Cadillac Optiq vs Toyota HiLux
What's the difference?

Cadillac Optiq

$80,000 - $80,000

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Toyota HiLux

$33,990 - $82,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series

Toyota Prado

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Volkswagen Touareg

Volkswagen Transporter

Summary

2026 Cadillac Optiq

2026 Toyota HiLux

By Andrew Chesterton

By Mark Oastler

Safety Rating

Engine Type

—

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

Fuel Type

—

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Fuel Efficiency

—

Electric range

315 km

Energy consumption

20.2 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

59.20 kWh

Seating

—

Likes

Sharp pricing in premium land
Punchy dual-motor powertrain
Considered and comfortable cabin

Zero tailpipe emissions
Silent powertrain
Zippy response

Dislikes

Ride can feel brittle on harsh road surfaces
Slow DC charge rate
Five-year warranty feels underdone these days

High price
Short driving range
Limited GVM/GCM ratings

2026 Cadillac Optiq Summary

The lonely Cadillac Lyriq finally has some company, with the iconic US brand tripling its range down under with the launch of the much bigger Vistiq (which we've already tested) and this entry-level Optiq, which Cadillac describes as the gateway to its electric family.

It's a medium all-electric SUV with plenty of equipment and – depending on whether you see it as an established premium player or another newcomer brand – pretty sharp pricing.

Cadillac says it has the German big three in its sights with the Optiq, so how does it stack up?

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2026 Toyota HiLux Summary

Toyota claims its first HiLux BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) has been designed primarily with mining, business and government fleet customers in mind, by combining the iconic ute’s 4x4 all-terrain capability with zero tailpipe emissions only a full-electric drivetrain can deliver.

To prove its suitability for harsh Aussie conditions, Toyota claims the HiLux BEV has undergone more than two years of testing on site with major mining companies, covering thousands of kilometres in ambient temperatures up to 50 degrees.

We recently sampled the HiLux BEV as a daily driver in metropolitan use, to see if its mining-focused credentials translate to being a practical alternative to traditional diesel power for tradies working in busy urban environments.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Cadillac Optiq 2026 Toyota HiLux

Verdict

A taste test, but so far so good for the Cadillac Optiq, which is already my favourite model in the Caddy range. More space than you think meets a lovely cabin experience and a punchy powertrain.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Verdict

Given the HiLux BEV was developed in close cooperation with mining companies, its relatively short driving range appears tailor-made for that role given the daily driving distances (typically around 150km or less) in underground and open-cut mining operations. However, determining if our SR5 test vehicle is equally well suited to urban tradie duties would require careful analysis of driving range and payload/towing requirements, to determine if its emissions-free high purchase price can be justified.

Cadillac Optiq vs Toyota HiLux What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Cadillac Optiq vs Toyota HiLux
What's the difference?