The Flagship Cadillac EV
An all-electric Cadillac? Get used to it as the 2024 Lyriq is the first of several EVs General Motors’ premium brand will be releasing in the coming years. Debuting in July 2022 as a 2023 model, the Lyriq continues to be the flagship for Cadillac’s EV efforts.
General Motors developed the Ultium Platform to be flexible and modular, allowing for electric models of different sizes and needs to be built. These five SUVs (and one pickup) currently share the Ultium platform and compete against each other for consumer’s attention.
The Cadillac Lyriq has the highest price of all these models, including the Prologue and ZDX that General Motors builds for Honda and Acura. The reviews of each are linked here and also at the end of this story. [Ed. note: Speaking of end of the story, between the time this review was written and its publication, GM announced that it is dropping the Ultium brand, although the joint venture between LG Chem and GM will continue to produce its modular nickel manganese cobalt aluminum (NMCA) chemistry pouch cell batteries.]
The Electric Cadillac
The 2024 Lyric comes in either all-wheel drive (AWD) or rear wheel drive (RWD) with the RWD configuration getting one motor producing 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque for an EPA rated 314 mile all-electric driving range, and 0 – 60 mph in about 5.45 seconds. Clean Fleet Report drove the AWD version with two motors that is rated at 550 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque and scoots to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.
Premium Cruising
Cadillac did not design nor will they be selling the Lyriq as a performance or sport midsize SUV. The focus is on a premium ride that welcomes weekend road trips and in-town driving, by being comfortable and cushy, but not overly floaty.
There are four driver-selectable drive modes–Tour (default), Sport, Snow/Ice and My Mode. Tour will get the best range, Sport is when a bit more oomph is wanted, and Snow/Ice is self-explanatory. My Mode allows the driver to be creative and program ride customizations include handling, steering, braking and motor sound. Yes, Cadillac has programmed-in motor sounds as some people just can’t get used to driving a car with no engine sounds. It baffles me, but heck, go for it!
While not designed to eat-up corners at high speeds, the Lyriq’s near 50:50 weight distribution and Cadillac’s first-ever 5-link front and rear suspension have good balance. However, the heft of the car’s 5,789 pounds was felt when entering corners. There was noticeable lean and body roll that was easily controlled by taking the corner slower, but there never was a feeling of being unstable. The soft cushy nature of the suspension that likes to soak-in road undulations was designed for a premium ride and not one that was dynamic or sporty.
The continuously variable electric power steering was light, but didn’t deliver a lot of road feedback. The Michelin Primacy 265/40 all-season run flat tires, mounted on 22-inch alloy wheels finished in After Midnight black, gripped well, but due to their size sacrificed quietness for great looks.
The suspension delivers the comfort the designers were looking for, but the 22-inch run flat tires defeated some of that comfort on rough roads. Going with the 20-inch wheels, with a wider sidewall, should reduce any jitteriness when driving over less-than-smooth pavement.
For those looking for a sportier ride, sometime in 2025 the Lyriq-V will have software upgrades boosting the performance to a rumored 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque. The Lyriq-V will also have styling differences with a more sporty and athletic body.
Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driving assist system, allows the driver to travel on more than 400,000 miles on compatible roads. We tested on a stretch of I5 in San Diego County and it worked very well.
Sleek and Elegant
The Lyriq’s exterior lighting accentuates the beautiful design. When approaching and departing the Lyriq, the digital key launches a choreographed LED lighting sequence, from front to rear, inside and out, that play off the brushed aluminum and gloss black trim.
Starting up front, you are welcomed by the unmistakable black crystal face and its hundreds of LED lights that produce a waterfall effect. The face is a polycarbonate panel with the backside painted black. A laser is used to etch the black paint into a designated pattern that is then backlit. Cadillac says it can easily change the pattern by simply reprogramming the laser.
The Cadillac Crest emblem glows, the turn signals and vertical daytime running lights come to life. The door handles and puddle lights illuminate, as do the taillights that dramatically wrap back-and-up onto the rear pillars. The high brake light is vertically mounted in the roof spoiler.
The side view features gloss-black mirror caps with turn signals and cameras, gloss black and aluminum trim running the full length of the door bottoms, a gently sloping roof edged in a gloss black and slim aluminum strip that ends with a butter knife shape. The gloss black shark fin antenna finishes off the roof at the small spoiler that shades the hands-free power lift gate with the handy kick feature.
Cadillac has designed the aerodynamics so a rear wiper is not needed, allowing water to naturally flow off the tinted rear glass. The smooth doors with flush handles, and the purpose-designed aerodynamic 22-inch 6-spoke alloy wheels complete the elegant design.
When pressed gently, the lighted Cadillac emblem opens the lift gate. In the rear it is joined by a simple L-Y-R-I-Q badge and something Cadillac has been doing for a few years, a badge showing the newton-meter torque rating, which in this case is 600E4 (442.5 ft.-lb. in case you’re still on the English system; this is for the dual-motor model). Exterior color options are Argent Silver Metallic, Stellar Black Metallic with Opulent Blue Metallic, Crystal White Tricoat, Emerald Lake Metallic, Celestial Metallic, Nimbus Metallic, and our Lyriq’s color, Radiant Red Tintcoat with a black painted roof.
A Unique Cadillac Interior
The first thing that hits you when sliding behind into driver’s seat is the one-piece, curved glass, 33-inch diagonal LED touchscreen that integrates the driver information center, navigation and infotainment systems. Extending more than half of the dash, Cadillac says it emits more than one billion colors.
The sleek dash is devoid of buttons, knobs and switches, meaning a combination of voice commands, touches and swipes are used to interact with the systems, features and functions. Controls can be found on the steering wheel and the command wheel on the center console.
The Lyriq interior is unlike anything Cadillac has ever offered, and should be a hint as to its future EV interiors. No parts, bits or pieces are shared with any other General Motors vehicle, and the attention to detail is obvious. The seams between panels are tight, the look is sleek and very modern. The use of soft materials, wood, metal and gloss black trim has a unified and complementary look, with the door speaker grilles one example of exceptional design.
The seats are covered in soft and supple synthetic leather. Optional Nappa leather is available four colors. The heated and ventilated front seats were supportive and power everything, including massage, with the rear seating area offering plenty of leg, head and shoulder room for two adults, three for shorter trips. The beauty of an electric vehicle is the flat floor, making for exceptional leg and head room for the rear passengers.
The large fixed glass roof panel has a power shade, and the rear 60:40 seat power-folds down to expand the cargo area to 60.8 cubic feet. Interior storage is found in the doors, under the cargo area floor and in the center cantilevered console that has been designed so a purse or large bag can be conveniently stored in the lower tray. Make sure to check out the slick way to open the glove box.
Interior Technology
The AKG Studio audio system is controlled on the futuristic 33-inch display screen by touch, the controller wheel on the center console, voice and steering wheel-mounted switches. This system, with 19 speakers, including ones in the front seat headrests, has active noise cancellation and delivers full and rich sounds. The 26 ambient LED lighting options can be set for dual level, and the cabin has real wood trim and brushed aluminum accents. Other appreciated features included the digital rear view mirror, wireless phone charging, USB C and B ports and OnStar.
The head-up display and voice control for vehicle systems both aided in keeping the driver’s eyes on the road.
Power, Charging and Recharging
The Lyriq’s power comes from a 102 kWh lithium-ion battery. When at home, the dual level charging cord delivers these charging times and all-electric mile driving range (AER) per hour.
Level 1 (120V) – 3.5 AER/hour
Level 2 (240V at 7.7 kW) – 21 AER/hour
Level 2 (240V at 11.5 kW) – 31 AER/hour
Level 2 (240V at 19.2 kW) – 51 AER/hour
When away from home a Level 3 DC Fast Charger at 190 kW will return 77 AER in 10 minutes or a full charge in less than 5 hours. Original Lyriq owners receive two years of complementary unlimited charging on the EVgo public charging network.
Additional charging is through regenerative braking that converts kinetic energy into electricity when braking or coasting, and stores it in the battery. Driving around town, in stop-and-go rush hour freeway traffic, or coasting down hills will recharge the battery.
Regenerative braking, which is really the motors slowing the Lyriq and not using the brakes, has three settings—Normal, High and Off—to set the force for One Pedal Driving. We always set our regen at the most aggressive level so when slowing or coasting it didn’t require applying the brake pedal in most situations. Whether around town or on mountain curves, one pedal driving is the most convenient and fun way to drive the Lyriq. There is a small paddle on the back side of the steering wheel to modulate the slowing in addition to feathering the acceleration and deceleration. Once getting the hang of it, this will be your go-to method of driving.
After setting-up an account on the MyCadillac app, charging at stations from all major companies will be a seamless operation. Simply charge and go, no payment onsite is necessary.
*Note: Cold and hot weather can affect the charging time and driving range. The Lyriq Charging app has preconditioning settings to help bring the battery to an optimal temperature for improved charging. The longer the battery is preconditioned, the better the charging performance.
Safety
The Lyriq offers an extensive list of standard and optional safety features, beginning with front, side impact, side knee and side air curtain airbags. The advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) include lane keeping assist, blind spot, forward collision and rear cross-traffic alerts, and intersection automatic emergency braking. Other safety features are hill start assist, surround and blind view monitor with parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving and a tire pressure monitoring system.
The rear camera mirror has an image that is wider and less obstructed than the standard rear view mirror. Where this comes in handy is when parking and especially on rainy days. The Lyriq does not have a rear windshield wiper, so the camera mirror (with a self-cleaning feature for the camera lens) clearly sees what is behind without obstruction from inside or outside.
Warranties
The Lyriq is covered by these warranties.
Battery – Eight years/100,000 miles
Powertrain – Four years/50,000 miles
Corrosion Protection – Four years/50,000 miles
Rust-Through Protection – Six years/100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance – Six years/70,000 miles
Maintenance Program – First Year Free
Pricing
The 2024 Cadillac Lyriq comes in three trims, with these base prices including a $1,395 designation charge.
Tech $59,985
Luxury $64,085
Sport $64,585
Clean Fleet Report drove the Lyriq Sport 3. The base price of $69,695, with $12,395 in options and the $1,395 designation charge, brought the final MSRP to $83,485.
Built in Spring Hill, Tennessee, the Lyriq will qualify for federal and state tax credits that could reduce the final purchase price. In many states it qualifies for the coveted car pool sticker, allowing solo driving in the HOV lane.
Note: Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the MSRP of electric vehicles must be $80,000 or less for SUVs, vans, and trucks. All other electric vehicles must be $55,000 or less. Your CPA and your Cadillac dealer can provide the full details.
Observations: 2024 Cadillac Lyriq EV
The importance of Lyriq to Cadillac can’t be overstated as the brand’s grip on the premium market has been challenged by cars from all over the world. Cadillac also, like many auto manufacturers, needs to lower the age of their average buyer.
Cadillac aims for the average Lyriq user to be 35-45 years of age, highly educated with young children, and a household income more than twice the median U.S average which is $62,000. These customers are tech-savvy and open to new brands. This last point, if it comes true, will mean 78-percent of these early Lyriq buyers will be new to Cadillac.
The sales trajectory is in the right direction, but there is stiff competition in the premium midsize SUV EV space.
Lyriq Sales
2022 = 122
2023 = 6,838
2024 = 20,318 (as of Oct. 7, 2024)
The Lyriq is the first of many all-electric Cadillacs that will be released in the coming years. Playing the long game with this transition from gasoline to electric and knowing who its customer is, Cadillac is planning on adding buyers as the marketplace continues to grow for premium electric vehicles.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
The other Ultium (RIP) vehicles:
Flash Drive: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq
Flash Drive: 2024 Chevrolet Blazer
Flash Drive: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox
Flash Drive: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV
Road Test: 2024 Honda Prologue
Flash Drive: 2024 Acura ZDX
Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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