Compare the2026 Cadillac OptiqVS 2026 Subaru Solterra

The Optiq 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 Solterra doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Optiq and the Solterra 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 Optiq weighs 682 to 1050 pounds more than the Subaru Solterra. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Optiq comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Solterra’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Optiq 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Solterra. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Solterra ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Optiq’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Solterra’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

The Optiq has more powerful engines than the Solterra:

The Optiq can travel longer on a full charge than the Solterra on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Optiq-V’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Solterra:

The Optiq stops shorter than the Solterra:

For better traction, the Optiq has larger standard tires than the Solterra (245/50R20 vs. 235/60R18). The Optiq’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Solterra (275/40R21 vs. 235/60R18).

The Optiq’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Solterra Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The Optiq’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Optiq has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Solterra Premium. The Optiq’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

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

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

The Optiq offers an available 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 Solterra’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Optiq’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Solterra (116.3 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Optiq Premium Sport AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Solterra Touring pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Optiq Premium Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Solterra Touring (26.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

The Optiq has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Solterra (101 vs. 97.5).

The Optiq has .8 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, 6.2 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Solterra.

The Optiq has a much larger cargo volume than the Solterra with its rear seat up (26 vs. 23.8 cubic feet).

The Optiq has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Solterra has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Optiq uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Solterra doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Optiq uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Solterra 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 seat and mirrors in the Solterra, the Optiq Premium/V-Series has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Optiq Premium/V-Series has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Solterra doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Optiq’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Solterra doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Optiq Premium/V-Series has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Solterra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Optiq’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Solterra has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Cadillac Optiq 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 Solterra Limited/Touring.

The Optiq has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

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

The Cadillac Optiq has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the infotainment. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Subaru charges extra for Homelink® on the Solterra.

The Optiq’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Solterra Limited/Touring’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Optiq is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Solterra doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Cadillac Optiq outsold the Subaru Solterra by 14% during 2025.