Name: 2026 Cadillac Vistiq
Brand: Cadillac

2026
Cadillac Vistiq

EPA Range: 300 miles

Cadillac Vistiq First Drive

Summary

Introduction

Meet the New 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Electric 3-Row Luxury SUV

All-wheel drive and the Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system will be standard on this premium model

Overview

The new Cadillac Vistiq electric SUV is essentially a smaller version of the massive, super-expensive Cadillac Escalade IQ.

Or, if you prefer, it’s a larger, fancier version of the Cadillac Lyriq SUV. The overall shape and styling are more or less the same as both models, with the Vistiq having less power and a shorter estimated driving range than the Escalade IQ.

The Vistiq starts at $78,790, positioning it between the Lyriq ($57,195–$69,695) and the Escalade IQ ($127,700–$148,200), filling out the luxury brand’s electric SUV lineup. The middle-child Vistiq packs plenty of technology, and interior touches like a third row with its own cupholders and USB charging ports.

It also comes standard with Super Cruise, Cadillac’s impressive driver assistance technology that adds hands-free driving capability to the adaptive cruise control system, and an optional bidirectional charging system that makes it possible to use the vehicle as a backup power source for your home. The Vistiq has a manufacturer-estimated 300-mile range and 5,000-pound towing capacity.

In terms of size and capability, the Vistiq is comparable to the Cadillac XT6, a conventional SUV available with either a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.6-liter V6 engine. Consumer Reports testing found that the XT6, while enticing, fell short compared with similar models from European and Japanese manufacturers. Still, electric luxury three-row SUVs are just beginning to proliferate the market, and the Vistiq is likely to arrive at dealerships before Cadillac’s European and Detroit rivals introduce their own versions.

The Vistiq will be built at General Motors’ plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., which began manufacturing the company’s Ultium batteries earlier this year. Nickel cobalt manganese Ultium batteries and electric drivetrains currently underpin all of GM’s EV models from Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC.

Here’s what we know so far.

It competes with the Lucid Gravity, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Range Rover EV, Rivian R1S, Tesla Model Y, and Volvo EX90.

Impressions

Outside

Aside from flush door handles and a faux-grille panel that resembles a printed circuit board, the Vistiq cuts a fairly conventional profile. It looks a lot like most other manufacturers’ SUVs, and certainly like other Cadillac models. Among the few subtle but interesting touches is an additional circuit board motif printed on the rear quarter windows.

Inside

Cadillac continues its highlight of 20th-century artistic flourishes inside the Vistiq, comparing the seat upholstery pattern to Brutalist architecture. The interior may not conjure thoughts of Soviet public buildings, but the seats can be upholstered in a color resembling raw concrete, using fabric made from recycled materials.

The dash is dominated by a wide digital display panel that curves toward the driver as it reaches the middle of the vehicle. A smaller, tablet-sized infotainment screen bridges the dash and the console, where a dial control lives in the same, non-Brutalist neighborhood as a pair of bourgeois cup holders. Depending on trim level, the accent panels will either be carbon fiber, on the low end, or one of two different types of wood.

Cadillac says the second- and third-row seats fold down to accommodate objects large enough to be delivered by two guys in a box truck. Cup holders can be found throughout, even in the third row, which also features padded armrests and USB charging ports. There are also storage bins under the cargo floor and in all four doors.

Luxury touches include a 23-speaker sound system and a five-zone climate control system.

What Drives It

The Vistiq’s standard dual-motor electric drive system makes 615 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s significantly more than a base Chevrolet Corvette, a fire-breathing sports car rated at 490 horsepower. So will the Vistiq drive like a sports car? Not exactly, although Cadillac says the 6,328-pound SUV can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Among its more traditional SUV credentials is a 5,000-pound towing capacity.

Day-to-day, most drivers will be more concerned with how far the Vistiq can go on a charge, and Cadillac puts its range at 300 miles. With a 240-volt home charger, Cadillac says anywhere from 21 to 47 miles of range can be added per hour of charging, depending upon the charger’s power output. The manufacturer says a DC fast charger can add up to 79 miles of range in 10 minutes. For buyers who spring for the GM energy V2H package, the Vistiq is capable of bidirectional vehicle-to-home charging. That means you can charge the car using your home’s electricity, or use the car as a source of backup power when you need it.

The Vistiq will be available with active rear steering, which is claimed to help with both maneuverability and decreasing the SUV’s turning diameter. We’ve found these systems vary in implementation. The Chevrolet Silverado EV’s system works almost unobtrusively, while we’ve been less impressed with the performance of the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV’s system.

Active Safety and Driver Assistance

The Vistiq comes with a full suite of standard active safety and driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning (BSW) with active steering assistance (LKA), and an alert for bicyclists beside the vehicle. Super Cruise, which allows hands-free driving on certain roads while the adaptive cruise control (ACC) is engaged, is also standard, as is OnStar automatic crash response, which alerts emergency responders if a collision is detected. A three-year OnStar subscription, which is required in order to use Super Cruise, is included with the vehicle purchase. An infrared sensor to help detect pedestrians and animals ahead is optional.