The Midsize EV That Deserves More Attention – TopSpeed

There are several titles that automotive manufacturers try to avoid. Some of the more notorious titles companies don’t want to be affiliated with are “worst car” or “the most unreliable car.” One title that doesn’t necessarily affect the company’s reputation or the vehicle’s is being an underappreciated car. Of course, you wouldn’t want to spend years designing a car just for it not to hit the mark. There are several reasons why a vehicle could be considered unappreciated. Still, the good news for automotive companies is that this title means there is something to root for within the car.

It could come down to anything, but one of the biggest reasons a particular model was overshadowed was its timing. One of the most criminally underrated sports sedans, the Cadillac CTS V-Sport, was remarkable for its price, provided that American performance, but it wasn’t its time. As the phrase goes, everyone loves a good underdog story, and for cars that didn’t hit the mark, it doesn’t mean it’s too late to get some spotlight. Funny enough, the first-gen CTS V isn’t the only Cadillac that deserves more attention. There’s one Cadillac that jumped sides, becoming the American company’s first-ever electric vehicle. This all-electric SUV is entering its third year of production, and there’s still time for the recognition it deserves.

Model Overview

2024 Cadillac Lyriq: A Comprehensive Guide On Features, Specs, And Pricing

Cadillac has made some revisions to the Lyriq’s trims in 2024, but it’s still an attractive luxury EV crossover option.

The Cadillac Lyriq Is An Underdog In The EV Market

Cadillac released its first-ever fully electric car, the Lyriq, back in 2022. Cadillac is one of the handful of automotive companies late to the game in putting an electric vehicle in its lineup. Cadillac rolled out the Lyriq in order to start the marketing of its upcoming electric vehicles such as the Escalade IQ, Celestiq, and Optiq. Fast-forward a year, the brand’s overall sales were down seven percent in the final quarter of 2023. Surprisingly, the Lyriq ran into success, with over 3,500 units sold the same year. These aren’t impressive numbers, which attests to the Lyriq not hitting the mark.

Unfortunately for electric vehicles, it’s unlikely that an unpopular model will gain recognition ten years later. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that the electric automobile industry and technology are constantly advancing, and models that came out in 2010 will be heavily outdated by 2020. This is the case for many models, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt. Cadillac’s first electric vehicle is still young, and not all hope is lost. Cadillac makes it easy for future owners by providing the 2024 Lyriq in three trims: Tech, Luxury, and Sport.

The Dual Motor Powertrain Is Nothing To Scoff About

The good news for General Motors is that it’s a perfect time to buy an electric vehicle due to the latest advancements and technology that have come out over the last couple of years. All three trims are offered in two powertrain configurations. The first is a single-permanent electric motor with a rear-wheel drivetrain that produces 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The second variation doubles the motors and is paired with an all-wheel drive powertrain, which produces 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.

Now, Cadillac has been known throughout the last century for designing luxurious vehicles, but they are also known to throw in some beefy performance. In a 0-60 mile-per-hour sprint, the all-wheel drive Lyriq can reach 60 miles-per-hour in almost four and a half seconds. Electric vehicles are notorious for providing quick launches, and Cadillac picked up on this trait, which is shown on the Lyriq.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Performance Specifications

The Lyriq Can Charge Up To 86 Miles In 10 Minutes

There are several boxes to check off when building an electric vehicle. One of the boxes has already been checked with Cadillac, which is building a solid electric powertrain that offers impressive performance. The next one that most people are more worried about when buying an EV is the range and charging times. The 2024 Lyriq provides 314 miles of range and a combined fuel economy of 88 MPGe. The upcoming 2025 model is expected to increase that range to 326 miles and a combined fuel economy of 94 MPGe. Some manufacturers would have left the vehicle as is until the next generation, but it only took Cadillac two years to increase the fuel economy of the Lyriq.

Cadillac offers the Lyriq with up-to-date charging methods, including Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging. Owners that use a 120-volt household outlet can expect to add four to five miles of range every hour. Level 2 charging requires a 240-volt outlet split between two AC chargers. For an 11.5 kW AC charger, owners will add 31 miles of range every hour, and on a 19.2 kW AC charger, owners can expect 51 miles per hour. On the 19.2 kW AC charger, a fully-drained Lyriq will charge in about six hours. Lastly, DC-Fast charging offers the quickest speeds, adding 77 miles of range in just 10 minutes.

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Cadillac Lyriq Range: Trims And Features Detailed

The Cadillac Lyriq is an all-electric luxury SUV with a sleek design, more than a 300-mile range, advanced tech, and a high-end interior.

Cadillac Implements Sport And Luxurious Themes On The Lyriq

A Cadillac vehicle is expected to offer some luxurious notes on the interior and exterior. This theme is also seen in most EVs with futuristic designs that match the innovative technology surrounding the chassis.

When you put ‘luxury’ and ‘cars’ in the same sentence, most people think of European cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, and many others. If you add one more word, “American,” your mind would most likely shoot to Cadillac. Cadillac is familiar with sleek designs and soft materials, showcasing luxurious vehicles at the start of the 20th century. The unique part here is that American luxury vehicles tend to have a different appearance than their distant cousins built overseas.

The Lyriq Distinguishes Itself From Other Midsize Electric SUVs

Electric vehicles are some of the easiest cars to spot when driving through traffic. This goes back to the sleek contours of all the futuristic designs. Cadillac goes a different route than others, with the Lyriq still being integrated with grilles and aero. These features are used in traditional cars to allow cooling to enter the engine bay and lower the temperatures. Instead of active aero on the grill, Cadillac switches the cutouts for LEDs, resembling a traditional grille seen on most gasoline-powered vehicles.

The three trims are offered on a variety of high-quality wheels, such as the standard 20-inch alloy wheels or the upgraded 22-inch alloy wheels. The Luxury trim boasts Galvano chrome accents, illuminated exterior door handles, and a black-painted roof. The Sport trim goes even darker with a dark sports grille, obsidian chrome accents, and dark exterior accents. Cadillac’s iconic and bold look was transferred to the Lyriq, making it distinguishable among other luxury electric SUVs.

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The Lyriq Boasts Cadillac’s Iconic Elevated Interiors

Cadillac is known for incorporating perfect lines and that “luxury American performance”, but one area they always hit the mark on is the interior. The three trims on the Lyriq are unique, offering its own different features and designs. The Tech trim comes with noir interluxe seating with two-toned bolster panels. The second row on all trims even reclines, creating a soothing place to relax.

For the Luxury and Sport trim, both trims share many of the same features that pull in more luxurious features. Some of the notable features are the open-pore Dark Ash wood and Nappa Leather. The front seats can be fitted with ventilation and lumbar massage capabilities, along with second-row heated seats.

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What Makes The Cadillac Lyriq A Formidable Electric SUV

The Lyriq, Cadillac’s first electric SUV, impresses with a high-tech interior, stylish exterior design, and GM’s hands-free Super Cruise system.

Cadillac Is One Of The Few American Companies That Focuses On Luxury

There aren’t too many American EVs out in the market right now that center around luxury. Of course, brands such as Rivian and Tesla do offer luxurious features. However, it’s on the fence as to whether models such as the R1S and Model X are considered luxurious. Some people love buying vehicles from their home country, and if you’re that person but want an all-luxury electric SUV, then the Lyriq might be the SUV you’ve been waiting for. With the word luxury being tossed around, you’d expect to pay a premium dollar, but it’s the opposite for the Lyriq. The Tech trim starts at $58,590 and goes up to $63,190 for the Sport trim.

A Wide Array Of State-Of-The-Art Technology

Technology within the electric automotive industry is constantly evolving, and it’s practically a given by now that buyers expect some innovative tech within their EVs. Current and future owners of the Cadillac Lyriq have no reason to stress about that because this electric SUV comes with all the bells and whistles.

The front driver and passenger are first greeted with a 33-inch diagonal LED display with a 9K resolution. It’s hard to top that feature, but there’s plenty more. If you’re an audiophile, the Lyriq is one EV to put on your list to test the system. The Lyriq comes equipped with an AKG Studio Sound System consisting of nineteen speakers spread throughout the cabin. This pairs well with Cadillac’s active noise cancelation, which not only helps with music quality but also eliminates outside noise.

The Lyriq Is Equipped With Innovative Safety And Driver Assistance Systems

Cadillac so far has demonstrated that it can incorporate the major themes seen in electric vehicles into the underappreciated Lyriq. Not only are these features shown, but Cadillac also takes it even further by implementing its own take. The last theme that comes in almost every EV is the safety features. The Lyriq features the Cadillac Smart System, which includes a variety of safety features. Some of the features that would be used on a day-to-day basis include blind zone steering assist, rear and front park assist, and lane departure warning. Other safety features that seem like a cherry on top include automatic emergency braking, HD Surround Vision, and forward collision alert.

Cadillac Lyriq Safety And Driver-Assistance Features

The Cadillac Lyriq doesn’t seem to fall into the category where you can say, “It’s too early to say whether it’ll bounce back or not”. It ultimately falls into two hands, the seller and the consumer, leaving the Lyriq in its current position of needing to be more appreciated.

Regarding the concrete information on the Lyriq, it’s apparent that this electric SUV looks good on paper and provides you with everything it says it offers. There’s a saying in the automotive world, “Don’t buy the first generation of a new car”. But a second part of that sentence gets left out all the time. “Wait a couple of years and see how it does”. It’s been a couple of years, and the Lyriq looks like a solid SUV to buy.