Compare the2025 Cadillac OptiqVS 2025 Lexus RZ

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 RZ 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 RZ doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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 is only offered on some models of the Lexus RZ.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Optiq 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 offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Optiq 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 Optiq weighs 573 to 915 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 Optiq’s warranty.

The Optiq’s electric motors produces 99 more horsepower (300 vs. 201) and 158 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 196) than the RZ 300e’s standard electric motor. The Optiq’s electric motors produces 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 321) than the RZ 450e’s optional electric motors.

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

For better traction, the Optiq has larger standard tires than the RZ (245/50R20 vs. 235/60R18). The Optiq’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RZ (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 RZ’s standard 60 series front and 55 series rear tires. The Optiq’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the RZ’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

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

The Cadillac Optiq’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 available on the Optiq 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.

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

The Optiq has 1 inch more front headroom, .3 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the RZ.

The Optiq has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RZ with its rear seat folded (57 vs. 55.6 cubic feet).

The Optiq has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The RZ 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 RZ doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Optiq 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 Premium/Luxury, the Optiq offers an optional 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 power windows standard on both the Optiq and the RZ have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Optiq 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 Optiq the driver can close them all 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 help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Optiq offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RZ doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 RZ.