Cadillac EV Preconditioning: Warm the Cabin With Remote Start and the myCadillac App

Few things test your patience like sliding onto a frozen seat and gripping an icy steering wheel first thing in the morning. As a Cadillac EV owner, you can skip that moment. Your vehicle can start warming up while you finish your coffee, so the cabin feels comfortable the second you open the door.

Most drivers call this preconditioning. In your Cadillac EV, the tools to do it are already in your pocket: remote start, the myCadillac app and a set of heated surfaces that work together on cold days. This guide explains how each one works, which models have which features, and a simple routine you can follow all season long.

What Preconditioning Means in Your Cadillac EV

Preconditioning means warming the cabin before you climb in. In a Cadillac EV, you do this with remote start. Once you send the command, the vehicle starts and the climate system gets to work, so the interior is warmer by the time you are ready to leave.

Remote Start is standard on every OPTIQ and VISTIQ trim. On the LYRIQ, LYRIQ-V, Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL, the standard Remote Keyless Entry fob includes a remote start button.

Two Ways to Start Warming Up

You have two simple options, and both get the job done.

The key fob is the quickest choice when you can see your vehicle from the window. Press the remote start button and let the cabin warm while you get ready.

The myCadillac app works from wherever you are, as long as your vehicle is properly equipped and your service plan supports remote commands. Here is how it works:

• From the app’s Home screen, tap the centre Climate icon (on some vehicles, you tap the Start icon). Pressing and holding for 3 to 5 seconds also works.
• The button reads “Sent” once the command goes through.
• On some vehicles, the current cabin temperature appears above the button and updates every 3 minutes.
• On equipped vehicles, tapping the icon again changes the temperature or turns the climate off.

That cabin temperature reading is handy on very cold mornings. You can check how warm the interior is getting before you put your boots on.

Heated Surfaces Do the Fast Work

Heated seats and a heated steering wheel bring warmth right to where you sit and hold on. With the press of a button, the steering wheel quickly heats up for extra comfort.

Every Cadillac EV includes heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Some models add smart automatic settings on top:

• LYRIQ and LYRIQ-V: The heated front seats can be set to switch on automatically when you remote start the vehicle. They can also run on their own based on the measured cabin temperature and your climate settings.
• VISTIQ: An automatic heated steering wheel is standard.
• Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL: Based on the interior temperature, the automatic heated steering wheel turns on when the automatic front heated seat is on.

Rear passengers get warm seats too. Heated second-row seats are standard on the VISTIQ and OPTIQ-V, standard on the OPTIQ Premium Luxury, and offered on the Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL.

Escalade IQ: A Heat Pump Working Behind the Scenes

The Escalade IQ uses Ultium Energy Recovery, a heat pump thermal system. It moves energy between the battery, the power electronics and the cabin. The goal is to make the most of every watt for range and to reduce how much power the high-voltage battery spends running the five-zone climate control. It all happens on its own, with nothing for you to set.

Clear Glass Before You Go

A warm cabin is only half the job. You also need a clear view. Several Cadillac EV features help with frost and snow:

• Heated wiper park: Heated grids in the windshield, where the wipers rest, help keep the blades from freezing to the glass. It is standard on the LYRIQ, OPTIQ, Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL, and it runs automatically with the rear window defrost. The VISTIQ comes with a standard windshield wiper deicer.
• Rear camera washer: A spray of fluid helps clear snow, ice and moisture from the rear camera lens. It is standard on the OPTIQ, VISTIQ, Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL, and on the LYRIQ Premium Luxury.
• Heated outside mirrors: Standard on the VISTIQ, Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL.

A Simple Cold-Morning Routine

Once you build the habit, preconditioning becomes part of your morning without any extra thought.

1. The night before: Open the myCadillac app and check the charge tile. It shows your charge level, your range in kilometres and whether the vehicle is plugged in.
2. Before you head out: Start the vehicle from the fob or the app a few minutes before you leave.
3. While you get ready: Check the cabin temperature in the app, if your vehicle shows it.
4. When you get in: Let the automatic heated seats and steering wheel take over, or switch them on with a button.

A Quick Note on Cold Batteries

Regen on Demand and One-Pedal Driving help you slow down using the electric motors. These features can be limited when the battery is extremely cold or close to a full charge. Your brake pedal always works as usual, so use it any time you need to stop.

Key Takeaways

Get Set Up for Winter With Applewood Cadillac

A few minutes of setup now makes every cold morning easier this winter. If you would like help linking the myCadillac app to your vehicle, turning on your automatic heated seat settings or practising remote start, the team at Applewood Cadillac in Mississauga is happy to walk you through it. Stop by with your phone and your key fob, and leave ready for the first frosty morning of the season.