The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq hits the sweet spot for two types of people who admire the Escalade IQ but hold back. Those who aren’t ready to part with about $150,000 for a 3-row Cadillac EV, and those who feel the Escalade IQ is just a bit too oversized. The Vistiq is a new nameplate that slots just below the Escalade IQ and above the Lyriq in almost every aspect, from power to space and tech. “I would say that it is a sexy large SUV with plenty of features for a family if they don’t want to pay $30K more for an Escalade,” Ingrid Vina, a salesperson at Cadillac of South Charlotte, a Sonic Automotive dealership, told Global SUV.
The 2026 Vistiq shares some hardware and the GM’s Ultium electric vehicle platform with other Cadillac EVs. But it has its distinct character, and should not be mistaken for a Lyriq or Escalade IQ. Here’s what makes the 3-row luxury SUV desirable.
Distinct Dimensions
The most observable exterior difference between the 2026 Vistiq and other Cadillac fully electric SUVs is the proportions. While the Escalade IQ measures 224.3 x 76.1 x 94.1 (LHW), and the Lyriq measures 196.7 x 64.3 x 86.9 (LHW), the Vistiq measures 205.5 x 71 x 86.73 (LHW). These proportions mean the Vistiq has a more commanding presence than some of its immediate competitors, such as the Tesla Model X, Volvo EX90, and Lucid Gravity. Just like other Cadillac EVS, the Vistiq features Cadillac’s signature pseudo grille, the dramatic light sequence, and the daytime running light strips upfront.
Decent Driving Character
Cadillac kept the power option on the Vistiq simple, as all trims feature a dual-motor AWD configuration. The motors deliver a combined 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, which is juicy enough to go from 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 3.7 seconds, and robust enough to boast a 5,000 lb towing capacity.
Cadillac equipped the Vistiq with some features to enhance its driving character, including different drive modes to match the road conditions and a customizable drive mode to leave all decisions to the driver. Ingrid specifically related that she finds the drive smoother than the Lyriq. While active dampers are standard, air ride adaptive suspension is available on some trims to lower the ride height at highway speeds. Active rear steering is also available on some trims to enhance the cooperation between the rear and front wheels.
Battery and Range
According to Cadillac, the Vistiq has an estimated range of 305 miles. While the estimation is satisfactory, some of the Vistiq competitors may be slightly ahead in that aspect. Nonetheless, it offers impressive charging, with a promised DC fast charging capability of 80 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes of charging.
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Lit Coziness
Cadillac has an excellent reputation with interior quality, and the Vistiq cabin meets the standard. It is a lounge of generous space and aesthetically inviting architecture. Just like the exterior, the plush Vistiq cabin, adorned with wood trims and metal accents, slots between the Escalade IQ and Lyriq in terms of luxury. The three-row interior accommodates seven passengers, with a captain’s chair configuration available on the second row for added convenience. All seats are heated and comfortable, but the driver and front passenger’s seats appeal more with highly supportive side bolsters, memory, and ventilation. “The first comment people usually have when they sit in the Vistiq cabin for the first time is how luxurious the interior design is and how comfortable the seats are,” Ingrid revealed.
The cabin offers 43.50”, 40.16”, and 30.63” (front, second, and third rows) of legroom, and 40.91”, 38.98”, and 39.56” (front, second, and third rows) of headroom. With these dimensions, even some adults will find the third row comfortable for short trips. Customizable ambient lightning beautifully illuminates the entire cabin, overseen by a panoramic sunroof above the first two rows and a fixed sunshade above the third row.
Cool Tech
A curved 33.0-inch touchscreen display straight from the Lyriq hangs ahead of the driver as the infotainment hub. It is pretty responsive and has cool graphics. Since the Vistiq, unlike the Lyriq, features a spacious center console, it borrows the Escalade IQ’s secondary screen for climate control. Speaking about one of her favourite Vistiq infotainment features, Ingrid explained that “the Dolby Atmos surround sound truly stands out once you spend time with the SUV.”
GM’s highly rated hands-free driver assistance, Super Cruise, is standard on both trims of the Vistiq, and so is Google Built-in compatibility. Many driver-assist features, including steering, braking, alerts, and vision, come standard. However, AR head-up display, night vision, and a few other features come at an extra cost.
Trim and Pricing
Visitiq’s first model year has four trims: Luxury ($79,090 MSRP), Sport ($79,590), Premium Luxury ($93,590), and Platinum ($98,190). We recommend any of the $80,000 trims, as they’re luxurious, powerful, and loaded enough to compete with the few other options in the fully electric mid-size luxury SUV segment. This is not to suggest that the higher trims are not value-for-money EVs, however.
“The Vistiq just came out this year and the lack of marketing on it makes it more missed out from the public’s eye. It is a luxury brand first and foremost. The intuitive design of the vehicle makes it really easy to find all your features and not guess or be confused. You also get the Cadillac comfort sitting in the vehicle. You also get the “it rides like a caddy,” an expression that’s been around for decades,” Ingrid concluded.
The Vistiq’s competition is fast-growing, but the EV has way too many perks to be easily blown out of the water. From pricing to decent range, to power and its strong suit (space and luxury), not many mid-size luxury EVs are better buys than the Vistiq.
Gabriel Olakunori
Gabriel likes to (blindly) argue that SUVs are part of nature, and he might just have a point when you're walking in the snow, crossing bone-dry deserts, gliding down splendid park-like boulevards, or navigating rocky roads. He has over seven years of experience writing across a broad spectrum of topics, many within the automotive industry. If he is not at the desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he is at the wheel d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun. Either way, the road leads to the same destination: bliss. Gabriel loves SUVs for their all-inclusiveness, but he cannot turn down an offer to drive or write about any vehicle.
