A 655-horsepower electric car full of luxury. But is it worth Rolls-Royce money?
It’s hard to be totally fair when judging a car. Everyone has personal opinions, past experiences, and different tastes. The Cadillac Celestiq brings out strong feelings. It’s bold, different, and hard to understand.
First, there’s the huge size and wild design. Then there’s the surprising decision to price it like a Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Compared to Cadillac’s other cars, the Celestiq seems like it’s from another world. Some might say it’s a mistake. And on top of all that, it’s an electric car, which not everyone likes.
Let me explain my view. I’m from the UK, where Cadillacs aren’t common. Growing up, I didn’t see them around. I thought of them as big, flashy American cars, not something serious. But over the years, I started to respect Cadillac, especially the fast CT5-V Blackwing sedan with its strong V8 engine and manual transmission. That car is special, especially now that most European car makers only offer automatic gearboxes.
But the Celestiq is a very different kind of Cadillac. It’s all about style, comfort, and luxury. It’s meant to impress, not race. It’s huge, handmade, and costs about $340,000. That’s more than most houses. It might not make sense as a business product, but it’s still exciting in its own way.
The Basics
The Celestiq uses GM’s Ultium electric platform. It’s 217 inches long, 89.9 inches wide, and 57.2 inches tall. Shorter than a Rolls-Royce Phantom but wider and lower, so it looks dramatic. Its body is mostly aluminum and made of six large cast pieces to stay light and strong.
It has two electric motors, one for each axle, giving 655 horsepower and 646 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. That’s fast, but it’s not trying to be a drag racer. It focuses more on smoothness and comfort.
The car uses air suspension, adaptive dampers, and Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, which keeps the ride soft but controlled. It even has rear-wheel steering to make tight turns easier. The 111-kWh battery can give up to 303 miles of range. Charging is decent (up to 190 kW), though not the fastest.
Design and Experience
I first saw the Celestiq in front of a stylish hotel in Los Angeles. It doesn’t look pretty in the usual way, but it has presence. It reminded me of old, classic Cadillacs like the 1957 Eldorado Brougham, but it’s modern – not trying to copy the past.
You open the doors by pressing a button on the side. If you’re standing too close, they only open a little, which can be annoying. But once inside, it’s a different world. The interior is clean and classy, not too flashy – unless you choose wild trim colors. The glass roof is very impressive.
When you press the brake pedal, the door closes automatically. Inside, it’s super quiet. You can see the outside world clearly, but it all feels far away and peaceful. There’s a huge 55-inch screen across the dashboard. It works well but feels a bit cold. Something more classic, like fancy dials or hidden screens, might feel more special.
Back-seat passengers get two screens, which I personally don’t like, but Cadillac includes them for now. Buyers can go to Cadillac’s headquarters in Michigan to design their own Celestiq, choosing colors, materials, and features.
Driving
On the road in Los Angeles, most complaints disappear. The seating position feels a bit high, and the seats are a little too firm. Cadillac says they’ll improve the seats for production. But otherwise, the car drives beautifully. It’s quiet, smooth, and easy to handle even though it’s huge. Rear-wheel steering helps a lot in traffic.
The sound system is incredible. A 38-speaker AKG setup that delivers amazing clarity.
Up in the mountains near L.A., I tested the Celestiq in Sport mode. The ride stayed smooth, but the car didn’t lean at all in corners. That can feel strange, but here it works. For such a heavy car (6,840 pounds), it handled very well balanced, smooth, and precise. After a while, the brakes and power started to fade a little, but most buyers won’t drive this car that hard.
So, is it a success?
In some ways, yes. The Celestiq is a bold idea, and Cadillac has done a great job building it. It looks wild, drives well, and offers a luxury experience unlike anything else in Cadillac’s lineup. They’ll only build 25 units for 2025, and most are already sold.
But here’s the big question: Will people want a super-expensive, electric luxury sedan from Cadillac? Even Rolls-Royce is having trouble selling the electric Spectre, and they’ve been making luxury cars for over 100 years.
Also, while the Celestiq’s screens are cool, they dominate the interior, and the materials don’t quite match the quality of a Bentley. Honestly, if this car had a big V8 or even a V16 engine, it might win over more fans.
Still, I admire Cadillac for trying something so bold. The Celestiq may not change the world, but it shows courage and creativity and that deserves respect.
