It wasn’t too long ago that we first got a glimpse at the Cadillac Optiq EV which was supposed to be the brand’s entry into the entry-level luxury EV CUV segment. While we get to wait a bit to hear more about some of the finer details that Cadillac is not telling us about, the brand is pressing on by giving us a sneak peek at another upcoming EV model, the 2026 Vistiq which will be the fifth model in Cadillac’s EV lineup.
Escalade IQ Looks Form Backbone of Vistiq’s Identity
Cadillac’s recent obsession with visual references is once again on display with the Vistiq (a clever play on the word Vista) and the SUV promises to be the proverbial middle ground between the Escalade IQ and the Lyriq in the EV product ladder. That’s evident in its exterior styling which shrinks some of the Slade’s visual presence into a smaller package while also adding small pinches of Lyriq DNA for good measure. The end result is an SUV that’s very elegant and handsome with the rear-end adopting taillights that are similar to the smaller Lyriq especially the way they flow into the rear fenders. It also appears that the Vistiq will also follow the Lyriq in not having a formal rear wiper with the air flowing from the roof helping to keep the glass dry in rainy weather. 
While the Optiq and the Vistiq compete in two different vehicle segments, the one distinct thing they currently have in common is that Cadillac is not revealing the finer aspects of what the Vistiq brings to the table yet, with Cadillac’s release not providing any information on the interior as well as the performance aspects of the SUV (we saw a similar manuever with the Optiq). That said, look for the Slade to provide a window into what the Vistiq has in store with the SUV offering a state-of-the-art infotainment system and a slightly smaller cabin. We could also potentially see a slightly detuned version of the Ultium EV hardware that we learned about in its bigger corporate stablemate.
When Will We Learn More About The Vistiq?
Cadillac revealed that it will release more details on the Vistiq next year with the brand also releasing additional information on the smaller Optiq in 2024 as well. Look for the new details to focus on the final list of features as well as what we can expect in terms of pricing.  Â
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.