3.5 Seconds and a School Run: The Optiq-V Is the Practical One

It has 519 horsepower and 650 lb-ft, achieves a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds when Launch Control is used, is fitted with Brembo six-piston front fixed calipers, features an adaptive continuous damping suspension which is not available on any other Optiq trim, and has a range of up to 278 miles as estimated by the EPA.

When it comes to performance cars you have to make sacrifices. For example, you might get a harsh ride, a rear seat that no one can use, and a cargo area big enough only for one duffel bag. So you buy the fast car and use the other one on weekdays.

The Optiq-V isn't designed to work that way. It is a compact SUV that seats five passengers and has 26 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, increasing to 57 cubic feet when the seats are folded down. It is equipped with Super Cruise and can be plugged into a Tesla Supercharger without the need for an adapter. Additionally, when Velocity Max is turned on and Launch Control is activated, it will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

That is the reason why we keep highlighting it to shoppers at the Northwest Hills Cadillac on East Main Street in Torrington. Not because it is the fastest vehicle on the premises, but because it carries out the greatest number of tasks.

What the numbers actually are

The Velocity Max mode, which the driver can choose, is said by Cadillac to produce 519 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Dual-motor all-wheel drive is fitted as standard and there is no rear-drive version of the V.

The range is estimated by the EPA at up to 278 miles and reduces to 250 miles in certain configurations. Two factors affect this figure: the available Charging and Convenience Package 2, which increases the on-board charger from 11.5 kW to 19.2 kW, and the optional summer tires, which reviewers have stated amount to about 25 miles. There is no agreement among sources as to which of the two causes the 250-mile figure that has been published, so it's necessary to look at the window sticker for the particular vehicle rather than just assuming that the effects combine. In either case, both quicker home charging and the use of tires with more grip result in a loss of range, something that should be discussed before you decide to order rather than afterwards.

The battery has a capacity of 85 kWh, just like that in the standard Optiq.

The suspension is the actual reason to buy it

The headline goes to horsepower, while the suspension is the one you experience every day.

The only model in the range that has adaptive continuous damping is the Optiq-V; all the other Optiq models, such as the Premium Sport, are fitted with passive dampers. Passive dampers are fixed and are set when the vehicle is manufactured, so the ride remains the same whether you're driving on smooth pavement or on frost-heaved roads.

The continuous damping system assesses the road conditions and makes adjustments; on Route 4 en route to Goshen, where the type of pavement changes every quarter mile, this difference is far from subtle. The vehicle remains settled rather than bouncing. When you take Route 8 in a southward direction, however, it becomes firmer.

People also omit this section when they do online research since it doesn't appear as a large figure; if you drive the V and then drive a Premium Sport one after the other, you'll notice it during the first two miles.

Regarding the name: this is about continuous damping control, not Magnetic Ride Control. It is a different system. While Cadillac has fitted MR on some of its other products, the Optiq-V does not have this feature, and anyone who says it does is merely guessing.

Brakes, and why six pistons matter more here than at a track

The V is fitted with Brembo six-piston fixed front calipers. What is meant by fixed calipers is that the caliper body does not slide; the pistons act from both sides of the rotor. As a result, the brake pedal has a firmer and more consistent feel and the entire arrangement manages heat better.

Most owners will never take this car to a racetrack; that's all right. The place you really need the large brakes in Litchfield County is going downhill. When you're coming down from the hills into Torrington or descending towards the Naugatuck valley with a heavily loaded car, brake fade does in fact occur in a vehicle that has a published curb weight of 5,445 pounds. Regenerative braking takes care of most of the braking in ordinary driving, and the Brembos are intended for when it isn't.

Charging, in plain terms

The Optiq comes with a native NACS port, so you don't need an adapter, no dongle in the frunk, and no need to look for the correct cable. All you have to do is drive up to a Tesla Supercharger and plug in.

The figures published indicate that the Optiq-V offers an additional range of about 70 miles in around 10 minutes when using a public DC fast charging station; that kind of charging is equivalent to a coffee break, not an entire afternoon.

Most people who use it every day never fast charge at all; they plug it in at home during the night and find it fully charged in the morning. That's what surprises people who have been used to gas cars. There's no longer any part of the routine that involves a gas station.

One thing to get right before winter

The Optiq-V is fitted with all-season tires, although summer tires are also available.

If you live near Torrington, you should stay with the all-season tires or arrange to have a set specifically for winter. Summer tires are specific to the compound; below about 45 degrees they become hard and lose their grip, and this applies to dry pavement as well as snow. All-wheel drive will help with moving around, but it provides no assistance with stopping or turning on cold rubber. The summer tires also reduce your range by about 25 miles, so the case for them in Connecticut is thin in both directions.

It is better to tell you this before you place your order than afterwards, once you have reached your first February.

Where it fits in the lineup

The Optiq is currently available in five trims: Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, Premium Sport, and the V-Series. Its standard powertrain consists of a single motor providing rear-wheel drive and delivers 315 horsepower together with an EPA-estimated range of 317 miles. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive option is available, producing 440 horsepower and having a range of 303 miles.

Some of the good stuff is standard across every trim, which is unusual:

• Super Cruise hands-free driving, with a three-year OnStar Super Cruise plan

• The 33-inch curved display with 9K resolution

• 19-speaker AKG audio with Dolby Atmos

• The native NACS charging port

You aren't paying extra for the V to obtain the technology since you already have it as part of the Luxury package; what you're paying for is the powertrain, the adaptive suspension, the Brembos, Launch Control with V-Mode, the adjustable seat bolsters, and the special 21-inch wheels.

Take the time to think honestly about which of them you actually want. If your answer is "the suspension and the brakes", that's a valid reason. But if you say "3.5 seconds", you'll end up using it four times and then it will become a party trick. That's not at all wrong either. Just make sure you know which one you're going to buy.

And know what it costs you: about 40 miles less range than the rear-drive Optiq, together with a significant increase in price. The V isn't the most worthwhile option in this range; it's the one that's more enjoyable to own.

Super Cruise on the commute

If your week includes Route 8 or I-84, it is the Super Cruise feature that has a greater impact on your day than horsepower. You can leave the wheel alone when driving on mapped highways and keep your eyes on the road; the stop-and-go traffic between Waterbury and Danbury ceases to be the worst aspect of the journey.

The car includes an OnStar Super Cruise plan that lasts for three years; feel free to ask us what happens at year four so that you may avoid any surprises.

Come drive it

Northwest Hills Cadillac is located at 2065 East Main Street in Torrington, serving Litchfield, Winsted, New Hartford, Harwinton, Thomaston, and the Farmington Valley. We are a member of the Sullivan Automotive Group.

The Optiq-V feels better when you're sitting in it than it does on a specification sheet, since aspects such as the steering, the damping, and the way it takes a corner on a back road aren't included in a table.

Call to find out about the current inventory and to arrange a test drive. Take the children and the car seats. That's the entire idea.

Range and performance figures are Cadillac-estimated or EPA-estimated and will vary with driving conditions, temperature, and equipment. Confirm current specifications and availability with the dealership.