Cadillac LYRIQ
As the first all-electric vehicle from America’s premier luxury automaker, the Cadillac Lyriq has some lofty expectations to uphold. And the handsome five-seater does a surprisingly good job, especially considering that it’s one of the more affordable electric SUVs in its segment. Pros for the Lyriq include its striking sheetmetal, upscale and ultra-quiet cabin, and over 300-mile range (for the rear-wheel drive model). On the downside, some find its driving dynamics lacking in engagement and athleticism despite a rather firm suspension, which can grow tiresome over broken pavement.
As the first all-electric vehicle from America’s premier luxury automaker, the Cadillac Lyriq has some lofty expectations to uphold. And the handsome five-seater does a surprisingly good job, especially considering that it’s one of the more affordable electric SUVs in its segment. Pros for the Lyriq include its striking sheetmetal, upscale and ultra-quiet cabin, and over 300-mile range (for the rear-wheel drive model). On the downside, some find its driving dynamics lacking in engagement and athleticism despite a rather firm suspension, which can grow tiresome over broken pavement.
Cadillac LYRIQ Model Lineup
The Lyriq is an all-electric midsize luxury crossover SUV with room for up to five passengers. It’s Cadillac’s first electric vehicle (EV) and, in terms of size, slots between the automaker’s midsize XT5 and full-size Escalade sport utility vehicles. The Lyriq shares a platform and some components with the Chevrolet Blazer EV, which is being built by Cadillac’s sister company and is scheduled to launch for the 2024 model year.
The Lyriq comes in two versions: the base RWD, which employs a single 340-horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels, and the more powerful AWD, which adds a second motor driving the front wheels and increases total output to 500 hp. The Lyriq’s 100-kilowatt-hour “Ultium” battery pack offers 312 miles of range in the RWD model, according to the EPA. (Range for the AWD version has not yet been released but should be somewhat less.) Once depleted, the battery pack takes about six and a half hours to recharge via a 240-volt household charger. With a DC fast charger, it can add up to 76 miles of range in 10 minutes.
Standard equipment on the Lyriq includes LED headlights, rear parking sensors, a heated windshield, a panoramic sunroof, faux leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a wireless device charger, and a 33-inch digital instrument display and infotainment touchscreen with navigation, a surround-view camera, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Also standard is a suite of active safety features and driving aids that includes forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot warning and intervention. Cadillac’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system is expected to be added via an over-the-air update sometime in 2023.