Compare the2026 Cadillac OptiqVS 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

The Cadillac Optiq has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Optiq’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Optiq has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Cadillac Optiq’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Audi Q6 e-tron.

Both the Optiq and the Q6 e-tron 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 driver alert monitors.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Optiq 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q6 e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q6 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 84 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Optiq’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 69 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Audi.

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 Audi 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, Audi is rated below average.

The Optiq-V’s optional electric motors produces 10 more horsepower (519 vs. 509) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (650 vs. 631) than the SQ6 e-tron Premium’s optional electric motors.

On the EPA test cycle the Optiq gets better mileage than the Q6 e-tron:

The Optiq can travel longer on a full charge than the Q6 e-tron on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Optiq-V’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Q6 e-tron:

For better traction, the Optiq has larger standard tires than the Q6 e-tron (245/50R20 vs. 235/60R19). The Optiq’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q6 e-tron (275/40R21 vs. 255/50R20).

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 Q6 e-tron Ultra’s standard 65 series front and 60 series rear tires. The Optiq’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Q6 e-tron SQ6’s optional 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Optiq has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q6 e-tron Ultra.

The Cadillac Optiq’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi Q6 e-tron only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Optiq’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Q6 e-tron (116.3 inches vs. 113.7 inches).

The front grille of the Optiq uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Optiq has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the Q6 e-tron.

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 Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Q6 e-tron, 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 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 costs extra on the Q6 e-tron.

The Optiq is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Q6 e-tron, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Optiq offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Q6 e-tron.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Optiq equipped with available HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Q6 e-tron, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Cadillac Optiq empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

The Optiq has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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 Q6 e-tron’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.