Cadillac Lyriq 2023 Review

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is the brand's first all-electric vehicle and the vanguard of a bunch of new EVs from parent company General Motors. This electric luxury midsize SUV introduces a new generation of battery technology, dynamic styling and Cadillac's latest technology features.

The base Lyriq will start at around $60,000. Within Cadillac's SUV lineup, that puts it between the XT6 midsize SUV and the Escalade. It's also about what a top-end Tesla Model Y costs but less than an Audi e-tron.

The base Lyriq comes with rear-wheel drive and has a 100-kW battery pack. This combination supplies 340 horsepower and more than 300 miles of range, per Cadillac. That range estimate is similar to what you get from the Tesla Model Y Long Range (326 miles) and more than the 2021 Audi e-tron (222 miles) or Jaguar I-Pace (234 miles). BMW's upcoming 2022 iX electric SUV should be more of a match as it has a claimed range of around 300 miles.

A dual-motor all-wheel-drive Lyriq version will be available, though Cadillac hasn't provided specifications for that model yet.

GM developed a new EV platform that will provide the backbone for future GM electric vehicles. The Lyriq is the first model to use it, as well as a new battery design. Per GM, the design contains fewer rare earth materials than current GM batteries (better for the environment) and is less complex to manufacture. Cadillac is also working on battery enhancements to combat the traditional reduction of range that EVs experience in cold weather.

The Lyriq's five-seat interior continues the theme established by the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Namely, a huge curved digital instrument panel and touchscreen display dominate the dash. While steering wheel and climate controls look similar to those in current Cadillacs, the Lyriq appears to make excellent use of the free space that EVs offer. There's a large storage area for handbags near the floor ahead of the center armrest as well as two storage cubbies on the dash.

The interior is decorated with stainless steel speaker grilles, knurled metal on the controls and a laser-etched, backlit wood veneer on the doors. Slim air vents and a low dashboard further contribute to the impression of rarity and luxury. Overall, the Lyriq appears to be far more modern than anything else in the Cadillac lineup.

As a midsize SUV, the Lyriq should also be spacious and hold up to the demands of everyday use, though overall cargo space is less than what you get from many small or midsize gasoline-powered SUVs. The Lyriq has 28 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 60.8 cubes with the seats folded. You don't get a front trunk like you do with the Model Y or Ford Mustang Mach-E.

The Lyriq will feature all of Cadillac's current bag of tech tricks, plus a few more. The Super Cruise system — it allows for hands-free driving on the highway under certain conditions — will be part of the Lyriq's feature list, as will an automated parking system that can be activated from outside the car.

There's also a two-tier head-up display. The close-up tier shows typical head-up info such as speed, while the distance tier can project information such as available lane changes and navigation alerts to match what you see out the windshield — it's akin to an augmented reality experience. From a comfort standpoint, Cadillac says the Lyriq will have the latest noise cancellation technology to help keep the cabin quiet.

On the outside, the Lyriq features vertically oriented and thin headlights that flank a wild new grille design. The pinstripe LEDs have the appearance of a multilayered Cadillac shield and give the Lyriq an immediately recognizable face. The Lyriq makes an entertaining light show as a greeting when you approach it with the key (or your phone, when configured) in your pocket. It's a neat trick, though we wonder how long the cool factor will last after a few unintended activations, like when you walk past your Lyriq in your garage but aren't actually going to drive it.

The Lyriq comes with a 19.2-kW onboard charger that Cadillac says is capable of adding up to 52 miles of range per hour. This is significantly more powerful than the onboard chargers on most other EVs. The Model Y, for example, has an 11.5-kW onboard charger. But you'll need to have a pretty robust home power source installed (including a 100-amp circuit breaker) to take advantage of the Lyriq's maximum capability. The charger's placement under the hood is one of the reasons why the Lyriq lacks storage space there.

For public station DC fast charging, Cadillac says the Lyriq can handle up to 190 kW from an appropriate charging station and gain up to 76 miles of range in 10 minutes. This is pretty speedy and similar to the DC charging speeds of the BMW iX.

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq's daring design and unique tech signal a new direction for the Cadillac brand. By the time deliveries begin, in the first half of 2022, there will be many new luxury EVs for you to choose from. We'll report on how the Lyriq fares against its rivals when it arrives next year.