Why This?
Due to a request on one of my previous articles, I decided to provide you all with an honest review of my new-ish 2023 Cadillac Lyriq.
Why did I choose a Cadillac Lyriq?
My round-trip commute went from 10 miles to 230 & my current car, a 2005 VW Phaeton, wasn’t going to cut it at 17 MPG plus expensive repairs. Whatever I got needed to be electric and large enough for our dog.
A Tesla was out of the question. I’m not getting into the why. That’s not what we’re here for. Lexus’ EV seemed to be phoning it in, and the dealers were very disinterested in selling me one. That was out.
I decided to expand my search to 1 year old used EV’s, knowing I’d get more for my money. I typically eschew brand new cars if I’m not leasing. Let someone else take the initial depreciation hit. There weren’t many options out there, but what I kept seeing were the Mercedes-Benz EQS & Cadillac Lyriq.
I really wanted an EQS. But it failed my dog test and everyone I found got snapped up before I could finalize a deal. So one night, when my husband wasn’t home, I went out and drove a Lyriq. I was hooked. This was the car. It wasn’t as plush as an EQS – and I didn’t expect it to be – but it also wasn’t teeth clattering harsh like the former ATS & CTS.
So what do I think of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq?
Quick Hits
- The Cadillac Lyriq sat second from the top of the brand’s offerings in 2023, when it debuted – just behind the Escalade. As of today it is currently third from the top with the introduction of the Vistiq.
- Current price of a new 2024 Lyriq RWD Luxury 2 trim level is $66,990, before taxes. My Lyriq was pre-owned, thus saving me a cool $28,990 off sticker for a pre-tax price of $38,000.
- The Lyriq was Cadillac’s first foray into mass-market electric vehicles and is a damned good first effort.
Outside
The Lyriq is hard to miss, that is, on the rare occasion you see one. There have only been 28,402 Lyriqs sold through January 2025. In daylight you can clearly see the influence of the Celestiq in the rear 3/4 view. Is that good? I’m not sure, but I will say face on the car is a looker.
I feel like the Lyriq was designed at night, and no, that’s not a dig. With the use of light in the nighttime viewing of the Lyriq provides a rather unique presence.
Photo Paul Eisenstein
Photo GM PR
For 2023 the Lyriq didn’t have door handles, instead what looks like a handle is a push button that actuates an overly complicated system of unlatching and pushing open the door. It’s an interesting trick, at first, but you have to think there’s a reason they switched to a more reasonable Tesla-like system shortly after introduction. You cross the line from delight to annoyance when a basic function becomes overly complex.
The Lyriq looks tall, but isn’t as tall as you’d think, I’m just 5’9 and I’m constantly placing things on the roof as I get in and out of the car just as I did with any of my sedans. I was relieved as the dealership had me drive an Escalade to get a feel for Super Cruise per my request. That thing is a monster. I told the dealership “absolutely not” after I got behind its helm and didn’t even bother moving it out of its spot. I could have run down a small village and never known it in an Escalade.
Inside
It’s a little amusing that manufacturers still can’t figure out what to do with an EV interior, they’re either stripped of all traditional switchgear with single screen for all functions or so full of screens you wonder if the windshield is a screen itself. (Please, manufacturers don’t do this.)
I find the inside of the Lyriq a good balance between the painful austerity of the Volvo EX30 and the Cadillac Escalade electronic boogaloo. Basic functions do not require you to interact with the screen, and that’s a very good thing. You can adjust the HVAC, heated/cooled seats, sound system volume, & windshield wipers all without touching a screen. This is the way it should be.
The seats are more comfortable than I expected, but not as comfortable as the Mercedes EQS I was cross shopping – not that I expected them to be. An EQS isn’t exactly a peer to the Lyriq, they just happened to be in the same used car price range. There is plenty of space for us, our dog and a weekend’s worth of luggage. The “kick” activated lift-gate actually works, which has not been my experience with such systems in the past; it even shines a helpful Cadillac crest on the ground where you should kick.
The rear seats fold flat with the push of a button, but in my opinion should also raise with the push of one. Exposed anchors for the rear seats give an unfinished appearance and at this price point a cargo cover should be standard equipment. If Toyota can do it with the Prius GM can certainly do it with the Lyriq.
The pattern seen is from a liner, not part of the Lyriq.
Super Cruise
Super Cruise, GM’s Level 2 autonomous driving assistance, is very easy to use. It’s a “hands-off, eyes-on” system that is a combination of adaptive cruise control & lane keeping assistance. On a controlled access highway that has been mapped out, you simply press the Super Cruise symbol on the steering wheel when displayed on the dashboard. Depending on clarity of lane markings you either get a green bar across the top of the wheel indicating the car is in control, or a blue bar telling you to keep your hands on the wheel until the system is ready.
Navigation is not used to direct the car through exits and interchanges; that’s on you. I only put my hands on the wheel 4 times during my 115 mile, one way commute; to navigate interchanges & when I get off the highway. That is, unless I hit an area with poor markings or extensive construction.
You get a warning before it changes lanes, and it leans on the conservative side staying in the middle lane on a 3 lane highway, or the right on a 2 lane highway. It is slower to change lanes than you or I, but I expected that.
GM’s system watches your eyes as you’re driving and it’ll warn you if it sees you’re taking your eyes off the road for too long – it happened to me a few times while futzing with Apple CarPlay. Luckily I haven’t been so egregious as to cause the system to deactivate until I restart the car. It is also good about warning you when to take the wheel with seat vibrations and a flashing red light across the top of the wheel. Sounds are available too.
I’m currently in a free period so Super Cruise costs me nothing. After that the approximate cost is $300 annually, less than Tesla’s FSD. In my experience, Super Cruise has been a more stable system. I’ve yet to grab control of the car and yank it out of some idiotic maneuver as I had to do quite a bit with my Tesla with FSD.
Performance
Smooth and graceful. That’s the best way to describe the power delivery of the Lyriq, at least in Touring mode. It doesn’t punch you back in the seat like a Tesla when you mash the pedal, they had to leave something for the Lyriq-V. It’s definitely my preferred style of performance. However, I do occasionally enjoy a bit of punchy driving and that is where Sport mode comes in.
Sport mode simply alters power delivery & power steering feel, there is no change to the suspension tuning as the Lyriq does not get GM’s MagneRide. It is great fun to floor the throttle, hear the electric whine and launch the car past the slowpokes on the road, but that doesn’t really seem to be the Lyriq’s raison d’etre – which is fine by me. Again, there’s a reason the V-series exists.
The Lyriq is powered by GM’s Ultium battery where energy is run to the rear wheels. All wheel drive is optional, but probably should be standard as it is on the Optiq. The Ultium is a lithium ion battery, as is typical, with 102 kWh. The major difference between my 2023 and the current 2025 is the charge port; as of 2025 all Lyriq’s come standard with a NACS port. Estimated battery range is 312 miles for RWD and 306 for AWD and in my experience that is bang on.
However, getting the Lyriq in the dead of winter wasn’t ideal for really getting a feel for the battery at first. Weeks with below freezing temps made for high energy use and slow charging, as with any electric vehicle. I never feared getting stranded with the Lyriq, but it took a little bit of adjusting on my part (and the installation of a 240V outlet in my garage) for me to dial into the best way to manage my range. Remember, though, I’m performing multiple 230 mile round trips in a week, something I never did when I had a Tesla. I’m definitely not the typical use case, and for most drivers, there would be no adjustment period.
Final Thoughts
The Cadillac Lyriq is by no means perfect, I’ve yet to drive the car that is. For my purposes it is downright ideal. The driving experience is comfortable, and actually fun in sport mode. I feel safe and planted on the road during my daily commute, importantly, I don’t approach the car thinking “ok, how long before my body starts to hurt.”
There is definitely room for improvement (see below) but considering my Lyriq is technically the first model year this is a damned fine first effort at an EV for Cadillac.
The Good
- Looks, a Cadillac should be obvious from 20 feet away and this is.
- Drive modes; Touring, Sport, Snow/Ice – I leave it in Sport when I’m not on the highway and it’s fun.
- Super Cruise, the system is nearly flawless.
- Seat comfort; in my seemingly endless commuting this car has been perfect for me. Other cars I typically have to dial in the lumbar so high it’s like someone punching you in the back. Not this one.
- Camera rearview mirror: given this car’s shape, it’s nearly impossible to get the best view out of the back with a traditional mirror, that may sound like a fail, but the solution they’ve installed is very good. GM did a good job of placement preventing it from getting clouded up with dirt and the field of view is ideal.
- Glass roof shade; this is the first car I’ve driven with a glass roof that had a proper shade that can fully block out the sun and add to noise insulation. Well done.
The Not So Good
- Exposed rear seat anchors.
- Cargo cover optional.
- Stock tires; snow and ice can easily throw this RWD SUV out of sorts. Many have stated this is solved with better tires.
- Adjustable gauge cluster; it should be further configurable considering it’s just a giant screen
Downright Sins
- Google Navigation built in. I have nothing against Google Maps. It’s an ok way to navigate. If it is your vehicle’s built in system that will also automatically direct you to a charging station while simultaneously conditioning your battery – it better damned well not cost extra! This makes me want to shake Mary Barra and say WTF were you thinking?! Without a data package you get none of those benefits. Instead you get screen warnings that “this system requires a data package.” You can use your phone as a hotspot but it is an extra step you have to take when you get in the car, every time. Either make the hotspot connectivity seamless, or just include the damned connection. In a car that retails for $60k+ this is idiotic.
- Making owners purchase a NACS adapter. Having Tesla Supercharger access is a huge plus for us when we go visit my in-laws. If Ford can provide the adapter free of charge for the 136,566 Mach Es it sold before the 2025 model year surely GM can for the mere 28,402 Lyriqs that it sold.
- The Cadillac XT4 I was given as a loaner when I brought the Lyriq in for a service interval – oof, what an awful car.
The TL:DR I get from this is that Cadillac is building *Cadillacs* again, but can’t get over those last few vestiges of old-school GM line-item cost cutting at the end of the design process.
I think that’s a pretty good summary. While these aren’t exactly like the Cadillacs that I remember as a child of the 80’s and 90’s (which would be right up my alley) they’re a good modern interpretation.
Stunning exterior color and nice writeup for those folks (like me) who have little knowledge of the over the top tech of high end electrics. I was lucky enough to see a black one parked next to an EQS. Caddy looked mean and lean, while the MB design was too bulky
I agree with the MB design being bulky, and if I’m honest, I think it’s plug-ugly. But the interior on it was pure bliss.
I’ve only seen one on the road and I was impressed by it.
Thanks for a really excellent review! As I’m probably overly fond of commenting, our town is not a Cadillac community. On any given day I’ll see more air-cooled Volkswagens on the road than Cadillacs. But the Lyriq seems to be getting some traction here. Although maybe my perceptions are biased by the fact that we have one in the neighborhood, always street-parked alongside its housemate, a VW ID4. The ID4 is a fine looking but generic crossover; the Lyriq definitely stands out with its style
I’ve seen only one of these on the road (and I drive a lot). They definitely look better in the flesh than they do in photos.
Thanks for this review. GM had a lot of setbacks ramping up production of this and its other EVs, but they are now the #2 EV maker behind Tesla, having moved up past Ford, whose EV strategy has been painful to watch unfold.
The Lyriq is clearly finding some traction in the market, with sales increasing quite nicely this past year. I’ve seen a couple in Eugene recently, a town that is not known for new Cadillacs.
Such an ugly vehicle. The front is horrendous. Why every vehicle has to have that Transformer look is beyond me. Sorry, sometimes things land like a bomb and this is one of them in my eyes.
Never even seen one, I doubt they are sold here anyway, The price here would be well north of 100k and you can get a nice Chinese EV for less than half that.
I think come next month Cadillac may be shifting more units than they expected.
It’s a rare occasion when my brother and I are shopping for cars at the same time. Rarer still that we were both looking for one that’s fully electric. Although he adopted the EV life when the Nissan Leaf was introduced, I have been on the fence about them.
The past few months have had us arguing about which was the one to buy. And after all the bull sessions, it came down to two things. Supercruise vs an opening sunroof.
I opted for the EQS because I love the feeling an open roof gives.
My brother because he enjoys travelling the highways and byways. It was Supercruise or nothing for him.
As an aside, he thinks the Mercedes is ugly while I find the Cadillac ostentatious.
We love them and after trading back and forth a few times, we feel we’ve chosen the best cars for us.
Enjoy your Lyric!
I’m gonna wonder out loud what percentage of time a Lyriq will be driven with the rear seat folded. I don’t think folks are buying these to haul large loads; there are better choices. So I’m not fussed about seat mounting bolts being exposed when the seat is folded.
You know you make a really good point. I just personally found it a detail that could have been better thought out.
I’ve only ridden in one Lyriq thus far as an Uber driver had it. It seemed nice. Being an EV guy 100% now (have been driving EV’s for over 3 years now), I know the value in them.
Of the stuff you said in the story, the one thing that stood out to me? At the very end, you said about the XT4 being an awful car (SUV). I could not agree more. A few years back before I went EV, I had a stunning and great 2020 Cadillac CT4. It was amazing. However, only one week into ownership, the A/C control panel went out and I took it in for the fix. They gave me an XT4 and I hated it. A couple months later, the CT4 developed a strange noise that was driving me crazy. Back to the dealership and they had the car for a week and could not find the source of the noise. Again, I had an XT4 for a loaner and it was dreadful. When they finally returned my CT4 without fixing the sound, it was still a total joy to drive vs. the XT4. But that noise was too much to deal with. So I called another dealership and made an appointment. When I took it in, they told me how they would look for the source of the noise and I was happy untli they drove an XT4 around for me to take. I politely asked them if they had a CT4 or CT5 instead, but they only had an XT5 to offer. I gladly took it and found it much better than the XT4, but still not like my CT4. Only 3 days later they called and had fixed my CT4. It was the shift cable that was not correctly routed and when the car warmed up, it would begin to rub against the trans tunnel. I returned the XT5 and happily drove home in my now very quiet CT4.
When I first saw them pull it around I thought “oh nice, I’ll finally get to see what this is like.” Then as I got inside I quickly said “oh no.” I’m hoping I get asked to do a review on that one.
The mostly black interior is enough to turn me off.
Wow! an almost 30,000 dollar reduction via depreciation is pretty impressive, and disappointing for those who bought the car new. That’s why I agree that a two or three year old used car is the best buy. And a 230 mile commute, I hope that is a round trip! I assume that you were working from home before this?
I’ve seen a few Lyriqs around my area, though they are not nearly as popular as Teslas, which are kind of the Silicon Valley Camry. As you mentioned, the Lyriq is not really a super luxury model, but it sounds pretty nice. Jay Leno did a review of one, when they debuted, and his conclusion was that they were a good, comfortable, affordable, and useful vehicle. It seems like these more expensive EVs also have a longer range that is easier to live with. I’m not an EV hater, nor am I an EV lover, but the world is changing and I may reluctantly have to acknowledge this. My son and his wife both have EVs, I’ve ridden in his Tesla a couple of times, one was a 150 mile trip and I’ll admit that it was okay. He had to stop and charge up for 15-20 minutes once, which he took in stride, but I found a bit annoying. Thanks for the real world review.
Yes, the 230 miles are definitely round trip. My previous job was just the next town over from me. They went bankrupt making disinfecting products during the pandemic. But that’s a story for another time.
Can you charge at work? You seem to have a good safety margin, but I’d worry about weather or an unexpected road closure.
Yes! I’m lucky that we have 40+ charging stations at work and they’re cheap.
Drove one, loved it. I can echo much of what was said here. I am considering one or possibly the Optiq to save some $$$. I must ask: 230 miles a day?? And what is a dog test?
Truly it’s 230 miles every other day, after moving across country twice in 4 years (once during the pandemic) my other half said “suck it up, we ain’t moving.” He has a point lol
Dog test is simply can our 45lbs Australian Shepherd get in the car and fit in the car with the seats UP.
One experience with her jumping into someone’s lap while they were driving 85MPH through Wyoming was enough, she’s gotta be contained.
I love “real life” reviews. Thanks!
Not sure I’d look forward to changing a headlight bulb. Seriously who wants to look in the rear view mirror and see a combination of ‘The Car’ and ‘Close Encounters’ this whole intimidating visage thing is now beyond a joke.
I see a red Lyriq at my neighborhood golf club where I use the gym (gee, a Cadillac at a golf club — quelle surprise). It’s very striking — in a good way.
Took one for a test drive last year when I had some time to kill and was quite impressed. The interior is so much nicer than a Tesla, and I like that many functions still use actual buttons. I was amazed at how easily I adapted to one-pedal driving in just a few miles. The Lyriq was very smooth, accelerated effortlessly, and Super Cruise was flawless.
I’m not interested in buying a new car since I love having no car payments and my 2018 Mazda 6 only has 38,000 miles, but the Lyriq and upcoming Optiq are very appealing.
Nice write-up with many good points made. The Lyriq seems to have struck a decent balance between screen controls and tactile buttons. Your current 230 mile round-trips make you an extreme case user and few BEV reviews I have read do a long distance trip more than once. You seem to have acclimated to it quite well. That makes me want to ask if Cadillac also offered a range extender gas series hybrid for the same money would you have purchased that instead?
Also the electric moustache or “electro-stache” kinda reminds me of Hulk Hogan.
Well, now I can’t unsee Hulk Hogan in my car, thanks lol
As to your question, if Cadillac also offered a range extender gas series hybrid for the same money would I have purchased that instead? No, I wouldn’t have. I was determined to have full electric because that was the best way that I saw to offset my gas expense with my 2005 Phaeton (~$500 a month) and take on a car payment without appreciably changing my overall monthly budget. My overall goal was cost savings and having to put petrol in anything, on top of a car payment for a car I would enjoy wouldn’t have been possible.
Great write up thank you! Nice to read a real-world perspective from an owner, rather than a press release.
These are just being launched in RHD in New Zealand, starting at NZ$124K (US$71k) for the Luxury and $126k (US$72k) for the Sport. I just love the looks in photos, and can’t wait to see one in the metal – hopefully in the rather gorgeous looking Emerald Lake green.
Does the roof sun shade also block the heat? I wish Cadillac didn’t put glass roofs in so many cars. The mere thought of hot glass so near my head puts me off.
Since I’ve only had it in winter so far I don’t know about heat, but it does block out the cold. I’m with you, re: glass roofs. I have to imagine that glass in that use case is actually heavier than metal would be.
”you wonder if the windshield is a screen itself”. (Please, manufacturers don’t do this) .There are cars like the Camaro that would benefit from this.
That front end is a bit much… inspired by a baleen whale maybe? Whatever happened to restraint? Wonder how that’ll play a few years down the road.
Nice review and smart buy with that kind of depreciation. So many EV fanboy reviewers often promote leasing as a way to avoid the massive EV depreciation, but apparently none have ever worked in finance because lease payments are totally dependent on the resale value at the end of the lease. Yes there are some great lease deals on EVs, but those are subsidized leases and the manufacturers or finance companies offering them are losing their shirts on them, which means it isn’t a sustainable business model. If an EV fits your needs, a lightly used one is a great way to go as depreciation is your friend, but unless the used values firm up substantially it will make selling/leasing new ones a very problematic business case.
I absolutely would have considered a lease if I didn’t have to drive so much, since I do like to switch out my cars every 2-3 years. Just wasn’t an option this go around.
I drive the Acura ZDX ASpec AWD. Essentially the same car, but I found the interior while less stylish than the caddy to be an elegant design and the large landscape screen easier to use. It includes the great glass opening roof, too. And it was MUCH less expensive to lease. I agree all cars have quirks these days, but this car is excellent in many ways and everything else is very good to good. Wonderful ride and speed. Emporia charger recommended. I am a former BMW driver and Acura MDX driver
I love how the ZDX looked and briefly considered it, but I was dead set on having SuperCruise.
I have a radiant red 2024 Lyriq now as my DD, picked it up end up year as a demo with a ridiculous lease deal (420/mo zero down). I was already an EV guy as a 2020 leaf was my DD for over 4 years. This is a truly lovely vehicle to live with. It does have fit/finish details that are disappointing, but for the money it is hard to touch. I love that it looks more like a big station wagon/shooting brake than just another typical SUV brick. It stands out for all the right reasons aesthetically, paying homage to classic Caddies while having its own look, and I’m constantly asked about it and told by strangers that it is beautiful. The taillights are a blend of 1960 fin lights and 1989 vertical bars, and the interior is both HUGE and has an art deco vibe that makes it a nice place to spend time. There are a few small rattle/rubs from the door cards, and any designer who adorns high-touch interior areas/buttons and exterior trim in high-gloss (high-smudge/high-scratch) piano black plastic should be slowly executed with their own greasy hands. Other than that it is the best car I’ve owned.
You’re absolutely correct on some fit/finish issues and the need to throttle any designer who puts high-glass finish in high touch areas.
I absolutely love the Look of these but despise that they only come in EV and not a hybrid option. Like the OP I routinely commute 150 to 200 miles a day. I have not interest in sitting somewhere for 30-45 minutes to charge in cold weather.
I’d put up with ever other downside issue otherwise.