The 2025 Cadillac EscaladeIQ and OptiqEVs: Cadillac's future is electric - First Look Impressions

[@LlyleHunter]

I recently rode in a 2024 Cadillac Lyriq and it was a phenomenal experience. I loved the car. It rides like an authentic Cadillac from the 1970s or earlier only without floating and the interior was very elegant and it was more silent than any Cadillac than I’ve ever experienced in the past. If the Optiq is anywhere nearly as good as the Lyriq then the future of Cadillac’s success is assured. They’re posh and polished and everything that a Cadillac should be. Kudos to the design team.

[@Eventurefamily]

I was also stunned with how well the Lyriq drove and thought it had active air suspension with how good the ride was. It doesn’t come up often in EV discussions but it’s a solid option. It’s great to see Cadillac building out their EV lineup more now.

[@dianewallace6064]

Did you go to a Cadillac event? Very nice Escalade and Optiq.

[@Eventurefamily]

This was at the US Open Tennis tournament. Cadillac is a huge sponsor and had this massive both there. Let them know that they should partner with me though for future events. I’ve certainly tried reaching out 😀 I think both look great and will get very different types of customers into Cadillacs. This is the most I’ve ever considered getting one. Maybe this will finally take the brand a bit younger.

[@dianewallace6064]

@@Eventurefamily Agreed. Cool you were at the US Open Tennis. I notice y'all live right next to NYC. I'm from Philly so I'm very familiar with South Jersey (not north Jersey). I went to Duke U and met classmates from Short Hills NJ and Tarreytown NY. I'll have to re-watch your video because I was walking in the Park while listening so couldn't "see". It'd be cool someday to visit your family and shoot a video. It's hard for me to get past the Jersey shore though. 🤣🤣We go once a year to the Jersey shore from North Carolina. Took the R1T this year, charging went well.

[@Eventurefamily]

@@dianewallace6064 yeah, we had a great time there. The kids have been getting very into tennis lately. It's nice being so close to NYC but far enough away that we can also get out into nature on the weekends. We love the shore as well. I haven't edited it, but we went to Stone Harbor for a week earlier this summer for the third year now and love being there. That sounds like a great trip up from NC, though I found charging at the shore itself, especially down in Cape May County, is pretty lacking. Luckily the R1s have enough range that it's easy enough to get back to a fast charger.

[@dianewallace6064]

5:00 Nice big screens in the back seats for the kiddos.

[@SJVH1]

I saw a Escalade charging here in Michigan. It was huge. Sticker was $138,000. Ouch!

[@Eventurefamily]

Nice! They aren’t available yet so it must have been a manufacturer one doing some testing. That’s very cool. They are definitely not cheap but they are awesome.

[@dianewallace6064]

I just watched a video about the Honda Prologue which is supposed to be the same as the Cadillac Optiq.

[@Eventurefamily]

I think the Prologue is actually the Chevy Blazer if I'm not mistaken. The Acura ZDX is the Cadillac Lyriq and shares some of the slight upmarket improvements. I don't think Honda has something on the same platform as the Equinox / Optiq. I also just saw that Acura has a new ground up concept EV that they'll be building out and using as a platform for Acura and Honda vehicles in the future, but it's still fairly far away.

[@dianewallace6064]

@@Eventurefamily Aaah. Thanks. I knew you would know. I think you are right-the Prologue is like the Chevy Blazer. I forgot the ZDX is like the Lyriq. All good. That's nice that Honda and Acura are coming up with their own platform. Neat! I try to keep up with these models so I can talk intelligently if folks have questions about their favorite manufacturer's EVs.

[@Eventurefamily]

Of course! I feel like I’m quickly becoming an Ultium pro, learning all about this and GM’s lineup now.

[@dianewallace6064]

@@Eventurefamily Yup!

[@dianewallace6064]

I met a guy at an ICE cars and coffee show last Fall and he never owned an EV and wanted a BZ4X, Prologue or ZDX. I said Wow, those are the 3 worst EVs. He looked sad so I said , it's fine, buy what you want. So now, I am trying to not be judgmental at Cars and Coffee shows. I like that your channel is not judgmental (in a bad way).

[@Eventurefamily]

I'd definitely agree that those are 3 of the least "good" EVs from a cost, tech, and charging standpoint, but I think I've also come to realize more and more that not everyone shares the same priorities as me, especially after cross shopping for our latest EV. None of those 3 were at all on my radar because of those limitations, and I'd also probably try to educate someone going into their first EV to maybe consider alternatives.

[@dianewallace6064]

460 miles of range for the Optiq --wow.

[@Eventurefamily]

I think that's only the Escalade. The Optiq is essentially the same as the Equinox EV underneath, so they're saying about 300 miles of range (the Equinox EV AWD is 285). The Escalade has a massive battery like the Hummer and Silverado.

[@dianewallace6064]

@@Eventurefamily Oh, okay. That makes sense. Thanks.

[@dianewallace6064]

@@Eventurefamily 285 miles is plenty for the Equinox.

[@dianewallace6064]

I hear Supercruise is awesome.

[@Eventurefamily]

I've used it once now for about 5 minutes in the Equinox and it was impressive. I need more time with it to form a true impression, but I've heard great things.

[@dianewallace6064]

@@Eventurefamily yes take your time and keep us posted once your family has used Supercruise for a while.

[@dianewallace6064]

I like the Optiq cockpit. The Escalade is too huge for me.