2026 Cadillac Vistiq: Enjoy the Drive, Stay for the Experience

As we've said before, Cadillac has been booming for the past five years. This growth continues in 2025 with GM’s luxury brand having achieved its best-ever quarter in Canada. Think about that.

Cadillac now has as many as five different electric vehicles with the all-new Vistiq set to replace the gas-powered XT6 for 2026. The baby Escalade, as company officials like to call it, is manufactured at the Spring Hill plant in Tennessee and already in dealerships across Canada and the U.S.

• Also: Fully Electric 2026 Cadillac Vistiq is Bad News for Gas-Powered XT6
• Also: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: Renaissance of an IQon

A Theatre-Like Atmosphere

The Vistiq is smaller than the Escalade, yet almost as spacious. All three rows of seats offer ample headroom, although third-row passengers may complain about having their knees too high. On the plus side, they get a small glass panel above their heads to complement the panoramic sunroof. For sure, the seats are very comfortable and better designed than those of the aforementioned XT6.  

On Luxury and Sport models—both priced at $92,999 (MSRP)—you’ll find a bench seat in the second row or captain's chairs for an extra $1,040. The latter come standard on top-of-the-line Premium Luxury ($110,799) and Platinum ($117,499) models.

The extremely quiet interior of the Vistiq makes it easier to enjoy the wonderful 23-speaker AKG Studio sound system with road noise mitigation and Dolby Atmos technology included as standard. Speakers are built into the headrests and headliner as well as behind the multimedia system. In a nutshell, you’ll be treated to an immersive audio experience much like in a movie theater.

Speaking of technology, the 33-inch curved interface features three separate displays. On the left is a small touchscreen showing driving data, instrument customization settings and, in the case of Premium Luxury and Platinum models, night vision. The digital instrument cluster is centrally positioned, but some of the information is obstructed by the steering wheel unless you raise the latter high enough. We also wish the telescopic steering column had more travel.

On the right, the infotainment system features a simple, crisp display with large icons. Drivers can change the atmosphere within the cabin with an impressive selection of 126 colours split into three zones. The possibilities are basically endless. We found it rather confusing that energy consumption is measured in km/kWh instead of the usual kWh/100 km. What's more, the only way to know the battery percentage is to get out of the vehicle: it will be displayed on the screen along with range. GM representatives told us you can alternatively use the Cadillac app or voice commands to find out what percentage is left. Another 8-inch screen integrated into the centre console combines the various HVAC controls.

What else? Cadillac has pulled out all the stops when it comes to material selection and build quality. The Vistiq’s interior is tastefully appointed and flawlessly finished. Missing from it all, however, is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Oh, and a head-up display in base trim.

Smooth Power

The main appeal of the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq is the overall passenger experience as defined by the atmosphere inside the vehicle. Handling, as you can imagine, is predictable but not particularly exciting. Here we have a ponderous and powerful electric SUV with dual electric motors producing a total of 615 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque and accelerating from 0-100 km/h in less than four seconds in Velocity Max mode.

The Vistiq is pretty quick off the line, no doubt about that, but Cadillac's engineers have made sure that power delivery is linear and smooth no matter which drive mode is selected or how much pressure you put on the throttle. For example, even when the pedal is fully depressed, power is delivered progressively rather than all at once. As for braking, the Platinum model is the only one blessed with a set of Brembo performance brakes.

Luxury and Sport models feature a suspension with electronic Continuous Damping Control that adjusts in real time to maximize ride quality and driving dynamics. The other two models benefit from a more sophisticated air suspension that makes you feel like you’re riding on a cloud, even with the optional 23-inch wheels. They also rely on rear-wheel steering to enhance maneuverability.

Now, we would be remiss if we failed to add a few words about Super Cruise hands-free driving technology, which has been improved for 2026 and comes standard on the new Vistiq. It is compatible with more than 1.2 million kilometers of roads in Canada and the U.S., except that you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription of $69.99 following the three-year trial to keep using it. The systems does a really good job and even performs automatic lane changes in traffic or when exiting the highway. All manoeuvres are smooth and progressive. Activation requires a few steps, mind you—turning Adaptive Cruise Control on and then pressing the Super Cruise button on the steering wheel (the Super Cruise symbol will illuminate white on the instrument cluster, and then green when the system is engaged and steering the vehicle).

Technology is taken to another level with the new augmented-reality head-up display on Premium Luxury and Platinum models. It projects vibrant, full-colour visuals onto the windshield to keep drivers informed about navigation and notifications. While GM claims otherwise, this can be rather distracting if your eyes remain fixated. Consider yourself warned.

Decent Range

The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq packs a huge 102kWh battery providing a range of 483 km with the 19.2kW on-board charger or 491 km with the 11.5kW charger. During the media event in Ann Arbor, Michigan, we drove mostly on intermediate roads and a few highways. At the end of the day, the vehicle’s energy consumption amounted to 21.5 kWh/100 km, which would translate into a range of around 474 km. Considering its size and weight, we think that’s reasonably efficient performance.

Of course, things could be different come winter. The good news is that the Vistiq includes a heat pump to warm the battery. By the way, it can charge at a maximum rate of 190 kW at DC fast-charging stations, allowing it to add up to 127 km of range in 10 minutes.

Driving Takes a Back Seat

The Vistiq is a beautiful addition to Cadillac’s EV portfolio and will be a fitting replacement for the XT6 next year. Elegant and big on technology, it will win over occupants with all manners of creature comforts. On that note, we haven’t even mentioned the massaging seats up front, 8-inch control screen in the rear, 5G connectivity and USB-C ports everybody.

You might enjoy the drive, especially with so much power on tap, but it’s not what this vehicle is mainly about. Rather, it’s the overall experience that will put a smile on your face, even without the fancy scents that Genesis and Lincoln offer.