The 2026 German Car Of The Year awards ceremony is officially set to take place on the 17th of November, but the panel consisting of 40 international automotive experts has already revealed that the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq is the winner of the luxury category. GM recently reintroduced the Cadillac brand to the European market after closing its doors in 2017, thanks to a new and competitive catalog of electrified vehicles that better resonates with the more eco-conscious region. The Vistiq’s conquering of this title is a huge win for the American brand, which has typically struggled to find a solid footing in the highly competitive region.
The Cadillac Vistiq forms part of GM’s luxury brand’s full electrification strategy, slotting in directly between the Lyriq, Optiq, and Escalade IQ as a luxury midsize offering that replaces now defunct XT6. The Vistiq takes that title one year after the smaller Lyriq option won the very same award, making it the first time that the brand has won the award back-to-back. The Vistiq’s success in the region also highlights how the American group’s bold and dramatic bet on full electrification may just pay off yet, despite growing concerns about the end of the electric vehicle gold rush in the U.S. market.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Cadillac and other authoritative sources.
The Vistiq Wins Big At The GCOTY
The Midsize American EV SUV Took The Fight To The Germans
GCOTY co-founder Jens Meiners explains that the Vistiq stands out from the pack thanks to its visionary interior and exterior design, technological sophistication, and luxury suited for daily use. He describes the American SUV as a bold and high-quality representation of modern luxury. The jury also highlighted the Vistiq’s exceptional interior space, premium comfort levels, and innovative features. The seven-seater configuration adds further appeal, together with an augmented-reality head-up display, a night-vision system, and a 23-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos.
These are just some of the many elements that position the Vistiq as a benchmark for electric luxury vehicles that deliver refinement and practicality. The announcement took place on October 13 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, reinforcing Cadillac’s growing influence in one of the world’s most discerning automotive markets. John Roth, vice president of Global Cadillac, adds that the recognition reflects the brand’s accelerating global momentum and the strength of its current lineup and says winning such a prestigious award in Germany, home to many iconic luxury automakers, makes the achievement particularly meaningful.
The GCOTY award is widely regarded as one of the most significant distinctions in the industry, judged by leading automotive journalists who evaluate new models released on the German market over the past year. Vehicles are assessed on design, innovation, usability, performance, and value before winners are chosen across five key categories: Compact, Premium, Luxury, Performance, and New Energy. One of these category winners will go on to claim the title of overall German Car of the Year 2026, set to be announced on November 17, 2025.
The Vistiq’s Performance Ability Is Impressive
Cadillac only ships the Vistiq with one drivetrain configuration, featuring the dual-motor all-wheel drive system. This generates a combined 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet, resulting in a claimed 3.7-second 0 to 60 MPH acceleration time. This system is also enough for you to tow up to 5,000 pounds worth of cargo on a trailer.
EPA Estimates And Charging Specs Are Respectable
According to the EPA, the Cadillac Visitq is able to return 93/78/86 MPGe on the agency’s city/highway/combined consumption testing cycle. On average, the system will return a 39-kWh-per-100-mile energy consumption figure. A 102 kWh battery pack affords the model a 305-mile range estimate.
Based on these consumption figures, the EPA estimates that you can expect to save $3,750 in fuel costs over the course of five years, spend $900 on electricity to keep it recharged every year, and $1.48 to drive 25 miles. Thanks to a 190 kW fast-charging capacity, you can expect the system to recover 80 miles of range in just 10 minutes. The optional 19.2 kW onboard charger also grants you access to 47 miles of range in an hour.
Cadillac Kicks Pricing Off At $77,395
Tall Pricing With Comprehensive Specification
Cadillac offers the Vistiq range in four unique trims, each with its own specification group. The range starts with the $77,395 (before destination fees) Luxury model, which includes the Super Cruise advanced driver assistance suite, ventilated, heated, and electrically adjustable front seats, a 33-inch diagonal advanced LED display unit with Google’s built-in operating system, an AGK 23-speaker audio system, and a dual-pane electronic glass sunroof.
On the exterior, the Luxury variant adopts 21-inch Bright Silver alloy wheels with gloss black inserts, bright roof rails, various chrome-finish trimmings, an illuminating Cadillac crest and faux-front grille, and full front and rear LED lighting. You also get heated power-folding mirrors, privacy glass, Galvano door handles, and soft-closing doors.
Upgrading to the Sport trim costs $500, adding dark side window surround moldings, gloss black roof rails, color-coded door handles, diamond-cut wheels with Medium Android finish and Carbon Flash Metallic inserts, and black body side moldings. $91,895 gets you into the Premium Luxury trim, which includes adaptive air suspension, active rear-wheel steering, night vision, augmented reality heads-up display, heated second-row captain’s chairs, a 19.2-kW onboard charger, and 22-inch diamond-cut wheels with polish and high-gloss black spokes.
The Platinum sits at the very top of the range with a $96,495 MSRP. Included in this package is a set of Brembo performance front brakes with Ferritic Nitrocarburizing brake rotors, and a black painted roof, 22-inch Reverse Rim wheels with polished and dark android spokes.
Argent Silver Metallic is the only standard color option for the Vistiq. You’ll have to pay $625 if you want the Emerald Lake Metallic or Stellar Black Metallic paint and $1,225 for the Vibrant White or Radiant Red Tricoat. Cadillac charges a flat $1,695 for delivery across the entire lineup.
Cadillac’s European Comeback Game
It Struggled To Make A Dent In The Market A Decade Ago
Cadillac ended its operations in Europe in 2017 after years of weak sales and limited brand traction in a market dominated by established German luxury marques. In 2016, the brand sold fewer than 1,000 cars across the entire continent, a fraction of what Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi sold in a single day. Cadillac’s European presence had always been small, with only a few dozen dealerships, and its product lineup struggled to align with European buyer preferences. Most of its models were large, V-6- or V-8-powered sedans and SUVs that failed to meet the region’s demand for smaller, fuel-efficient, and diesel-powered vehicles. Regulatory challenges added pressure, as Cadillac’s engines often required costly modifications to comply with strict EU emissions and tax rules.
Pricing was another problem, as American-built Cadillacs imported in low volumes carried high tariffs, pushing costs well above those of local competitors offering superior refinement and technology. Consumer perception also played a role, with many European buyers viewing Cadillac as an outdated or niche American brand rather than a credible luxury alternative. The launch of the ATS and CTS sedans did little to change that image, as they arrived late, lacked diesel options, and had limited marketing support. Combined with the absence of a clear dealer and after-sales network, Cadillac’s European experiment became unsustainable.
General Motors’ decision to sell Opel and Vauxhall to PSA Group that same year further signaled its retreat from Europe, making Cadillac’s withdrawal part of a broader corporate shift to focus on profitable regions such as North America and China. By 2017, Cadillac confirmed it would cease European operations, closing its local office and redirecting its limited European efforts toward niche imports rather than a full-scale sales presence.
Source: EPA