‘Super Cruise’ on the all-electric Cadillac is amazing

4/2/2025

The Cadillac brand conjures up luxury. Songs are written about driving Cadillacs, not Fiats. 

The Optiq, Cadillac’s newest all-electric vehicle, debuted in 2025. The Optiq Luxury 1 is a smaller SUV than its sibling, the Lyriq. 

The Optiq lists at $55,615. If you have a red color obsession, it will cost you a bit more, as the price is an extra $1,225 for a red model. Is that why folks buy gray SUVs, to save a few bucks? Then again, if you can afford to buy a Cadillac, you probably aren’t pinching pennies.

As I approached the SUV, the car handles opened automatically. The salesman offered me a few pointers, as driving electric cars can be complicated if you are not used to it.

For starters, he told me the car was already running. Or was it? I didn’t hear a thing. But when I put it in reverse, the engine was definitely running. 

As I leaned over, searching for the seat adjustment, I found nothing. The controls were located on the door. My lower back thanked me.

The interior design offered distinct touches. The bright blue accents with white seats provided a contrasting burst of color. Gray, carpet-like trim, along with sleek silver and black coloring, weaved throughout the vehicle. Ambient mood lighting comes in a rainbow of colors. A vertical slot for my cell phone was just the right size so it didn’t slide around on sharp turns.

The salesman suggested I try the hands-free feature. It’s called “Super Cruise” and recently won MotorTrend magazine’s Best Tech Award for 2025. 

I was skeptical about taking my hands off the wheel, especially as I was sandwiched between speeding semitrucks along Interstate 80/35. 

First, I set the cruise. Next, there was a steering wheel icon located on the lower portion of the steering wheel. I pushed the button, and the blue light wavered over the top of the steering wheel.

Once the blue light turned to green, it meant I could take my hands off the wheel. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster and putting my hands up in the air, trusting I wasn’t going to fall. Could I be sure the car wasn’t going to crash into the semi next to me?

It was nerve-wracking, and I kept my hands close, ready to grab the steering wheel. Yet, it stayed within the lines. I kept testing, even going around a curve, and it stayed the course. The social media geek in me needed to capture this encounter, so I whipped out my phone and took a picture with both hands while the car drove itself.

While driving, I noticed my turn signal was on. Was I one of those dreaded drivers who forgot to turn off my signal? Nope. It was the car telling me I was following too close to the car in front and “suggested” I get in the other lane.

When I came to a stop, I didn’t need to brake. Optiq did it for me. Amazing.  

If you are in search of a driving companion that assists with driving decisions, consider the all-electric Cadillac Optiq for your next ride. ♦