For a country where Cadillac is often associated with the massive Escalade, Uber Black services, or nostalgic memories of oversized luxury cars from the past, the idea of a Cadillac hatchback luxury electric vehicle priced like a Bentley or Rolls-Royce might seem like a leap. However, Cadillac has been steadily transforming its image through high-performance Blackwing models and bespoke special editions.
The latest in this evolution is the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq, which aims to position itself as a legitimate alternative to the luxury giants of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Recently, we had the opportunity to ride in an engineering validation vehicle of the Celestiq, with Cadillac’s vehicle performance manager Blaine Heavener behind the wheel.
READ MORE: Alfa Romeo Junior Wins Design Trophy in Germany
First Impressions
When it comes to luxury vehicles, scale plays a significant role in shaping your first impression. A Rolls-Royce Phantom dominates with its towering presence, but the Cadillac Celestiq makes its mark with a different approach.
It’s impressively long, low, and wide, offering a sense of grandeur that’s more about sprawling elegance than sheer height. The Celestiq’s unique lighting, which has a jewelry-like quality, stands out particularly at night. The doors open via a push-button interface, a feature also seen in luxury cars like the Genesis G90, but still impressive nonetheless.
Interior Vibe
Once inside, the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq sets a thoroughly modern and high-tech tone. The interior is adorned with rich leather featuring intricate perforations, stitching, and piping, alongside plush carpeting and finely crafted wood or alternative materials.
However, unlike Bentley’s option to hide the infotainment screen behind a wood panel or an analog clock, the Celestiq boldly displays a QLED screen that stretches across the entire width of the car, just below the windshield.
This screen is not just for show—the passenger side is equipped with lenticular polarization, allowing them to watch movies without distracting the driver. The auditory experience is enhanced by a 38-speaker AKG sound system, which delivers top-tier sound quality even when streaming lower-bandwidth music.
Riding in Back
Rear-seat passengers are treated to their own entertainment screens, which, while not the largest available, are well-proportioned for the sleek design of the seats. These screens can stream popular services or provide detailed information about the car’s performance, such as speed, range, and energy efficiency, allowing passengers to monitor and manage their ride.
The center console is a hub of controls, including a screen for adjusting climate settings, deploying tray tables, and even closing the doors. The vents offer adjustable airflow patterns, with three oscillation options to suit individual preferences, and each passenger has access to a wireless charger and USB-C port.
The panoramic glass roof adds to the luxury experience, featuring electrochromic tinting that can be adjusted by quadrant, with five levels of dimming from light to dark blue, providing a customizable experience for each passenger.
Riding in Front
Despite its cutting-edge technology, the Celestiq’s cockpit remains user-friendly. The central control is a crystal-like rotary push knob surrounded by haptic touch buttons for essential functions like home, back, media, and navigation.
Above this is a screen dedicated to climate control, seating comfort, and other vehicle settings, including a self-parking feature and roof tinting. The massaging seats offer five programs with three intensity levels, making for an invigorating ride. The car’s voice control, compatible with Google and Alexa, adds a layer of convenience, while access to the Google Play store ensures that entertainment options are always at hand.
How Does It Ride?
Our experience with the Celestiq took place on the smooth roads of California’s Monterey Car Week, where Cadillac was showcasing the vehicle to potential buyers. While these routes didn’t challenge the car’s suspension, the Celestiq still impressed with its serene ride quality, even on 23-inch wheels (22-inch options are also available).
This smoothness is attributed to a combination of magnetorheological shocks, active anti-roll bars, and custom Pirelli P Zero tires, which are not only self-sealing but also feature sound-absorbing foam inside. These tires are the first to sport Cadillac’s Mondrian logo on the sidewall.
There’s even a fun “tailgate mode” feature in development, which would use external speakers to provide music for outdoor gatherings—a detail that highlights Cadillac’s attention to creating a comprehensive luxury experience.
When Do Deliveries Begin?
We asked Heavener about any potential issues discovered during the Monterey test drives, and he mentioned only minor electronic glitches and some refinement needed for the regenerative one-pedal driving, especially on descents.
With a year’s worth of production already reserved, initial deliveries of the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. Judging by the attention it garnered during its test runs, the Celestiq is set to make a significant impact in the luxury electric vehicle market.
2024 Cadillac Celestiq Specifications
Base Price: $360,000 (estimated)
Layout: Front and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 4-door hatchback
Motors: Dual 315-hp/400-lb-ft (estimated) AC, permanent-magnet electric motors, 600 hp/640 lb-ft combined (estimated)
Transmission: 1-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 6,000 lbs (estimated)
Wheelbase: 130.2 inches (estimated)
Dimensions: 217.2 x 81.9 x 57.2 inches (estimated)
0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds (estimated)
EPA Fuel Economy: Not yet rated
EPA Range: 300 miles (estimated)
On Sale: Fourth quarter 2024
READ MORE: Hyundai Unveils 2025 Elantra Pricing, Adds New SEL Sport Trim
Subscribe today for the freshest car news delivered to your inbox
