The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq aims to be the marque's mid-level luxury offering. Can it succeed?

Imagine an SUV nestled between the bigger Escalade and the smaller Lyriq and you get the Cadillac Vistiq. This new luxury SUV from a brand synonymous with luxury is set to launch in spring 2025 as a speedy offering with reasonable range and towing capacity. Let's dive into what Cadillac will offer come next year.

The Cadillac Vistiq offers ample power and range for a luxury SUV

The only powertrain available for the Vistiq will be a dual motor, AWD configuration powered by a 102 kWh battery pack. That combination offers 615 hp, 650 lb-ft of torque, a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds, and a range of 300 miles. It should be noted that the quoted 0-60 mph time is achieved through "Velocity Max" mode, Cadillac's own launch control.

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The adaptive suspension and drive models make the Vistiq more versatile

Underneath, the air ride adaptive suspension adjusts itself at speed for better aerodynamic efficiency while the customizable drive modes allow the Vistiq to adapt to different terrain conditions. Let's be honest with ourselves, nobody is going off-roading in this thing. The most off-road it will ever see is the bad pavement at the local mall.

The Vistiq's charging options are adaptable to any situation

The Combined Charging System (CCS) Type 1 port, which combines the J1722 Type 1 plug with two DC fast-charging  pins, will add up to 79 miles in 10 miles at a max rate of 190 kW with public DC fast charging. Drop down to Level 2 AC charging, and the charging rate also drops to 28.5 miles in an hour at 11.5 kW or 46.7 miles at 19.2 kW.

Not in a rush whatsoever or only have access to household plugs? The included dual-level charging cord will be your best friend. By using an appliance-style, 4-prong outlet, you can add up to 20.5 miles of range per hour or up to 3.6 miles of range per hour with a standard 3-prong home outlet. We'd probably stay away from those.

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The design borrows from other modern Cadillacs

Design-wise, the Vistiq carries a bit of inspiration from Cadillac's other contemporary models. The front fascia, complete with a faux grille and integrated LED lighting, strongly resembles the current model Escalade while the upper taillights take cues from the Lyriq. It's not new by any stretch, but it carries that Cadillac elegance that spans their current lineup.

The Vistiq rides on silver 21" Diamond Cut Wheels with black inserts that can be substituted for 23" wheels for a more imposing stance. The roof can also be blacked out to accent the exterior paint color.

An interior that is truly Cadillac

The interior is where the Vistiq really shines, with seating for 7 passengers and 43 cubic feet of space with the third row folded down. Above is a panoramic dual-pane sunroof for ample natural light and stargazing opportunities at night.

Everything is a screen, as you might expect, with a 33" panoramic screen acting as the cluster and infotainment system. The temperature and seating controls are unfortunately nestled in an 8" touchscreen both upfront and in the back so that the second and third-row passengers can control their own settings. Form over function is always a bad move, especially with AC controls, but it seems Cadillac has yet to learn.

Paired with the 5-zone climate control system, these Command Centers ensure that anyone riding in the Vistiq can customize their temperature to their liking.

Want to set the perfect vibe inside? The tri-zone ambient lighting offers 126 color options, illuminating the footwells, doors, sunroof, and more. Pair that with the Dolby Atmos-powered 23-speaker AKG sound system, and the Vistiq transforms into a full-on party bus.

Modern technology is right at home in the Vistiq

Technology-wise, the Cadillac Vistiq is packed to the gills. Super Cruise, GM's self-driving hardware, comes standard for three years. Night Vision is also a standard feature, which allows the front cameras to see in the dark and alert you of any incoming hazards. The AR head-up display we've seen pop up more often in new vehicles gives the driver quick information like speed, navigation, phone, and music.

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The Vistiq's four trims range from luxurious to ludicrously so

The Vistiq will come in four trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, and Platinum, with only the base trim price having been announced at the time of writing.

The Vistiq Luxury

Starting at around $78,000, the Luxury comes standard with most of the features listed above including the base 21" Diamond Cut wheels. Second-row captain's chairs, 19.2 kW AC Charging, and the black roof are optional.

The Vistiq Premium Luxury

The Premium Luxury takes the Luxury's features and adds adaptive suspension, active rear steering, second-row captain's chairs, an AR head-up display, night vision, 22" wheels, and 19.2 kW AC charging capability. 

The interior gets exclusive touches as well with Phantom Blue Nouveauluxe seats, open pore tan wood trim, ambient backlit door accents, and sueded microfiber headliner and trim. The black roof and 23" Reverse Rim wheels are the only options.

The Vistiq Sport

The Sport trim is a little weird. It builds on the Luxury's standard features and adds a Sport-only grille design, gloss black roof rails, gloss black moldings and window surround, chrome and gloss black accents, body-color door handles, and the same 21" wheels.

I suppose it's sporty in that some of its accents are black but it doesn't really add enough to warrant picking it over the Premium Luxury. Perhaps it will be cheaper than the Premium Luxury. The Sport can also be optioned with the second-row captain's chairs, black roof, and 19.2 kW AC charging.

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The Vistiq Platinum

This is where all bets are off and no costs are spared. On top of everything from the Sport and Premium Luxury, the Platinum adds a special front and rear lower fascia, body-color wheel surround and rocker moldings, Brembo brakes with black calipers and Cadillac script, a black roof, and bigger 22" Reverse Rim wheels.

Much like the Premium Luxury, the interior gets a trim-exclusive treatment with Kona Brown or Jet Black Nouveauluxe seats, open-pore Black Ash trim, and carpeted floor mats.

The 22" wheels can be optioned in a Satin Graphite finish or replaced with 23" inch ones.

Final thoughts

The Cadillac Vistiq is a luxurious beast, and that's an undeniable fact. The trouble lies in its design and market placement.

At its core, it's another big SUV, and how many more of those things do we really need out there? The Escalade holds its own because it's massive and it has pop culture recognition dating back to its first and second generations. The Lyriq is interesting because of its design, price, and relation to the upcoming Celestiq luxury sedan.

The Vistiq is in that limbo middle ground where it's not as nice as an Escalade or as interesting and "affordable" as a Lyriq. It borrows from both but fails to have an identity of its own. In a way it's like the Cadillacs of the 1980s: yeah it's a Cadillac, but will it really turn heads when its more interesting brethren roam the same streets?

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