Cadillac Lyriq Review

EV Universe

Cadillac’s first viable dedicated EV comes out swinging with style and design

Remember the Cadillac ELR? Most of us don’t either, but the American institution’s new Lyriq battery electric SUV isn’t actually the brand’s first swing at a chargeable luxury car. The original Chevrolet Volt contributed to one of the weirdest and most wildly unsuccessful examples of GM’s beloved badge-engineering – the Cadillac ELR. Want to pay nearly $80,000 for a rebodied two-door Volt with a leather interior and awful driving range? Cool, nobody else did either. It wore design language of that era similar to the CTS Coupe so it looked great – but it wasn’t a car that made any sense to a Caddy customer of the time.

Fast forward to 2023: Cadillac’s parent company is one of the foremost players in the EV business, they’re churning out hit after hit with some of the best battery tech in the game, and now it’s Cadillac’s turn. Enter the 2023 Lyriq.

Donning Cadillac’s latest design language and, more importantly, GM Ultium batteries within, the Lyriq is a clean-sheet, all-new EV SUV that hopes to take the fight to upscale suburbs. Similar in size to the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, it does without a third row like some aforementioned EV competitors but dials up the luxury and style to compensate.

Cadillac Lyriq Review: EVU Hot Take

Pros:

• Beautiful looks inside and out, a thoroughly modern take on classic American luxury
• The right product for the right time, a huge step forward for the brand
• A great blueprint for more Cadillac EVs to come

Cons:

• Gets pricey for the customer base it will serve, lacking a third row which many Cadillac buyers value
• Ho-hum performance, could use a spicier V model (which rumor mill says may come)
• Even the nearly 500-HP dual motor model takes nearly 5 seconds to hit 60 MPH

Cadillac Lyriq Review: Exterior, Design and Packaging

The Lyriq is, like many volume vehicles nowadays, a mid-to-full size SUV. Its design straddles different categories. It boasts a long hood and a striking front end design. The vehicle’s roofline, while not fully SUV-coupe-style, isn’t a standard SUV liftgate either.

Its design is distinctly Cadillac, yet it doesn’t appear dated. It should age well, unlike some quirky EV designs like the BMW iX. However, the Lyriq only seats 5. This may disappoint some Cadillac buyers accustomed to larger vehicles like the Escalade ESV and XT6.

The Lyriq serves as a preview to the upcoming Celestiq ultra-luxury sedan and the first-ever all-electric Escalade IQ. If the Lyriq’s design is anything to go by, Cadillac seems to be heading in the right direction.

Cadillac Lyriq Review: Interior, Features and Tech

The Lyriq’s interior is both plush and futuristic. It draws heavily from the stunning new Escalade, adding an extra layer of modernity fitting for this vehicle. Features include a curved driver display and infotainment screen, a jewel-like rotary shifter, abundant storage space, and high-end materials.

While it might not look as contemporary as BMW’s iX, or as ruggedly luxurious as Rivian’s new R1S, the Lyriq creates a unique aesthetic. It embodies authentic Cadillac style, likely striking a chord with its target audience. Adding to its futuristic feel is GM’s excellent Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving feature, available on the Lyriq.

Cadillac Lyriq Review: Performance, Electric Range and Charging

The Lyriq is designed primarily as a luxury car, not a performance EV. That’s not to say it lacks power. The base RWD single motor model boasts 340 HP, which is more than enough for most drivers. The dual motor AWD model ramps this up to an impressive 496 HP. However, the model doesn’t offer the seat-pinning acceleration one might expect. Even the top-tier model, boasting nearly 500 HP, takes close to 5 seconds to reach 60 mph.

Compared to the BMW iX and Audi SQ8 e-tron, it’s not built for drag races. These competitors, by contrast, offer thrilling power and serve as impressive showroom attractions in this segment.

The range of the Lyriq is solid. The base “tech” trim, featuring the single rear motor, offers 308 miles of range according to Car and Driver. Surprisingly, the high-end dual motor models provide similar range, about 307 miles. This figure falls short of Cadillac’s claims of 312 miles and seems odd when compared to rivals.

Regardless, it competes well with the much-touted 300-mile benchmark, making it adequate for most users. The dual motor model is a choice for power, not additional range. Each model carries a 102 kWh battery pack, compatible with both AC and DC charging.

Cadillac Lyriq Review: Pricing

With a base price of $58,590 for 2023, the Lyriq is reasonably priced. For enhanced features and tech, prices rise to the mid-$60,000s. The top-tier dual motor models, with all the bells and whistles, land in the mid-$70,000s. This is a bargain, especially when considering that the Audi Q8 e-tron lineup starts where the Lyriq peaks. Moreover, no BMW iX model is available for less than $80,000.

The Lyriq further makes its case with superior looks and comfort. Given these factors and its commendable range, it begs the question: why would anyone pay extra for a European badge, especially if the primary concern is the EV experience?

Concluding Remarks: The Lyriq’s Impact

Cadillac has come a long way since its Volt-based missteps. The Lyriq, with its handsome design and luxurious comfort, is a practical EV available at a reasonable price. Though it might not possess the brand allure of BMW or Mercedes-Benz, no one can deny that Cadillac is more competitive than it’s been in generations. Indeed, it performs many tasks as well, if not better, than its German rivals.

When the Lyriq is in the picture, it’s hard to consider competitors like the Lexus RZ or a basic Tesla Model Y. Even if the Lyriq doesn’t provide brain-rattling launch times, it’s a noteworthy effort. It’s likely to be remembered as a landmark EV for America’s beloved luxury brand in the years to come.

Images Courtesy of Cadillac

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