Cadillac Vistiq Is Nimbler Than Its Size Suggests

The Canadian government is taking a step back with its mandated electric vehicle stance, but that isn’t stopping luxury car makers from rolling out award-winning models. The Porsche Taycan was just named 2026 Canadian Electric Car of the Year at the Canadian International AutoShow going on this week in Toronto for example. The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Premium Luxury is definitely at the top of the electric SUV list, a blend of effortless luxury with cutting-edge electric performance.

Priced at CAD $115,498, I had the pleasure of driving the Vistiq a few weeks back, in a snowstorm no less.

Quiet, powerful, refined – the drive felt premium from the moment I slid behind the wheel. Dual-motor all-wheel drive delivered a Cadillac-estimated 650 horsepower 650 lb-ft torque, launching you from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. It just felt effortless. That was my immediate impression, picking it up from the General Motors dealership in west Toronto, getting on the QEW, and driving west to Hamilton.

That was a buttery smooth ride, so no noticeable bumps – Air Ride Adaptive Suspension with Continuous Damping Control was the reason for that. Add in Active Rear Steering, and this big three-row that is the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq feels surprisingly nimble and easy to maneuver, almost like a smaller crossover.

Stealth-Like and Silent for a Big SUV

No engine noise, no vibrations — just instant, silent thrust and serene highway cruising. I’ve driven a lot of electric SUVs now, and that’s what I have grown to love about them. Super Cruise hands-free driving is standard, so on compatible roads you can relax while it handles steering, braking, and lane changes. That’s true luxury if you haven’t tried it – letting the car do the work while you enjoy the view. For me it was driving past snowy, Christmas landscapes.

Premium Luxury Leather Trim Interior

Step inside, and the Premium Luxury trim takes things to another level. You’ve got exclusive Phantom Blue Nouveauluxe seats with custom quilting. Those were soft, sustainable, and seriously upscale, paired with open-pore tan wood trim and ambient backlit door accents that glow subtly. A sueded microfiber headliner wraps the cabin in warmth, and 126-color tri-zone LED ambient lighting lets you set the mood.

A massive curved thirty-three-inch LED display dominates the dash, running Google built-in for seamless navigation, voice control, and apps. An augmented reality head-up display projects directions right into your line of sight. Night vision helps spot pedestrians in low light – rare features that add real safety and wow factor. The twenty-three-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos powered my Apple playlist and favourite podcasts for those longer drives that week. There’s also wireless charging, five USB-C ports, and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot to keep everyone on the ride connected.

The seats are heated, ventilated, and massaging up front, with heated second-row outboards and available captain’s chairs for that first-class feel. Don’t forget about the third row – good legroom, okay access, fine for shorter trips, for adults.

The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Premium Luxury is the company’s first all-electric three-row luxury SUV, slotting between the smaller Lyriq and the massive Escalade IQ. It gives you Escalade-level presence and refinement in a more manageable size – about three inches longer than the old gas Escalade but way shorter overall.

Range on a full battery is 483 kilometres.

Bottom line, I have learned to really love these big electric luxury SUVs, even the EV pickup trucks. I was among the naysayers a few years back, feeling like I was bring dragged into an EV future whether I liked it or not. Let the market sort it all out, I said to friends years ago. Well, the market is sorting it out, and as it turns out, this class of vehicle, for everything you get for the money, is making far more sense to me.