Compare the2026 Audi Q4 e-tronVS 2026 Cadillac Optiq

The Q4 e-tron’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Optiq doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q4 e-tron and Optiq have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q4 e-tron has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Optiq’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Q4 e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Optiq doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Q4 e-tron and the Optiq have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Q4 e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Optiq’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q4 e-tron for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Optiq.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 14 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the Optiq:

The Q4 55 e-tron can travel longer on a full charge than the Optiq-V 19 kW Charger (258 miles vs. 250 miles).

The Q4 e-tron has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Optiq doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the Q4 e-tron’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Optiq:

For better traction and acceleration, the Q4 e-tron has larger rear tires than the Optiq (255/50R19 vs. 245/50R20).

The Q4 e-tron’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Optiq’s (52% to 48%). This gives the Q4 e-tron more stable handling and braking.

The Q4 e-tron Quattro handles at .81 G’s, while the Optiq Sport AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q4 e-tron Quattro executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Optiq Sport AWD (26.6 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q4 e-tron 45’s turning circle is 6.3 feet tighter than the Optiq’s (33.5 feet vs. 39.8 feet). The Q4 e-tron 55’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Optiq’s (37.7 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

The Audi Q4 e-tron may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 600 pounds less than the Cadillac Optiq.

The Q4 45 e-tron is 9.2 inches shorter than the Optiq, making the Q4 e-tron easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q4 e-tron. The Optiq doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Q4 e-tron’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Optiq’s (2200 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac Optiq is only 1500 pounds. The Q4 e-tron offers up to a 2650 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Optiq V-Series is not recommended to tow, any Q4 e-tron can tow a minimum of 2200 pounds.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q4 e-tron to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Optiq doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Q4 e-tron has a standard rear wiper. The Optiq doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q4 e-tron Premium Plus offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Optiq doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q4 e-tron, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q4 outsold the Cadillac Optiq by almost 22 to one during 2024.