Cadillac OPTIQ vs Polestar 3: Specs Compared
Also searched as Polestar 3 vs Cadillac OPTIQ specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Cadillac OPTIQ is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 105 mpg combined versus 97 mpg for the Polestar 3, a 8 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Cadillac OPTIQ leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2026–2027
Cadillac OPTIQ
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 12 configurations
2025–2026
Polestar 3
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 12 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Cadillac OPTIQ | Polestar 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 105 mpg ✓ | 97 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 117 mpg ✓ | 105 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 93 mpg ✓ | 89 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $700 ✓ | $800 |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2026–2027 | 2025–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 12 | 12 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Cadillac OPTIQ vs Polestar 3: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Cadillac OPTIQ burns about $700 of fuel annually against $800 for the Polestar 3. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City and highway economy: the Cadillac OPTIQ leads in both cycles — 117 mpg city and 93 mpg highway against 105 and 89 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Drivetrain and class: the Cadillac OPTIQ is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Polestar 3 with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
OPTIQ vs 3: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Cadillac OPTIQ or the Polestar 3?
The Cadillac OPTIQ is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 105 mpg combined versus 97 mpg for the Polestar 3, a 8 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Cadillac OPTIQ runs about $700 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $800 for the Polestar 3 — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the OPTIQ and 3 offer?
Cadillac OPTIQ: no engine data on record. Polestar 3: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Cadillac OPTIQ as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and the Polestar 3 as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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Comparison id: cadillac-optiq-vs-polestar-3