Cadillac continues its EV push with the introduction of its new family sized three-row electric SUV, the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq that was previewed earlier this year. The second largest Cadillac EV and the fifth overall electric model for the brand, the Vistiq comes across as a more handsome version of the gas-powered XT6, but there are major design differences if you look closely.
Up front, the Vistiq wears a fake grille that’s similar to the Lyriq and Escalade IQ, with illuminated pinstripes running along the side. Keeping in step with Cadillac’s EV design language, thin LED lights and vertically stacked headlights flank the grille.
The Vistiq rides on a 121-inch wheelbase, the same as an Escalade, and its 205-inch overall length is six and a half inches longer than an XT6. It looks pretty tall, too, with standard 21-inch wheels and 22s and 23s optional. One of the most interesting aspects of the design is the rear sail panel where the designers drew inspiration from a surprising place: the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon. Ahead of that, the window for third-row passengers gets a Mondrian pattern graphic that Cadillac says creates exterior motion while looking out and provides passenger privacy. At the rear, it has a similar vertical tail light setup as the Lyriq.
Inside, the Vistiq has one of Cadillac’s best looking interiors yet. Beyond the massive 33-inch OLED screen that spans across the dash, all the luxury and tech features you’d expect are here, including five-zone climate control, 23-speaker AKG Dolby Atmos sound system, road noise cancellation and a panoramic roof with a third-row skylight. Ambient LEDs light up the lower console, dash and along the panoramic roof. In a nod to my constant calls for more interior colored interiors, Premium Luxury trims of the Vistiq get an available interior color called Phantom Blue.
Performance is sports car–rivaling, an impressive feat given that this is a 6,326-pound family hauler. A 102-kWh battery pack and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup give the Vistiq 615 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque. Cadillac says that’s enough to hustle the Vistiq to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, a scary impressive number, when using the Velocity Max mode that I assume is similar to the GMC Hummer EV’s cringy Watts To Freedom (WTF) mode.
As long as you don’t constantly drive around like that, Cadillac says the Vistiq should get an estimated 300 miles of range on a full charge. When it comes time to charge, the Vistiq will have V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) bi-directional charging. Most importantly, it will be capable of DC fast charging at an as-yet-unknown rate; Cadillac says it can gain 79 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
Aside from other impressive standard items like Super Cruise and one-pedal driving with regen on demand, there are other features that make it seem as if Cadillac thinks the Vistiq will be on the radar of some sport sedan buyers. It has available chassis damping control, an adaptive air suspension that automatically lowers the Vistiq for better aerodynamics, and most surprisingly, Brembo brakes and an available active rear-wheel steering setup that can turn the rear wheels up to three degrees.
A couple of things might annoy some buyers: GM continues to double down on Google Built-In for its infotainment systems, which means there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the Vistiq has no frunk, though you do get up to 80 cubic feet of cargo room with all the rows folded.
Interested buyers will have to wait until next year to get their hands on the Vistiq, as it won’t hit dealers until summer 2025. Even then, every trim won’t be available at first. The Vistiq will be available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport and Platinum trims. The Vistiq Platinum will arrive at dealers first, while the other trims will come at a later date.
