The Cadillac Lyriq is one of the best options you have when it comes to luxury, compact electric crossovers, and it's not just about its capability
The Cadillac Lyriq went on sale in March 2022 and more than 8,000 units were sold before the end of the year. After just a few months on the market, Cadillac had already launched a small update, with two new trims joining the lineup -Tech and Sport - new exterior colors, more interior packages, and new wheel options. There is no doubt that Cadillac is trying to keep the model fresh and maintain consumer interest, and,with so many options out there, this is actually a very smart move. However, the Cadillac Lyriq has quite a few advantages that put it ahead of the competition, including one of the best exterior designs out there, a very well-equipped, roomy cabin, two powerful powertrains, a very decent range, and one of the fastest charging options available to product electric cars today. All these, combined with tons of tech features and loads of safety aids make the Lyriq one of the best luxury compact crossovers you can get.
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The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is built on the same Ultium platform as models like the GMC Hummer EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Celestiq. Initially, the Lyriq was announced only in a single-motor rear-wheel drive configuration, with an output of 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. However, a dual-motor all-wheel drive model was eventually made available. It delivers a combined 500 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Cadillac announced that the Lyriq RWD goes from 0 to 60 mph in around six seconds and can hit a top speed of 118 mph, but the guys over at Car and Driver were able to do the sprint in 5.7 seconds – not a bad number at all for a luxury compact crossover from Cadillac.
The Lyriq comes with a 12-module, 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack that provides a range of 308 miles in the RWD models and 307 miles in the AWD models. The crossover also offers high-speed DC fast charging for public stations at 190 kW, in which case you can add about 76 miles of range in just 10 minutes of charging. The Lyriq also benefits from great home-charging capabilities. It is offered with a segment-leading 19.2 kW charging module which will add up to 52 miles of range per hour of charge. This means that you will get a full battery overnight and have your car ready for a new adventure in the morning.
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If there is one thing everyone should agree on is that the Lyriq is no doubt a Cadillac. Its design is very easy to recognize, even if the SUV introduces "a new face, proportion and presence" for the company. The Lyriq features an assertive and modern approach defined by taut lines and clean surfaces. The crossover has a wide stance, a low roofline that makes it look fast, and a flow-through roof spoiler that will help with aerodynamics. There are three trims to choose from -Tech, Luxury, and Sport - and for the 2023 model year, Cadillac introduced five new exterior colors, plus the option of a black painted roof on specific models.
There are plenty of cars out there with lighting problems, but the Lyriq is not one of them. Since the car doesn't need a traditional grille, that area on the nose was replaced by a dramatically illuminated Black Crystal Shield, while LED projectors stack to create a thin vertical headlamp lighting signature. There is a total of 736 lighting patterns that light up in a unique, animated display that works in sync with the headlights. When you approach with the key fob in hand, and are within a 15-foot radius of the Lyriq, these LED lights will visually “wake up” to say hello. The show starts with two light dots shooting up in the running lights, and from there it creates a "complex animation pattern," running from the grille to the headlights and then taillights.
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You have a lot of options to choose from in order to make the Lyriq as unique as possible. There are eight exterior colors to choose from and four interior trims. Cadillac is also offering a long list of packages and options to go for, including a Nappa Leather package priced at $3,990, a black painted roof option priced at $600, a 19.2 kW capable onboard charging module priced at $1,480, and a panoramic power sunroof priced at $1,600. But one of the most impressive styling elements you will get on the Lyriq are the wheels. As standard, the Lyriq comes with 20-inch sculpted wheels, but there are a few other options to go with, including a set of cool 22-inch Dynamic Split Spoke Reverse Rim alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tires that give the Lyriq a very impressive style.
The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq features a five-link suspension in the front and rear – a first for Cadillac SUVs - with passive-plus premium dampers that ensure a smooth drive and amazing responsiveness. The five-link front suspension allows for the suspension bushings to be tuned independently in order to enhance ride quality and improve handling. On the other hand, frequency-dependent dampers are able to differentiate between smaller or larger swells on the road surface and give you more precise control. The Lyriq also benefits from a low center of gravity, exceptional chassis stiffness, and nearly 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance - factors that will also improve the crossover's ride and handling. Some have found this suspension layout "comfortable over smooth pavement", while others think it is a "bit too firm over rougher stretches of road."
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When it comes to the Lyriq's interior, it is obvious that Cadillac has really raised the bar, as the cabin is among the most stylish and luxurious we've seen from the brand to date. Everything inside is wrapped in the best quality materials, and each layer of detail has been obsessively considered and deliberately chosen. Every element builds carefully into the next, and every material, color, and form merge in style and function. The driver and the front passenger will enjoy heated, cooled, and massaging front seats, while the rear seats features an abundance of leg and shoulder room. The design of the dashboard, the center console, the shift knobs, and the switchgear are all a step above the current lineup. The Lyriq has a cargo capacity of 28 cubic feet with the seats up, and 60.8 cubic feet with the seats down. And speaking of storage spaces, the "floating center console houses cupholders and an infotainment control knob, leaving plenty of useful storage space below."
The 2023 Lyriq comes with a massive 33-inch curved LED screen - one of the biggest out there. It curves from the middle of the dashboard to the driver's side in a continuous screen and is made from classy materials with an architecturally inspired design. The screen can display over one billion colors and offers a customizable user interface designed to deliver a flexible, high-end user experience with display themes to fit the driver’s mood and personality. The infotainment system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a few Google Built-In functions, like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play. As an option, the Lyriq can be had with an AKG Studio 19-speaker audio system that employs advanced technologies, including Adaptive Volume and Surrounds Technology.
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The Lyriq is loaded with advanced safety aids including GM's Super Cruise - a hands-free driver assistance feature that also includes lane change on demand. Cadillac is also offering Front Pedestrian Braking - a feature that at speeds below 50 mph can help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of a front-end collision with a pedestrian. The list of safety features is very long and includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic parking assist, blind zone steering assist, and side bicyclist alert, among others. The model comes with a four-year, 50,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper limited warranty plus an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty for the battery pack and powertrain components.
The base Lyriq Tech trim can be had in either RWD – priced at $58,590 - or AWD, with the latter one adding another $3,500 over the base price. For the Luxury trim, there are six different versions to choose from: Luxury 1, Luxury 2, and Luxury 3, all offered in both RWD and AWD versions. The Luxury 1 RWD is priced at $62,690, the Luxury 2 RWD at $66,990, and the Luxury 3 RWD at $70,590. For each trim, switching to the AWD configuration will add another $3,500 to the final price. Finally, the Lyriq Sport can also be had in six variations, just like the Luxury trim. The Lyriq Sport 1 RWD is priced at $63,190, the Sport 2 RWD at $67,490 and the Sport 3 RWD at $71,090. As usual, opting for the AWD configuration adds another $3,500.
Alina has been enthusiastic about vehicles her entire life, and even from an early age found herself itching to get behind the wheel. Through high school and college, she could be found reading through whatever car magazines she could get her hands on, and her love for anything with four wheels has grown with each and every passing day. Over the years, Alina has Alina has accumulated so much knowledge about common and obscure cars that she’s always able to surprise people with interesting facts and information. These days she spends her time working for Topspeed.com, reading up on the latest news and information, and occasionally hunting down hard-to-find information – something that she enjoys and is passionate about.