Cadillac Lyriq review: Electric premium SUV with ambitions

The Cadillac Lyriq is the Cadillac's first electric vehicle on the European market. It positions itself as an electric premium SUV with ambitions to challenge the luxury class competition - whether it succeeds only becomes apparent upon closer inspection. We tested the Cadillac Lyriq Luxury SUV, which has been available on the German market since July 2024, for you for a week. Here are our results.

In Germany, the Lyriq is available exclusively as an AWD (all-wheel drive) model, and not as a rear-wheel drive (RWD) version as in the US. Cadillac currently sells the Lyriq in Germany, Switzerland, France, and Sweden through an online-only sales model.

In addition there is several showrooms in various European cities such as Paris, Zurich, and Frankfurt. In Germany, it was also the first American model to win the "Luxury Car of the Year" award in 2024.

tl; dr (Conclusion) on the Cadillac Lyriq: Great luxury SUV with minor weaknesses

The Cadillac Lyriq Luxury impresses as a technology leader with iconic design and a high level of comfort. The interior is a highlight, and audiophiles will especially enjoy the AKG sound system. The high-quality infotainment system with a 33-inch curved display and Android Automotive software rounds out the package. The recent win of the title “German Car of the Year 2024” in the luxury class also underlines the growing acceptance of the Lyriq, even if the challenges from traditional European brands and Chinese manufacturers such as Zeekr remain.

With the Lyriq, Cadillac proves that American luxury also works electrically, but should improve the AI-supported assistance and entertainment systems, charging performance and fuel consumption, to be able to survive permanently in the luxury class. Weaknesses are also evident in the adaptation to the European market (no Super Cruise = only ACC, overly sensitive reversing brake assist). For technology and design enthusiasts who are willing toproHowever, it remains an attractive and very stylish alternative to vehicles such as the Tesla Model X, the NIO EL6 or the Porsche Macan 4 Electric. All in all, it convinces us with its focus on comfort and the luxurious details, which also justify the entry-level price of 79.000,00 euros (including 19% VAT).

Strengths and weaknesses of the Cadillac Lyriq

✅ Strengths:

• Elegant, luxurious design, inside and out

• Great infotainment with 33-inch curved display and smooth Android Automotive software

• Intuitive operation and modern hardware

• Outstanding sound from AKG

• Very quiet inside, even at high speeds

• Top speed of 210 km / h

• 22 kW AC charging

• Very good equipment for the price

⛔️ Weaknesses:

• Missing Super Cruise in Europe

• Sometimes oversensitive reversing brake assistant

• “Only” 190 kW DC charging through 400-volt system

Design and exterior of the Cadillac Lyriq: Elegant and eye-catching

Visually, the Luxury variant features chrome accents, illuminated door handles, and a striking LED lighting design. Our test vehicle was also painted in the striking Radiant Red Tintcoat. The slimline LED headlights and the Obsidian Chrome grille (3D-etched Crystal Shield), as well as the choreographed lighting including an animated welcome sequence, add particularly dramatic and unique accents to the exterior design. Another striking and unique design element of the rear end are the vertical LED taillights, which give the SUV a futuristic look.

The 21-inch multi-spoke aluminum wheels with diamond cut and Manoogian Silver finish underline the sporty elegance, while the panoramic glass roof with integrated electric sunshade ensures light-flooded space.. Overall, the Lyriq attracts attention with its elegant and sporty design and generates interest at the charging stations.

Interior of the Cadillac Lyriq: pure luxury

The interior is luxurious and clearly laid out. It is dominated by nappa leather in Oxford Stone with garnet accents and real wood trim in Dark Ash with an open-pore design on the doors. The nappa leather is very well crafted and gives the Lyriq a refined appearance. In general, everything you touch feels very high-quality. The 26 colors of the ambient interior lighting make the vehicle appear even more beautiful, especially in the evening when the light is low. One criticism: The silver air vents sometimes reflect annoyingly in direct sunlight.

The trunk, at 793 liters and 1751 liters with the second row of seats folded down, is generous compared to the competition and offers ample space for luggage and charging cables. Unfortunately, there's no frunk. Inside, there are plenty of storage areas in and under the center console, and even a really practical drawer beneath the climate control buttons. The flat battery in the underbody also allows for a flat interior floor, resulting in very generous legroom in the rear.

Connectivity and comfort: Premium features

There are several full-function USB Type-C ports (3 ports) and some for charging only (2 ports). There's also a vertical smartphone holder that allows wireless charging. Another stylish feature is the rotary control with jog function in the center console, which offers another convenient way to operate the infotainment system.

The massage function with 3 intensity levels on the driver and passenger seats is unfortunately somewhat weak. The strongest level is in comparison to other massage functions of the competition, such as the XPeng G9 or NIO EL7 barely noticeable. The automatic seat and steering wheel heating works very well. In combination with the three-zone automatic climate control, it ensures that the vehicle warms up quickly after getting in and during the journey.

All seats are electrically adjustable and heated, which is invaluable in winter. The front seats also feature electrically adjustable lumbar supports and ventilation for hot summer days. The memory driver's seat stores up to three different positions. The windshield wipers and windshield defrost automatically, which was a huge relief, especially on some of the cold days during the test.

Infotainment and Sound: Endgner Display and AKG

The 33-inch curved display (resolution: 9K) sets standards in image sharpness and seamlessly integrates the Android Automotive OS 12 platform with Google Maps, Assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. With 60 FPS and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8195 chip, operation is very smooth. Google integration (Maps, Assistant, Apps) simplifies everyday routines, and charging route planning via the integrated navigation system (Google Maps) also works well and reliably. It should be noted that charging station integration does not work via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but only via the integrated navigation system. The stylish steering wheel allows proControl all entertainment functions, assistance systems and other displays effortlessly and with attractive haptic buttons.

The AKG 19 speaker system uses Quantum Logic Surround to precisely separate even high-frequency nuances such as string passages. Headrest speakers in the front seats and active noise compensation, which anticipates road irregularities via microphones, create a concert hall atmosphere with an interior noise level of just 62 dB at 120 km/h. Whatever the type of music, the AKG sound with adaptive volume control and surround technology ensures an immersive listening experience. The sound system thus sets benchmarks against which the competition must measure itself.

Features and app: Everything you need

The physical climate and seat adjustment buttons are a welcome alternative to the touchscreen overkill and make everyday operation much easier. However, the overload of settings—especially the seat massage and climate preconditioning, which are hidden in a submenu—somewhat undermines the otherwise intuitive operating logic. The Digital Key 3.0 enables proEasily access the vehicle via smartphone using UWB technology; alternatively, the included Cadillac NFC card can be used to unlock and lock the vehicle. Important updates can be installed within 15 minutes via the Vehicle Intelligence Platform Update System (OTA).

myCadillac Mobile App The owner can control their vehicle remotely. The personalized user interface includes vehicle status and remote control functions that are accessible directly from the app's home screen. The remote key fob can be used to remotely lock and unlock the vehicle, sound the horn, activate the indicators, and turn on the air conditioning. To stay up to date, the app also allows you to check the battery charge level, tire pressure, oil level, and mileage. The app also displays the vehicle's location on a map. The Lyriq performed all app functions well in our test, and there were never any delays during operation; only the body color was oddly displayed incorrectly.

Drive of the Cadillac Lyriq: Fast on the road

Assistance systems: Missing flagship feature

The lack of Super Cruise (Hands-Free Driving) in Europe makes the Lyriq less reliable than the Mercedes DRIVE PILOT (Level 3 Autonomous Driving) or other competing systems look outdated. According to Cadillac, the necessary regulatory approvals for the system's use are currently lacking in Europe. The adaptive cruise control (ACC), on the other hand, which sets a controlled speed and automatically follows the vehicle in front at a selected distance, works perfectly, and at no time during testing did phantom braking (an emergency braking without reason) or other problems occur. In addition, the Lyriq features a variety of safety technologies, including seven cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors, and six radar sensors for safe driving. The hardware for autonomous driving is therefore already in place.

The Enhanced Automatic Parking (Parking Assistant) can automatically steer, brake, and accelerate the vehicle to park it in a detected parallel or perpendicular parking space. It can precisely navigate even 2,05 m wide parking spaces and has achieved excellent results in multiple tests. Of course, a practical 360° camera is also on board, providing high-resolution images during manual parking.

Unfortunately, the reverse automatic braking is triggered at a distance of just 30 centimeters from an obstacle – 50 percent earlier than in the Audi Q6 e-tron, for example, which sometimes leads to abrupt stops when reversing in parking garages or in busy city traffic.

Consumption and range of the Cadillac Lyriq: Long distances no problem

Despite a drag coefficient of 0.29 and air suspension, the Lyriq achieved a consumption of 26 to 28 kWh/100 km in winter conditions in our test. This is an acceptable figure considering the manufacturer's stated figure of 22.5 kWh/100 km. This somewhat high consumption is also due to the 21-inch rims with increased rolling resistance and the high unladen weight of around 2,8 tonnes. The Lyriq also features a heat pump system that uses the thermal energy from the vehicle battery to heat the vehicle interior, thus increasing efficiency. The energy recovery system collects and uses waste heat from the battery, the drive unit, the ambient energy, and the energy from the passenger compartment. It is also interesting to note that the vehicle's fuel consumption is displayed in km/kWh (e.g., 2,8 km/kWh instead of 28 kWh/100 km), which is likely due to the car's American origins.

According to Cadillac, the Lyriq Luxury, with its 102 kWh lithium-ion battery (NCMA cathode, mixed graphite anode, 400-volt architecture), should have a range of 530 kilometers (WLTP) on a full charge. In our test with mixed driving and outside temperatures between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius, the Lyriq Luxury managed closer to 430 to 460 kilometers. A truly competitive figure. Under better conditions, the Lyriq should easily manage 500 kilometers on a fully charged battery.

Charging with the Lyriq: AC very good, DC satisfactory

Cadillac states that up to 200 kilometers of range can be recharged with a charging time of 15 minutes using DC fast charging (max. 190 kW). The competition, such as the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback quattro, can do this somewhat better with 270 kW peak charging power. In our test, we charged the Lyriq from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes using an HPC charger at a charging speed of up to 710 km/h. A major advantage of the Cadillac Lyriq Luxury is that it can charge at AC charging stations with up to 22 kW. This means that up to 115 kilometers of range can be recharged per hour of charging time. The Lyriq therefore only needs 0 hours and 100 minutes to go from 5 to 30 percent at a charging speed of 84 km/h. Manual preconditioning of the battery is just as possible as automatic preconditioning while driving.

Charging on long journeys is made easier by the Cadillac Charge app and charging map. This app is available exclusively to Cadillac EV owners and, thanks to its collaboration with Deftpower, connects them to over 780.000 charging stations across Europe. Unfortunately, Cadillac's decision not to integrate charging point planning into the app's navigation forces drivers to manually search for charging points using other apps such as PlugShare—a paradox for a premium EV in 2025.

Price and warranty of the Cadillac Lyriq

The Lyriq is only offered to German customers with all-wheel drive as standard in the “Luxury” or “Sport” trim levels. The price for the Cadillac Lyriq in Germany currently starts at €79.000,00 (including 19% VAT).

Cadillac is currently offering a free premium interior upgrade with cash purchase. Available colors are Juniper Nappa with Sky Cool Gray accents and Oxford Stone Nappa with Garnet accents. The promotion runs until March 31, 2025, but may end sooner if all available vehicles are sold.

When purchasing a new car, the following guarantees are provided:

• On the vehicle: 4 years or 100.000 km, whichever comes first
• On the battery: 8 years or 160.000 km, whichever comes first

Many thanks to Cadillac Europe for providing the Cadillac Lyriq Luxury for this reviewThis did not influence our opinion!