One of the first memories I have of the Cadillac Lyriq is David telling me that he saw Jamie Lee Curtis driving one around Los Angeles. Like all sensible people, I view her as one of the most charming and flexible actresses of her generation. Jamie Lee Curtis may be in some bad movies, but Jamie Lee Curtis is bad in no movie. Clearly, if Jamie Lee Curtis drives a Cadillac Lyriq, it must have some redeeming qualities.
I don’t know why this stuck with me. Every time I’d see the first all-electric Cadillac on the streets, I’d think: “Huh, Jamie Lee Curtis drives one of those, what’s the deal with that?” David’s celebrity recognition is sometimes faulty, so I was hesitant to believe it at first. It turns out that he was right. Jamie Lee Curtis is a Lyriq owner and a big fan of the brand.
I asked for a Lyriq, knowing full-well I was setting myself up for some kind of crushing disappointment if I discovered that it didn’t live up to the fine example Jamie Lee Curtis sets for the rest of us. A long road trip with the Lyriq allayed my fears.
Jamie Lee Curtis is no fool.
The Basics
Sorry, I just wrote “Jamie Lee Curtis” 900 times like a psychopath. Let’s talk about the specific vehicle I drove for a minute.
Price: Starts at $59,990 including freight (Tested Luxury 3 trim $66,994 with $1,395 destination charge and options)
Powertrain: AWD dual-motor 515 hp, 450 lb-ft of torque
Battery Size: 102 kWh lithium-ion
Range: 303 miles (EPA)
Body Style: Five-door crossover.
Option That’s Totally Worth It: $625 Emerald Lake Metallic paint
Expensive Option I’d probably Skip: $3,790 Nappa Leather Package (I prefer the supple hides from Corinth, which is famous for its leather).
Why Does It Exist?
Isn’t it amazing that one actress can play both Donna Berzatto, the frightening yet almost sympathetic materfamilias on The Bear, and also Jess Day’s sweet-but-tough mama on New Girl? That’s range! JLC is unreal.
General Motors has made the biggest push into electric cars of almost any automaker that existed more than 30 years ago, passing both the Japanese and any of its local rivals. It’s also one of the few non-Chinese/non-Tesla automakers that’s reached at least variable profitability with electric cars. Ford makes one electric van, one electric car, and one electric truck. General Motors has done this in a very General Motors way by building a lot of different cars under its various brands. By the end of next year, Cadillac alone will sell the Celestiq, the Escalade IQ/IQL, The Lyriq/Lyriq-V, Vistiq, and Optiq.
Cadillac had to start somewhere, so it started in the two-row SUV category, which was sensible given that it’s the most popular one. It’s also a challenge, because it’s the most popular one, and suddenly there were Polestars, BMWs, Mercedes, and a bunch of other luxury automakers to compete with, to say nothing of Tesla.
How Does It Look?
Most of the Lyriqs I see are Ubers, and most of those are lower spec models in silver or white. In those more basic colors, you lose a little of the genuinely nice details on this car. Modern vehicles can be a little too fussy with their design, drawing attention to exactly the parts of the car they’re trying to hide with false windows, blacked-out trim, or deceptive brightwork. The Lyriq is pleasingly free of most of that bullshit.
You may not like it, but the Lyriq is exactly what it purports to be. It gets Cadillac’s big vertical headlights offset by an illuminated grille that lights up with the same choreographic orchestration as the fountains at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. In profile, the tautness of the lines around the DLO provides a welcome contrast to the smoothness of the Lyriq’s fenders. The rear glass is definitely a mood, as is the boomerang light signature.
It’s a lot. But that’s what I want from a Cadillac. There are enough boring cars and this is anything but boring. It also looks fancy, and not just Renn Cen Fancy. Did I mention I love the color? Emerald Lake Metallic. Most of these photos were taken in front of the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York. On the other side of the building is Otsego Lake, also known as the “Glimmer Glass” lake for its serene, emerald surface.
Pics don’t do it justice, but Cadillac nailed it on this color.
How About The Inside?
I’m choosing to use Cadillac’s photos here because they’re way better and capture just how full-on Jason Momoa Aquaman the interior of this car is. This is the crazy expensive Nappa Leather Package, and I have to admit the color is stunning when you first see it. My daughter is somewhat inured to fancy cars because of my job, though she can still express strong opinions on what she does and doesn’t like. This got a big “wow” from her.
It is one of the best designed interiors on the market today, and everything you touch rewards your fingers with a little bit of opulence. I also like the wider, shorter screen here as opposed to the taller one used on other GM vehicles.
Here’s one of my crappy photos. There are a couple of reasons why I don’t love the interior overall, and one is practical and the other is preference. All vehicles with SuperCruise have this glossy black strip on the steering wheel that lights up when SuperCruise is being used. It’s a helpful feature, but I have to think there’s a better way to execute this than bright plastic.
The interior looks great, but I don’t love how stiff some Nappa leather usually feels in modern cars. The seats are just a little too firm for my tastes. I’ve heard other people complain about the lack of frunk and trunk space, which is sort of a given due to the vehicle’s aerodynamic design and Ultium platform.
We managed to fit a weekend’s worth of stuff in there without much issue.
How’s It Drive?
Do you ever stop and think about how bad True Lies would be without JLC? This is a movie that relies heavily on believing that Tom Arnold is a top-secret counterterrorist operative. She gives the film just enough of the dramatic tension it needs to land as both an action film and as a farce.
Sort of inadvertently, I managed to drive the Lyriq hundreds of miles on extremely varying terrain, including some twisty mountain roads on the other side of the Shawangunks. It’s not a CTS-V Wagon, so temper your expectations a little bit.
Even with 500+ horsepower in the AWD variant, it has just enough power to push you back in your seat but not so much that it makes you want to hurl. This is maybe the exact amount of shove this particular type of luxury crossover needs. In city driving, the Passive-Plus Premium Dampers absorb any potholes without too much drama. Out on back country roads, the five-link independent suspension keeps the car pointed where you want to go, but the lack of drama is a drawback compared to some truly fast Cadillacs I’ve driven.
To be frank, while making an electric car like this provide the same visceral feel as a gas-powered car is obviously possible because Hyundai did it with the Ioniq 5N, it’s more work and money than it’s probably worth for most buyers. Cadillac has a Lyriq-V coming and, given how good every other V-product is, I bet they’ll figure it out.
How’s It Drive Itself?
This Lyriq was a Luxury 3, which means it has GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system. Having driven most of the SAE Level 2 ADAS systems out there (I haven’t done the latest FSD Beta, but I’m planning to drive a so-equipped vehicle next week), GM’s is still my favorite.
What’s great about Super Cruise is that it provides a true hands-free experience by using a camera to watch the driver’s eyes to ensure that they’re actually paying attention. It’s limited to roads that have been thoroughly mapped with LIDAR, since the vehicle itself doesn’t have LIDAR, but this isn’t a bad thing. Right now, these kinds of systems work best on highways and interstates.
It’s not perfect and, in a long stretch of driving, it’ll almost always eventually ask you to take over at some point if it gets confused or enters an area that’s being mapped. What’s great about Super Cruise is that it actually communicates clearly when it is working, is about to stop working, and really needs your help.
Does It Have CarPlay And Android Auto?
Yes, yes it does.
Which One Would You Buy?
I have a feeling that the new Cadillac Optiq might be the best deal right now, as the Lyriq starts at around $60,000 after shipping charges/before any tax credits. I built my own and realized that a Luxury 2 AWD gets you Super Cruise and everything else you want for $69,115 with everything.
By comparison, the cheapest Model X is $84,990, although it goes farther on a charge. The cheapest Mercedes EQE is almost $80,000 out the door and has basically the same range, but that’s only for the RWD model. The closest car might be the quite good BMW iX, but even that’s more money for basically the same range.
This is why people buy Model Ys. A new Model Y Launch Edition costs $60,000, is faster, has more range, and comes with a trunk and a frunk. I haven’t driven the latest Model Y yet, so I can’t compare. There are some big reasons why I’d almost certainly get the Cadillac over the Tesla, and not all of them are political. One big one is that I’d almost certainly lease a new EV, and the lease deals make the Cadillac way more competitive. The current deal out there is a 2205 Lyriq for just $399 for 24 months with $4,929 due at signing. That’s not bad.
What’s The Punctum Of The Cadillac Lyriq?
Did you see the movie Everything Everywhere All At Once? It’s a film full of impossible moments and performances that have to happen at a speed that’s almost impossible to absorb in a single viewing. JLC won the Academy Award for “Best Supporting Actress” for her portrayal of an IRS agent who, at one point, has hot dog fingers. Hot dog fingers!
With the Lyriq, Cadillac had to prove it could build a premium two-row crossover that could compete with the roughly 400 other two-row premium or near-premium two-row crossovers. Not only is the Lyriq competitive, I legit prefer it to the BMW and Mercedes crossovers I’ve driven.
The punctum of the Lyriq is that it’s a car worthy of Jamie Lee Curtis, who got an Oscar for hot dog fingers.
Top graphic images: Matt Hardigree; Jamie Lee Curtis via depositphotos.com
I like how these look, but have trust issues with them. I know someone who owns one. Well, he actually has owned two Lyriqs. The first one was so plagued with glitches that GM bought it back. According to my friend, it had so many issues that it could have been lemon’d multiple times over. I’m not sure how the second Lyriq is working out, but the stories I read about them online aren’t rosy.
the 2023 MY was the first year and they had a bunch of bugs and GM gave everyone with a 23 the option for a 24 or 25 on buyback. Our 25 has been error free other than one time the android based operating system muted itself and we had to essentially power cycle the radio (hold the end call button for 10 seconds).
Based on the review, I checked out a few video reviews and I’m penciling in the lyriq, optiq and blazer for test drives. They look great.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the Lyriq! I had a great time test driving one at Sebring. Didn’t like it quite as much as the V-series sedans, but I sure would like one to replace my Volt. That lease is weirdly tempting even though I generally don’t care for leases. If only I could just skip the 5K down payment.
I enjoyed the review and the JLC references, but was surprised there was no mention of what I’m guessing must be one of Torch’s favorite JLC films, Drowning Mona – the underrated Yugo-centric dark comedy from 2000? She was terrific (as usual) as “Rona”, the local waitress mixed up in the murder mystery of Mona Dearly.
For reference, we ended up with a Sport 2, 12k/24mo for 500/mo 0 down.
Dealers will play ball, just stick to your guns
That’s good to know, for those looking for a new EV.
However, Cadillac is reinforcing the long-standing perception of their customer demographics by associating a 66-year-old actress with their product. Maybe they are hoping for a reverse Scion effect. JLC is classy, though, without a doubt.
Don’t quote me on it, but I am fairly sure I read an article where the Lyriq and Escalade bring the average age of the Cadillac buyer way down
They’re nice looking. But… these are built off the same chassis as the Blazer EV and those have been having major issues. That said… I suspect GM is going to sell a lot more of these to people who recently owned Teslas. The competition from them just got elliminated.
I absolutely love the Lyriq but hate the head rests. They push your head too far forward to be comfortable and you can’t remove them since GM put speakers in it.
What’s weird is the Optiq doesn’t have that issue. The seats are way more comfortable
I may get an Acura ZDX when they come down in price. I love the package and that it’s Union built in the US.
My mom has a Highlander with similar headrests. Hers luckily do not have speakers so she just flipped them around backwards, which is still uncomfortable, but less so.
I ended up doing that with an old Volt and Bolt. I got an aftermarket headrest pillow and it makes it pretty comfy.
I have a Mach E now and the seats in that are HEAVENLY.
Automakers must think none of their customers have ever had scoliosis or neck problems
I’m not sure why you think the Optiq is the better deal. It starts only $4k cheaper than the Lyriq, looks more jellybean shaped (due to being shorter while also being slightly taller), and has a ~20% smaller battery. Unless you want the physically smaller vehicle, the Lyriq seems like the better by.
All this being said, I’m digging what Cadillac is doing right now. The worst thing I can say about them is that their names are dumb.
Agreed. They ought to change the brand to Cadillaq.
I don’t really get the Optiq, it’s much too much money to charge for a compact EV, it’s MUCH uglier proportions than the Lyriq and Vistiq and it’s severely decontented compared to the bigger brothers as well.
When you look at these vehicles siblings (Eclipse and Blazer) it seems like the Eclipse is the better deal (and better looker) in Chevy guise, but in Cadillac guise the Lyriq is the better deal and better looker. It’s weird.
For having such a bulbous butt, this thing doesn’t fit a whole lot of junk in it’s trunk.
Overall it seems like a solid effort, but the rear end of this thing is pretty unappealing.
It’s a vehicle that looks better in person. The front is great in person and photos. The rear is bleh in photos and acceptable-to-good in person.
It’ll probably be a bit before I see one in person (EV luxury cars are a very rare thing around here) but I’ll have to get my eyes on one at some point.
The color is correct at least. Glad to see Cadillac is willing to promote something that isn’t white or black for a change.
they have a beautiful purple that unfortunately for 26 they cancelled too called Celestial Metallic
That purple is a little too close to neutral for me, but hey, it looks pretty nice and it’s certainly welcome over the typical primer gray that’s everywhere lately.
“It also looks fancy, and not just Renn Cen Fancy.”
That’s a good Detroit reference. The Ren Cen is so 1970s Detroit, for worse and for better.
This looks like the thing you don’t steal in 2077 because walking is better.
Well of course. It’s not the V version.
I test drove one this past weekend… a Sport 2 IIRC, with dual motors and the 515 hp.
I like the look. It’s got a bit of a presence and like the other GM Ultium vehicles seems more like a tallish wagon than a tall boxy SUV. I liked the look and usability of the interior, though it felt a little more cramped in the front than I’d like. The back seat is cavernous – which is the reason I was looking. Getting elderly parents in and out of the back seat of this would be ezpz. So I drove it!
And I hated it.
Not because it’s bad. Everything was smooth and serene. The interior was ultra quiet. It has a lot of float to the drive, and really felt its weight in corners – whether a long slow one, or turning onto a side street. Everything about driving it was effortless, and boring. There’s just no engagement in driving it. Some people will absolutely love it. Acceleration was there, but didn’t feel like something with over 500 hp. Makes sense that it would be a popular Uber vehicle. It’s roomy and quiet in a way that I would have thought you’d need a $200k car for. It’s just not for anyone that even remotely likes driving enthusiastically.
I think that type of vehicle is what made Caddy the standard of the world, and applies perfectly to something mainstream like a midsize crossover. Have you tried the lyriq-V?
When I can, I might give it a try. I suspect it might just feel a bit quicker…I don’t expect them to change the intent of the vehicle. I’m actually tempted by the Blazer SS… might be closer to a me vehicle.
To be fair, I can’t think of anything in this price range or segment (even expanding out to similar-ish ICE vehicles) that is all that engaging to drive. Personally, I’d 100% lean into it and take comfortable quiet ride compared to what most companies try to pass of as engaging: overly harsh ride and stiff/numb steering (see X3M). It’s not like driving an iX, X5, Model X/Y, or whatever eTron Audi enthusiastically is all that great. To get to anything really “engaging” you gotta either go up a price bracket (i.e. Cayenne) or into a smaller segment (i.e. Macan, GLC43, etc) or some combo of the two (Stelvio Quad)
I think that’s precisely why I love ours, it’s a lux car not a sports sedan and I love that for a daily driven car. I have a sport wagon for myself and while I love mine (e63s) I do get a bit jealous when I’m driving my wife’s car with her somewhere and I just sit there and relax and take in the lux and quietness and everything. I had a 63 Caddy convertible for a while and it too was “slow” but extremely well built and comfy and this is the first caddy in a long time that reminds me of that car. Where you going so fast? take a beat, enjoy the drive. real 60s standard of the world stuff.
Definitely get that. It is a good car…just wasn’t one for me. It has a lot of great reviews out there that I think are absolutely right. I just think most of them also missed the mark on who the buyer would be…I was legitimately surprised by how it drove. I wasn’t expecting sport sedan, but I was expecting “Cadillac SUV that’s targeting younger buyers.” Which is what I see everywhere. I was expecting some engagement, especially considering how amazing the CT4 and CT5 are. I think there are a lot of drivers out there that will love it for the reasons I’ll stay away
We crossed shopped this with the ZDX and few months ago. Very nice but my wife couldn’t get over the large amount of chrome inside and the lack of a rear wiper. Ended up with the ZDX (for her commuter) and have been pretty happy overall with it. It’s a boat but cruises the highway very well. I do prefer the exterior of the Caddy though.
This is a nice Caddy in an aforementioned muddled segment. Ever since they started the whole design language some 20-ish years ago, Caddy’s have always had a love/like it or hate it look. I like this look. It’s not my bag, but good job, Detroit.
Speaking of Caddy, I just checked their discount info page, and the 2024 Blackwings are now included! Hmmm…
When you see it in person, the car does have a presence to it, even if the rear design is a little bit over the top. I’m a big fan of that emerald paint. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go watch Everything Everywhere All At Once.
$400/mo for a brand new Cadillac is bonkers even in “poverty” spec.
I’m getting kind of a 50’s vibe from the shape of that center stack too and I’m digging it.
I need to give this movie another try. First time I tried to watch it I was 40,000ft above the Atlantic and hadn’t consumed enough alcohol so I was grumpy. Switched it off for being stupid after about thirty minutes.
Loving your new editor livery.
Hm-on my phone the “Editor” rides above your topknot. But on laptop, it blocks your face. If it were me I’d complain.
They’re doing mobile readers a favour. Adrian’s eyes are shielded from our shenanigans, which lowers his stress level.
This is Matt’s idea of testing things out. No wonder nothing works properly around here.
I’m on mobile, and it isn’t covering his face, it’s nicely to the side. It looks quite nice. Although I daresay shielding his eyes from tomfoolery may be appropriate
Covers his face real well… Which seems like an odd choice…
I saw one of these in the wild a few days ago. The rear end is a dumpster fire train wreck of styling. It’s like Cadillac took the first gen Mirai as a hideous car challenge.
Why Cadillac? Why did you do this? Did you lose a bet?
Yeah, I have a lot of trouble with the rear quarter, side view shamelessly demonstrating its Aztek parentage and back view just giving me this sad feeling. But it sounds lovely indoors.
It’s got a nice personality…
Great article. But I was hoping you would talk more about Jamie Lee Curtis.
Well, Matt probably knows that doing so would be pandering to my baser instincts, so I’m grateful for the mentions we did get. 😉
Pretty sure Matt would end up with a restraining order if he did.
Leather seats, hot dog fingers, make the bumper out of bones and you are using all of the animal.
Finally, something has made you forget your ex-vehicle.
And that something is Jamie Lee Curtis.
So that lease, including down payment, equates to over 600 a month before tax/title/etc. Doesn’t seem bad, but I wonder what Tom thinks about how it compares to the broader market of similar EVs
I’m used to receiving music recommendations from Matt and now he’s recommending Lyriqs, too. Is there no end to the talent?
Jeez Matt… it’s almost as if you and Mercedes and Adrian and everyone else here are going to keep on proving that The Autopian isn’t just the David and Jason show, even though we (readers/members) acknowledge this fact repeatedly.
So: thanks yet again for the entertaining and informative article.
I’m not too much of a fan of the Lyric (I’m in LA too, so I see them fairly regularly but unlike you, I’ve never sat in one, let alone driven it). I DO love the interior seating… it’s a bit hard to tell from the photos, but is it dark green too?
And yes, of course I’ve been deeply and unreservedly enamored of JLC since the first time I saw her (can’t tell you for sure whether it was Halloween, or Trading Places, or maybe even Grandview, USA). I distinctly recall Esquire lovingly declaring her to be “America’s Seamiest Actress” and deservedly so. I’m man enough to admit that her (still impressive) figure played some part in my admiration, but even when the movie was less-than-great, she never disappointed. 🙂
um, you may be waiting a while :p
And Electric Door Handles…
I thought we agreed we would mention this when doing reviews on this site in the article…
Given the unquestionable journalistic integrity of this website, I’m a bit disappointed Matt didn’t whip out a pack of fresh Hebrew Nationals to test the hot dog friendliness of the screens and buttons.
Speaking of Everything Everywhere All At Once, I was looking to see how many Deirdre Beaubeirdre “Auditor of the Month” trophies would fit in the Lyriq frunk or trunk, but Matt let us down there, too.
JLC plays an assassin in the TV series The Sticky, which is a lot of fun to watch but was cancelled after one season, of course. We can’t have nice things.
I’ve put both on my to-watch list. Thanks OS! 🙂
People complain about software a lot.