The Cadillac Lyriq is a new electric SUV from the General Motors luxury brand. It offers a high-tech driving experience with a 33-inch advanced LED display that creates one continuous screen curved toward the driver.
Its spacious cabin includes a generous back seat that comfortably accommodates three or two adults. It also features synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats with massage functions.
Powertrain
The Cadillac Lyriq’s electric powertrain is a revelation. It flies off the line and accelerates quickly and smoothly.
The single-motor rear-wheel-drive electric motor delivers 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to propel the 5,610-pound Cadillac EV to 60 mph in a brisk 5.7 seconds, according to MotorTrend testing.
That’s not Tesla quick, but it’s more than sufficient for the LYRIQ, which has plenty of luxury features and great standard tech. It also offers a more extended warranty than most premium people haulers.
In the US, the LYRIQ can be equipped with GM’s Super Cruise driver-assistance system. This allows you to try ‘hands-free’ driving on certain highways, and it uses a light bar at the top of the steering wheel to let you know when it needs your input.
Inside, the cabin is a futuristic work of art. It’s designed to be clean and straightforward, with no hardware or switchgear carried over from other GM models. The curved digital dashboard display is a showpiece.
Design
As one of the first cars from Cadillac to be powered solely by an electric motor, the Lyriq will serve as a harbinger of the brand’s new design philosophy. It features a sleek sport-wagon shape, adorned with a black crystal grille that will be embroidered with the Cadillac crest as it enters production.
Inside the cabin, a large 33-inch, curved LED screen dominates the view ahead of you. It’s a driver-centric piece that’s unadorned by buttons or switches, which makes it a digital tour de force.
The car’s interior also boasts a plethora of driver-assistance technologies. These include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and semi-autonomous highway driving.
Several references to the Cadillac brand are sprinkled throughout the vehicle, including metallic brightwork intermingled with open-pore wood in the door panels and center console. In addition, a large storage tray on the floor between the front seat passengers is lined with bright blue leather upholstery.
Interior
The lyric interior is well-designed and has an array of features. For example, it includes a curved LED display that provides information in the driver’s line of sight. The lyric interior also has customizable 26-color LED ambient lighting.
The front seats are comfortable and well-padded, offering ample legroom for the front passengers. In addition, the lyrics chairs can be covered in perforated synthetic Inteluxe or genuine leather, which will be available later in the model year.
Cargo space behind the rear seats runs to 28 cubic feet, which expands to 60.8 with the back seat folded. This isn’t as good as the BMW X5’s cargo area, but it should be plenty for most families.
The lyrics road manners won’t be as sporty as some of its EV counterparts, but they are competent for everyday driving. Its steering is lightweight, and the brake pedal is nicely tamped down for one-pedal driving.
Safety
The Cadillac lyric offers several safety features. They include Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Teen Driver, and more.
The lyric is also built on a modular platform, which helps make it one of the most efficient GM electric vehicles in terms of battery cost and longevity. Its chemistry includes 70% less cobalt than earlier batteries, an active battery cooling system, wireless battery monitoring, and other innovations.
Another key feature is a one-pedal driving mode that uses regenerative braking to bring the vehicle to a stop. Three regen settings are available, and the steering-wheel paddle shifter lets drivers blend in increasing levels of regen with their mechanical brakes for a seamless feel.