Compare the2026 Cadillac VistiqVS 2026 Lexus RZ

Both the Vistiq and RZ have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Vistiq 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 RZ’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 Vistiq has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The RZ doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Vistiq. But it costs extra on the RZ.

A passive infrared night vision system standard on the Vistiq Premium Luxury/Platinum helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The RZ doesn’t offer a night vision system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Vistiq has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the RZ Premium/Luxury/F Sport offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Vistiq and the RZ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 driver alert monitors.

The Cadillac Vistiq weighs 1663 to 2005 pounds more than the Lexus RZ. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Vistiq’s warranty.

The Vistiq’s electric motors produces 394 more horsepower (615 vs. 221) and 452 lbs.-ft. more torque (650 vs. 198) than the RZ 350e’s standard electric motor. The Vistiq’s electric motors produces 307 more horsepower (615 vs. 308) and 329 lbs.-ft. more torque (650 vs. 321) than the RZ 450e’s standard electric motors. The Vistiq’s electric motors produces 213 more horsepower (615 vs. 402) and 254 lbs.-ft. more torque (650 vs. 396) than the RZ 550e F Sport’s standard electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac Vistiq is faster than the RZ 450e electric motors:

The Vistiq can travel longer on a full charge than the RZ on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Vistiq’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RZ:

For better traction, the Vistiq has larger standard tires than the RZ (285/45R21 vs. 235/60R18). The Vistiq’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RZ (305/35R23 vs. 235/60R18).

The Vistiq’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RZ’s standard 60 series front and 55 series rear tires. The Vistiq’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the RZ’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Vistiq has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RZ. The Vistiq’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RZ.

The Cadillac Vistiq’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Lexus RZ only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires standard on the Vistiq can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The RZ doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Vistiq has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The RZ’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Vistiq has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RZ doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Vistiq’s wheelbase is 9.6 inches longer than on the RZ (121.8 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Vistiq is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the RZ.

The Vistiq offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the RZ can only carry 5.

The Vistiq has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 4.1 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, 5.5 inches more rear hip room and 5.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the RZ.

The Vistiq’s cargo area provides more volume than the RZ.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Vistiq’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RZ doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Vistiq has a 5000 lbs. towing capacity. The RZ has no towing capacity.

The Vistiq uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The RZ uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RZ, the Vistiq has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The power windows standard on both the Vistiq and the RZ have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Vistiq is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The RZ prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Vistiq the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the RZ can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Vistiq has a standard rear wiper. The RZ doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Vistiq has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RZ doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Cadillac Vistiq has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the RZ Premium/Luxury/F Sport.

The Vistiq has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RZ.

The Cadillac Vistiq stands out above the Lexus RZ by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility. Both vehicles also offer Qi charging for the second row passengers.