a market that now has 1,000 hp vehicles, many of them EVs, the testers called the straight-line pace punchy rather than shocking. In everyday Tour mode the SUV feels noticeably less urgent than its peak output suggests.
Chassis, brakes and tyres –
Cadillac retuned the underpinnings extensively:
- Springs: 21 per cent stiffer at the front and 32 per cent at the rear
- Anti-roll bars: 47 per cent stiffer at the front and 185 per cent at the rear
- Bushings and mounts: much stiffer, by up to 163 per cent at the rear cradle mounts
- Steering: a quicker ratio
- Dampers: the latest Sachs CDC adaptive units
- Brakes: six-piston Brembo front calipers on 15.4-inch discs, with 13.6-inch rear discs
- Optional brake pads: low-metallic linings that resist fade better but produce more brake dust
- Wheels and tyres: 21-inch wheels with 275/40R21 all-season tyres as standard, and optional summer tyres
The summer tyres cost range, though. EPA-estimated range falls from 278 miles (about 447 km) to 250 miles (about 402 km).
Battery and charging –
The V keeps the standard Optiq’s 85 kWh battery. Cadillac claims DC fast charging at up to 150 kW, adding about 70 miles of range in around 10 minutes. A NACS port is standard, which opens up Tesla’s Supercharger network.
An 11.5 kW onboard charger comes standard, and a 19.2 kW unit is optional.
Design: subtle on purpose –
The V does little to announce itself. Changes are limited to:
- Darker exterior trim and wheels
- Body-colour wheel-arch mouldings instead of the standard car’s black ones
- Black rocker panels
- Small V badges on the lower rear doors and the liftgate
Interior and features –
The cabin follows the same restrained approach:
- Blue accents on the dash and doors
- Quilted faux-leather seats with blue piping and stitched V badges
- An optional Santorini Blue Interior package, which adds bright-blue front seatbacks and seatbelts
- The same 33-inch curved display that combines the instrument cluster and infotainment on every Optiq
- Standard Super Cruise hands-free driving
- A glass roof with a power sunshade
As the top trim, the V also has:
- Massaging, heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated outboard rear seats
- A head-up display
- An AKG Studio audio system with Dolby Atmos
The testers say materials and finish in Cadillac’s EVs are now among the best in its range. They also rate them as finally competitive with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus cabins.
On the road –
On country roads, the ride stays firmly connected to the surface yet supple enough to avoid harshness. In Tour mode through sweeping bends, the SUV showed the planted, all-of-a-piece response that engineers call low rear cornering compliance.
A tight autocross at M1 Concourse revealed little beyond what the road drive had already shown. The straight-line launches were done in Velocity Max mode, which unlocks the full 519 hp.
Alao Read – 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport USA
Our take –
The Optiq-V’s strength is its balance. It is quick, well-damped and genuinely engaging, while the cabin and equipment list feel properly premium. Its caveat is that the numbers are good rather than extraordinary, so buyers chasing headline acceleration may want to look elsewhere. As a luxury SUV with real sporting character, it makes a convincing case for wearing the V.
What do you think of the 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V? Let us know in the comments below!
