Text by Tom Appel
2024 Cadillac Lyriq Luxury
Specs
Class: Premium Midsize Crossover
Color: Crystal White Metallic
Miles driven: 321
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A- |
| Power and Performance | A- |
| Fit and Finish | A |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | A |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 500-horsepower |
| Engine Type | Electric motors |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Battery capacity: 102 kWh
EPA-estimate MPGe: 96 city/81 hwy/89 combined
EPA-estimated driving range: 307 miles
Consumer Guide range estimate (ideal conditions): 307+ miles
Base price: $61,295 (not including $1395 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: AWD ($3500), special paint ($1225), Floor Liner Package ($395), splash guards ($395)
Price as tested: $68,205
Pros and Cons
The great: Modern design, stress-free EV experience, dollar value
The good: Plenty of power, excellent long-haul comfort
The not so good: Small rear-door openings
Overview
If you feel as if a long time has lapsed since you first became aware of the Cadillac Lyriq, and when you began reading more about the vehicle, your instincts serve you well. Cadillac’s first all-electric vehicle debuted way back in 2022—as a 2023 model—but very few examples have been built until just recently.
Cadillac parent company General Motors ran into production issues with the Lyriq’s proprietary “Ultium” battery cells, seriously constricting production. As a result, very few 2023 examples hit the road, which seems like something of a shame.
Lyriq presents well in photographs—and in person. The premium midsize crossover sports a daring, modern look, with a silhouette that appears lower and longer than the vehicle actually is. The compelling design proved a cruel tease, because as we noted above, Cadillac’s first EV has been scarce.
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Availability
There is good news, as Lyriq production appears to now be in full swing. Caddy retailed almost 4000 of its new EVs in December, accounting for more than ten percent of brand sales.
As Caddy’s first all-electric vehicle, the Lyriq’s place in the brand’s lineup is somewhat outsized, especially as Cadilac plans to field a completely EV lineup by 2030. Note that Lyriq will not be the lone EV in the Cadillac lineup for long. Due soon are the Escalade IQ large SUV, Celestiq ultra-premium sedan, Optiq small crossover, and Vistiq 3-row midsize crossover.
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Prices and Trim Levels
For 2024 the Lyriq is offered in three trim levels: Tech (starting around $59,000), Luxury ($63,000), and Sport ($64,000). All models are offered in rear-drive (340-horsepower) and AWD (500 horsepower) configurations, and come with a 102-kWh battery. Rear-drive models are EPA estimated to travel 314 miles on a full charge, AWD models 307.
Moving from the Tech to the Luxury nets customers fun ambient interior lighting, ungraded cabin trim, heated seats and steering wheel, and adaptive cruise control. Cadillac’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system is available on the Luxury and Sport, as well. The Sport brings nothing in terms of features or performance to the party, but instead presents with a stealthier mix of trim elements, including body-colored door handles, and more restrained use of chrome bits. We like the look.
Consumer Guide recently spent two weeks with an AWD 2024 Cadillac Lyriq Luxury in extra-cost Crystal White. All told, our test Lyriq came to $68,205, including destination charge.
One of the first impressions the Lyriq makes is one of substance. The Lyriq is slightly longer than its 2-row, gasoline-powered showroom cousin the XT5, and is only an inch or so shy of the 3-row XT5 in over length. Welcome news to this large editor, the Lyriq’s front door openings are generous, making for breezy entry and exit maneuvers. The rear door apertures are more modest in size, and a couple of passengers noted that entering exiting the back row was not entirely effortless.
Room and Comfort
The cabin, however, is generously sized, with plenty of front- and rear-seat head and legroom. And, despite the vehicle’s rakish roofline, the cabin feels airy and open, and outward visibility is generally excellent, save for the driver’s view to the rear corners.
The cabin is elegantly appointed, and is refreshingly free of fussy details; it’s shaped mostly by sweeping arcs and soft contours. Materials are of expected quality, and workmanship apparently top notch. The white and black motif in our test car came off as especially sophisticated. We were also impressed with the touchscreen interface, which is large, easy to read in all light conditions, and generally simple operate. The instrument panel and console touchscreen are elements of a single 33-inch LED panel, which includes a handy additional screen to the left of the steering wheel. One note: The steering-wheel audio controls worked only intermittently in our test car, forcing us to reach for our phone when we wanted to advance to the next song. Restarting the car always corrected the issue.
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Quietness
Lyriq is impressively quiet on the road—even at highway speed–and the absence of engine noise is both welcome, and briefly unsettling. That quietness allowed for greater scrutiny of the standard 7-speaker audio system, which is up to luxury-vehicle standards, but pales in sound quality compared to the available 19-speaker AKG system.
Power and Performance
Though not intended to be especially sporty—even in Sport trim—the Lyriq is rewarding to drive. Power is good, and like all electric vehicles, the Lyriq serves up instant power, has more than ample muscle to keep up with traffic, and has a deep surplus of energy for passing and merging. We were most impressed with the steering, however. Many EVs suffer from vague and artificial-feeling steering, but the Lyriq felt good going into—and coming out of–corners, serving up a reassuring dose of road-surface feedback.
Ride and Handling
The Lyriq is a top-notch highway cruiser, and the absorbent suspension and supportive seats contribute to the easy travel. Ride quality around town, however, is surprisingly firm. While we appreciate road feel, some shoppers may be looking for something a little cushier.
Range
As for range, this editor drove the Lyriq from Chicago to Milwaukee—and back—Christmas day. Temperatures were in the mid-thirties, and I was careful to keep my speed at around 70 mph. Though I did not need to stop to charge, I did so as a matter of caution. The 230-mile trip (some detours were involved), with the heat and headlights in use, was well within the real-world range of the Lyriq. In fact, I calculate that without charging we would have returned with approximately 60 miles of range remaining.
Also, for folks who sit in the car while they charge, the Lyriq’s entire instrument panel/console screen becomes a charge-status monitor when the car is plugged in. Sadly difficult to photograph, vertical gradient bars light up on the screen, moving from left to right as the battery takes on charge. The show is entertaining, and informative.
Also, we appreciate the driver-side front-fender location of the charge port. We’d like to see all EVs with ports in the same location.
A couple of things to know before purchasing a Lyriq, or some other EV: Should the Lyriq not qualify for the $7500 federal EV tax credit (which it currently does not), Cadillac will rebate purchasers that same amount. Also, Cadillac is partnering with contractor Qmerit to facilitate the installation of level-2 home charging units. Qmerit will see to all required permits and preparation, and Cadillac may assist with the costs. See your dealer for details.
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At about that price: At $68,000 as tested, the Lyriq costs just $10,000 more than the Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV sedan Consumer Guide recently evaluated. For that ten grand, buyers get a much nicer, roomier, quieter cabin, much more cargo space, a better audio system, and the tax-credit assistance. The Lyriq seems like an excellent value to us.
Lyriq is absolutely the EV Cadillac needed to field first. The styling is crisp and modern, and the on-road experience as fully premium as a Cadillac buyer would expect. As production now seems to be up to speed, look for a good selection of Caddy’s first EV to soon arrive at nearby dealerships.
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2024 Cadillac Lyriq Luxury Pictures
(Click below for enlarged images)
