I Hung Out With Cadillac’s First All-Electric Three-Row SUV. Here’s What I Learned

It may have taken forever for General Motors (GM) to hit the market with its Ultium-powered electric vehicles (EV), but the models are finally coming out so quickly that I’m having trouble keeping up.

They’re also rather great at being EVs, actually. My experience with the Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Silverado EV so far has been very positive, albeit some minor software annoyances that I’m sure will be fixed through over-the-air (OTA) updates. And I recently got my hands on a Cadillac LYRIQ, which I also liked quite a lot. I’ll be cooking up a review of that one soon, so stay tuned.

But Cadillac has more EVs coming our way, like the OPTIQ, which I had a chance to get up close and personal with in Detroit last Spring. The OPTIQ aims at being Cadillac’s entry level EV, and is scheduled to hit the market sometime next year. Next on the list is this one, the 2026 VISTIQ, a three-row fully electric SUV that will also arrive next year. I had a chance to spend some time with an early prototype during a private, GM-controlled event in Detroit. Here’s what I learned.

2026 Cadillac VISTIQ To Offer 300 Miles Of Range

While the VISTIQ will slot between the LYRIQ and Escalade IQ in terms of size, it’ll retain the LYRIQ’s 102-kWh, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery. Powering two electric motors for full-time all-wheel drive, but with the rear motor being of induction type, the VISTIQ will deploy a whopping 459 kW, or the equivalent of 615 combined horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. That’s a full 115 horsepower and 200 lb-ft more than the most powerful LYRIQ currently on sale.

Such figures also lead to a tremendously quick 0-60 MPH time of 3.7 seconds, but Cadillac specifies that these numbers can only be achieved in the Velocity Max mode. What’s also interesting about the VISTIQ is that although it’s a larger vehicle, it preserves a similar range figure to the LYRIQ. GM estimates 300 miles on a full charge. The VISTIQ also gets the same 190-kW fast charging rate and 11.5-kW onboard charger for level two home charging. Cadillac says it’ll only take this SUV ten minutes to gain 79 miles of range on a compatible fast-charging unit.

What’s more, the VISTIQ comes out of the box compatible with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). The bad news for owners is that they’ll need to purchase the adapters separately. As I wrote this, Cadillac was unable to tell me if the VISTIQ’s navigation system would be set up to automatically to detect Tesla Superchargers. The VISTIQ will only come from the factory with a NACS charge port when it undergoes its mid-cycle refresh in a few years.

The VISTIQ Is About The Same Size As A Cadillac XT6

The fact that the VISTIQ is a three-row, premium SUV is a big deal. As I write this, except for the Tesla Model X and Mercedes-EQS SUV, there currently aren’t any vehicles of this type available to consumers. Volvo just released the EX90, which is the VISTIQ’s most noteworthy competitor, and Genesis should arrive next year with the all-electric GV90. But Cadillac is still among the first players in this space. This also happens to be the first-ever electric three-row SUV from General Motors.

The VISTIQ is about the same size as the existing XT6, with Cadillac’s now symbolic front fascia incorporating the signature vertical LED headlights and large shield grille with elegant illumination. But the rest of the vehicle is essentially the familiar three-box SUV design we’ve come to expect from this segment, with a slightly slopping roofline for a more dynamic look.

It’s out the rear that Cadillac seems to have had the most fun with this design. For starters, there’s the same C to D pillar window design element as on the OPTIQ, a feature I described as the auto industry’s way of finally letting its hair down in terms of design. On the VISTIQ, it’s arguably less striking and even a bit awkward due to the window’s size and shape. But it’s still a neat styling detail nevertheless.

The rear fascia borrows more queues from the OPTIQ, such as the split LED taillights that droop down to the lower sections of the car, as well as the smaller, horizontal LED strips that border each side of the back glass. It all looks fresh and distinctive.

A Familiar And Spacious Interior

Inside, the VISTIQ boasts the same 31-inch tablet as in the LYRIQ, but there’s a second, smaller screen installed lower towards the center console for climate control settings. The VISTIQ is equipped with an innovative five-zone climate control feature, allowing rear occupants – also via a tablet-style command screen – to manually adjust cabin temperature.

As for the rest, it’s a classic large GM SUV, with an interior that, at times, is very similar to an XT6’s. The second row is spacious, offering plenty of leg and headroom, even for a 6-foot tall passenger such as myself. Access to the third row is adequately wide for a tall adult to squeeze their way back there. If the second row is moved up a tad, third row passengers will find an adequate amount of legroom, with ample headroom. But like in most three-row SUVs of this segment, those rear seats are better suited for children.

As for cargo space, the VISTIQ offers a tad more of it than an XT6. For reference, it can engulf 15.2 cu-ft when all seats are in place, and 80.2 cu-ft when lowered flat. That’s inferior to an Acura MDX (18.1 cu-ft/95 cu-ft), but still better than a Volvo EX90 (11.4 cu-ft/74.4 cu-ft). Max towing for the VISTIQ is set at 5,000 lb, which is 1,000 lb more than an XT6.

2026 Cadillac VISTIQ Key Specifications

Cadillac says that VISTIQ production will begin early next year at its Spring Hill facility alongside the LYRIQ. First examples will hit showrooms towards the end of spring. While pricing will be announced closer to the release date, Cadillac is now taking orders via its website.