It’s been practically two years since we acquired behind the wheel of the Cadillac Lyriq for the automotive’s formal first drive. In case you have been questioning, no, that’s not a traditional period of time between after we initially drive a automotive and when it turns into obtainable for a extra thorough check through a weeklong mortgage. However only a few issues in regards to the Lyriq’s launch and subsequent manufacturing woes have been regular. Solely now that Cadillac is assured in its capacity to crank out an affordable quantity of Lyriqs to maintain vendor inventories up – the primary quarter of 2024 noticed 5,800 bought, up from solely 968 delivered throughout the identical stretch of 2023 – are we getting the chance to drive the electrical SUV once more.
The Lyriq in query here’s a model we haven’t pushed earlier than, too. Particularly, it’s the Sport 3 trim, and it’s spec’d with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain that places a walloping 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque to the pavement. The one-motor, rear-drive Lyriq we drove beforehand is down 160 horsepower in comparison with the dual-motor, however frankly, this electrical SUV is much less about efficiency and extra about most luxurious.
That a lot is obvious whenever you hop within the cabin and see the care that Cadillac put into the Lyriq’s design. My loaded tester’s ultimate value could also be a towering $83,500, however the Lyriq’s inside genuinely seems like an $80,000 inside. Level to the Tesla Mannequin Y’s $45,000-$55,000 value level all you need – there’s a motive it’s a lot cheaper, because it doesn’t even come near matching the Lyriq’s stage of luxurious and supplies high quality.
It’s simple to be distracted by all of the elegant adornments, however I jumped straight into the huge 33-inch show to see how that carried out. When you recall, the Lyriq’s Ultium platform-mate, the Blazer EV, had all kinds of points with its infotainment system upon launch that, amongst different issues, it compelled a stop-sale. Regardless of the platform relationship, Cadillac’s infotainment is its personal monster. It retains wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto performance (albeit compromised in a bit field as a result of odd display screen form), but it surely additionally runs GM’s Android Automotive software program that lets you log in to your Google account. It positive was seamless logging in, although there was a great 10-minute lag earlier than I used to be ready to make use of the native Google Maps navigation system. After soldiering by means of that snag, it operated flawlessly the remainder of my weeklong check.
Getting your bearings contained in the Lyriq will take a brief minute in the event you’re accustomed to different Cadillac interiors. It’s largely as a result of distinctive steering wheel buttons that offer you fast entry to plenty of gadgets through a light-weight contact, but in addition as a result of Cadillac has gone full Mercedes with its door-mounted seat controls. Even the lumbar and therapeutic massage settings are accessed from the door, as there are zero controls on the seat itself. All of those high-quality buttons and toggles (there’s basically a bodily management for each doable often-used automotive management) run reverse to what so many different manufacturers are making use of to their EV interiors. For the long-time Cadillac purchaser and anybody moving into their first EV, it’ll be a better studying curve.
Upon first setting out, it’s instantly obvious that Cadillac is bringing some old-school vibes to the celebration with a surprisingly gradual steering rack. It’s a bit off-putting at first as you’re required to crank in additional lock than is regular for right this moment’s usually fast steering racks when making tight maneuvers. Engineers inform us the Lyriq’s slower steering is on goal to supply “a stability of easy, predictable low-speed maneuverability and steady, responsive steering really feel at increased speeds.” In actuality, it feels just like the form of steering you’d discover in a Cadillac from earlier than the model dynamically spun 180 levels with high-performance chassis tuning: gradual, lazy and a bit cumbersome. I’d favor a faster rack that’d make the automotive really feel extra agile at low speeds, however that stated, I did prefer it at increased speeds when testing its dealing with and common stability on the freeway. Faster racks could make a automotive really feel artificially darty or mild on its toes, however there’s nonetheless benefit to the easy-going technique Cadillac took right here.
That very same easy-does-it really feel applies to full-throttle purposes off the road, too. You’d suppose that 500 horsepower can be a neck-snapping good time, however irrespective of the drive mode, the Lyriq is – as soon as once more, purposefully – going to ease itself off the road earlier than ultimately pinning you again when you’re already underway. To that impact, fast stabs of the throttle whereas at pace shall be responded to with alacrity, however you gained’t have the ability to scare anybody with a launch management begin as many different EVs boast.
Trip high quality over Michigan’s damaged roads is respectable sufficient, although it’s price noting the dearth of adaptive dampers on the Lyriq, which is a characteristic that’s at the least non-compulsory on different Cadillac fashions. GM dialed in a experience stability that’s neither mega-plush nor razor-sharp for dealing with, as a substitute straddling a pleasant center floor between dynamic extremes and Cadillac eras. Most Mercedes and BMW EVs are comfier, however I believe the bulk will discover the Lyriq’s experience to be amicable. If you begin to push the chassis like one in every of Cadillac’s fanatic darling sedans – CT4 and CT5 – it doesn’t crumble, however you’ll know the all-wheel-drive Lyriq weighs 5,789 kilos in each nook and when braking closely. It lumbers its means by means of twisty roads like a muscle automotive – it’s nonetheless competent sufficient to be pushed with tempo however does in order if saying, “I’d moderately be getting in a straight line.” And hey, 500 horsepower isn’t not enjoyable, making the Lyriq oodles extra smile-worthy than any of Cadillac’s gas-powered crossovers.
The lively noise cancellation expertise that makes use of sensors within the wheels works shockingly properly to remove any form of tire noise from the 22-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Primacy all-season rubber. Nevertheless, this specific check car had unusually loud wind noise coming from what seemed like the place the windshield meets the roof. I requested Cadillac about it, and its engineering group appeared into the issue. Seems, there was a difficulty with the A-pillar trim piece on this specific check car, Cadillac tells me. We’ll be looking to see if the subsequent Lyriq we drive has this wind noise sorted.
Fortunately, the noise was quiet sufficient that enjoying some tunes on the 19-speaker AKG audio system might block it out – and man, that is one rocking system whenever you flip it up. It’s beautiful to hearken to when absorbing freeway miles on Tremendous Cruise, which is nearly as good and superior because it will get when paired with the Lyriq. Its active-lane lane altering is extraordinarily well-executed, and its common obedience and skill to observe lane markings continues to be unmatched. That stated, Tremendous Cruise canceled itself unexplainably various instances over the course of 100 miles of freeway driving in areas the place it hasn’t earlier than in earlier exams. The system neatly switches off in tough development zones or freeway merges, however this Lyriq’s surprising cancelations felt extra like glitches than the system recognizing a harmful state of affairs, as I used to be merely touring alongside regular, empty highways that shouldn’t have triggered a shutoff. To additional emphasize the purpose, the system would let me instantly re-engage Tremendous Cruise proper after these shutoffs, making it all of the extra eyebrow-raising.
The 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack is rated for 307 miles of vary, even on this Sport 3 mannequin with its giant 22-inch wheels. That’s spectacular on condition that the single-motor RWD Lyriq solely manages to go one other 7 miles at 314, in accordance with the EPA. On condition that small vary penalty, it’s basically a no brainer to go along with all-wheel drive ought to your finances stretch the additional $3,500 it prices. You get each improved acceleration and all-weather traction without having to fret about chilly climate being an excessive amount of of a variety killer. Charging is stable with a 190-kW most cost pace, however whereas which will have sounded nice a few years in the past, it’s now firmly mid-pack in comparison with different EVs.
One factor that hasn’t modified for the reason that Lyriq’s launch, although, is how ridiculously good it seems. The funky wrap-around taillights, wild mild present on method/departure, and slick, aerodynamic form nonetheless look elegantly futuristic. Particulars just like the contrasting items of leather-based in and decrease entrance seat storage space would convey a smile to my face each time I hop within the automotive. Plus, the colours on supply each in and out (inexperienced on inexperienced is an choice!) will guarantee you possibly can go as wild or low-key as you’d like.
At this level, Cadillac sounds assured in its electrical SUV, a lot in order that it’s lastly constructing them in correct numbers. That stated, the few foibles this check automotive had are sufficient to offer me a slight pause, even when the week in it was largely a luxuriously good time. Cadillac’s misplaced the factor of being first-to-market with the massive manufacturing delay, too, because the Genesis GV70 Electrified, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and others have been capable of extra firmly stake their claims in the marketplace. Whatever the competitors, it’s nice to see that the Lyriq is lastly getting its massive break, and that you could now lastly receive a chunk of what Cadillac’s future is supposed to be.
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