Well, I’m going all-electric in style this week, with the first Cadillac electric vehicle ever, the 2024 Lyriq. Lyriq is supposed to be the first in a line of electric Cadillacs coming out with IQ at the end of the name, and we know the Celestiq sedan is coming, likely the Optiq, the Vistiq, and the Escalade IQ is coming for sure. The names certainly wreak havoc on my spellcheck, but even with the funny name, I find this SUV to be among the most beautiful I have ever seen.
Exterior
I love the 22” alloy wheels that every other spoke is filled-in for aerodynamics, and they are surrounded by especially made Michelin tires that are very wide and self-sealing.
The side profile shows off the sloping roofline, large spoiler, and the hatchback-style rear window. There is just the right amount of chrome to be elegant, but not flashy.
Since electric vehicles don’t need a front grill, Cadillac took some liberties to make this one look terrific with angling lines running from the center outward, and at night the grill is lit and it is stunning.
There will be no mistaking what is coming toward you. The Stellar Black extra charge paint is, well, stellar on this SUV. Sleek is the word that comes to mind, especially from the side view.
Powering this Lyriq are dual electric motors, one in front, one in back, to make it all-wheel drive, but you can get it in just rear-wheel drive. The Lyriq is featuring GM’s Ultium platform that offers a 102-kWh battery pack that sits below the floorboard. This combination results in 500-horses, and 450-pound feet of instant torque. One of the things about electric vehicles that everyone is amazed by no matter which one, is the acceleration and this SUV lives up to the hype.
Lyriq comes in three trims, the Tech, then you move up to the Luxury, and the Sport version. Inside each of those trim choices, there are three levels that offer varying options. The beauty I have is the Luxury 3, the top-of-the-line in the middle level.
Open the driver’s door to reveal a truly luxurious interior with massaging, cooled, and heated front seats with power lumbar supports. The door panels are very attractive with black and stone hues, ambient lighting, and beautiful stereo grills that are part of the standard 19-speaker AKG sound system that will rock you when you crank it up. There are even speakers in the front headrests.
However, your eyes cannot keep from focusing on the massive 33-inch one-piece screen that runs from the left of the vehicle all the way to the passenger side. In front of the driver are configurable gauges. You can change the gauges to your liking quickly and easily. To the left, is a small screen to change the gauge layout, trip information, and controls for the headlights.
To the right of the gauges, but again, this is all one continuous screen, you operate the Google infotainment system which includes the AKG Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation, Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can swipe left twice for even more and to add your own apps. The system is one of the fastest I’ve ever experienced. The voice recognition works very well. There are other settings from the screen to turn on the regenerative braking which allows one-pedal driving, you can check range, find a charging station, but they took it just a little too far with one button that opens the glove box. I’ve never minded pulling a latch to get to the owner’s manual. If you want to use one-pedal driving, which I love and is good for recharging the battery, there is a paddle on the steering wheel to set the sensitivity.
Also from the screen, you can change drive modes. Choose from Tour, Snow/Ice, Sport, or configure the SUV the way you wish by going to My Mode, which is what I did and was really able to customize the way it rode, drove, and even the steering. This will enhance your driving experience.
The center console floats with lighted storage underneath. On top is the radio volume, a control knob if you prefer not to use the touchscreen, a wireless charger, and shortcuts to get to the most-used items on the big screen. There are a couple of cupholders, a USB-C port, power port, and just above that is a nifty pull-out tray for whatever you’d like to put in it. Above the tray are all the climate controls.
My one complaint to Cadillac: How can you have an SUV this sporty and fast, and may I add expensive without making a head-up display standard equipment? People like me and many others love this feature to cut down on driver distraction. Maybe this is something to strongly consider for 2025.
As you head to the back seat, they are as comfortable as the front ones are, leg room is good, and the sloping roofline still allows for a nice amount of head room. There is a fold-down armrest with cup holders, and between the front seats there are air vents, two USB-Cs, and a power port. I wish Cadillac had offered controls for temperature there, but the controls are in the front.
Touch the Cadillac emblem on the tailgate to reveal a nice cargo area with a deep hidden area underneath it and a cargo cover.
You’ll get 28-cubic feet of storage with the back seat intact, but if you pull two switches in the cargo area and fold the seats down, it opens up to 60.8-cubic feet. In the cargo area there is LED lighting and a home power source.
Lyric comes well-equipped with a huge fixed panoramic sunroof with a power cover, LED headlights and taillights, power folding outside mirrors, the AKG sound system, second row heated seats, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, rearview camera mirror, hands-free liftgate, and illuminated door handles that pop out when you get near the vehicle with the key.
Another nice feature is over-the-air updates to bring you the latest software updates, much like your cell phone, without going to the dealership.
Safety
On the safety side, you get automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian and bicyclist braking, reverse automatic braking, rear cross traffic alert, automatic high beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear seat reminder, and a fantastic HD surround view camera system.
My tester has $9,595 in options, which includes $3,990 for the Nappa Leather seat package, but you also get full leather throughout, including the armrests, some beautiful wood trim, illuminated accents on the doors, and illuminated door sills. $3,500 is the charge for all-wheel drive, a 19.2 KW charging module for quicker charging times runs $1,480, and finally the beautiful paint is $625.
Super Cruise is a standard feature on this Lyriq, but it is a very pricey option on most GM products and it does require a subscription. Super Cruise is GM’s famous self-driving system. GM has driven and mapped out almost 750,000 miles of divided highways across America. On an approved road, you’ll get a green light on the dash. Set the cruise control, hit the Super Cruise, and the vehicle literally drives itself. If you want to change lanes, turn on your blinker and it will make sure there is enough room and will change lanes for you.
A small camera on the steering wheel monitors your eyes to make sure you are engaged, and if not, you get a verbal warning. After that, the car will start to slow down, the flashers come on, and it will safely get you off the road and Onstar will call for help. This is in case the driver is incapacitated. I’ve tested many of these systems, and still this one performs best in my opinion.
Let’s talk charging times and why you want to spend that $1,480 for the 19 KW charging module. At a DC fast charger, you can pick up 77-miles of range in just 10 minutes. Given the total range of 307-miles, that gives you a time to charge of just over a half hour to get to an 80% charge, which is what they recommend.
I have a Level 2 charger at home, and it will pick up 51-miles of range per hour. That will get you to 80% from 0 in just under 5 hours, perfect for overnight charging when electricity rates are cheaper. Or you can plug it into a regular 110 outlet.
Just know that if you do, you’ll gain 3.5-miles of range per hour. That will take 70-hours to get to 80%, or almost 3 days. Please, take my advice and get a home charger. I tell you all about mine here.
The acceleration of EVs always takes me by surprise, you’d think I’d be used to it by now. For a heavy SUV, this one will really get up and go. The interior quietness is exceptional, and GM went to great lengths to make sure of that. You can activate a fake engine noise in the cabin, which is not a first, and unlike some of the others, it is not annoying. The Cadillac Active Noise Cancellation measures road vibration and uses the AKG speaker system to help actively cancel road-induced noise. That technology, wind-tunnel testing, and acoustic laminated glass really make a difference. This is cutting edge stuff right here.
The ride, handling, and steering feedback is terrific. Handling is BMW-like, but the ride is exactly what you’d want in a luxury SUV. The big battery under the floorboard gives this SUV a very low center of gravity and is one of the reasons its ride quality is so good. In addition, the Lyriq has a 5-link independent suspension with Passive-Plus Premium Dampers. There is also a 50/50 distribution of weight which also helps.
Fuel economy is rated at 96 MPGe in the city, 81 MPGe on the highway, and overall combined rating of 89 MPGe. MSRP as equipped is $80,195 before dealer discounts and factory incentives. The Lyriq does qualify for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit and will also qualify for most state incentives as well. As I always suggest for first-time electric car buyers, if you can lease, it is a good idea. We don’t know where the EV market is headed, and leasing takes all the guess work out of it. Bear in mind, this SUV is ultra-loaded, but the Lyriq actually starts at $57,195.
Cadillac knocked the cover off the ball with this Spring Hill, TN-made SUV. If you want luxury in an electric SUV, this one has to be on your shopping list.
To view more photos see the slideshow below on CarPro.com.