Test drive: 2024 Cadillac Lyriq previews bright future

• Cadillac nailed the luxury and design aspects with the Lyriq

• The Lyriq’s lacking in the efficiency department

• GM needs to fix its iOS app to be quicker

The electric era seems to be Cadillac’s time to rise from the ashes and shine.

The 2024 Cadillac Lyriq expanded the EV’s lineup, bookending the Luxury grade with Tech and Sport grades. My week with a nicely equipped Sport model served to remind us that Cadillac’s on the road back to greatness with stunning design presence, easy-to-use controls, and solid build quality. It’s not notably efficient, though, and the packaging is baffling, and the app experience underwhelms.

Here’s what it’s like to live with the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

Pro: Stunning design defines the Lyriq

From the long hood and short rear overhang to the long dash-to-axle ratio (metal between the front wheels and A-pillars), the Lyriq has gorgeous proportions befitting a luxury vehicle. The entire car is a feast for the eyes with a light show front and back when it wakes up. This thing looks like nothing else on the road, and yet, the lighting signature feels right at home on a Cadillac thanks to the Escalade.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

Inside it’s the same story, with a curved 33-inch OLED display on the dashboard, polished bits around the cabin, and rear seat headrests that look right out of a concept car.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

Con: Lyriq doesn’t define efficiency

In the world of efficiency the Lyriq qualifies as “fine.” Over the course of 143 miles of mixed suburban driving in mild midwest summer temps in the 60s and 70s the Lyriq averaged 2.5 mi/kwh. Certainly nothing to write home about especially considering it was never loaded with luggage or more than four people. We’ve experienced similar efficiency in a gently driven Ford F-150 Lighting, and that’s a full-size pickup truck.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

Pro: Cadillac Lyriq provides buttons, knobs, and rollers

Anyone that slides behind the wheel of the Lyriq will have an easy time controlling things. That’s thanks to real buttons, knobs, switches, roller knobs, and twisty bits. Controls on the steering wheel, besides the toggles, are touch-based haptic surfaces, but vibrate when pushed to mimic physical button movement in a satisfying way. Thank you, Cadillac. The Germans should be taking notes.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

Con: Packaging leaves something to be desired in the Lyriq

The Lyriq is based on GM’s EV-specific Ultium platform, which means it’s a clean-sheet product that should feature packaging advantages due to its electric powertrain. For the most part, it doesn’t. Pop the hood and it’s a sea of plastic covering the front electric motor and cooling components. Occupants up front will find an acre of dashboard in front of them due to GM packaging the HVAC system under there instead of under the hood, which is already packed full of other stuff. There’s no meaningful cargo space hidden beneath the cargo floor. Where did all this space go?

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

Pro: Lyriq feels solid

I mean that literally. Close the door and it provides a solid thunk. Roll up the window and the outside world disappears. Grab any bit inside and it doesn’t wiggle, jiggle, creak or squeak. Even pushing various pieces of plastic around the cabin makes no noise. The Lyriq’s screwed and glued together impressively well. I’ve been in Mercedeses costing far more that impress far less.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq

Con: Lyriq’s iOS app feels behind

The app you’ll need to use with your phone to stay connected with the Lyriq remotely is nowhere near what you’ll find from Rivian, Lucid, or Tesla. Open the app, which is shared not just with other Cadillacs but with other GM brands (think different skins), and it will say it was last updated anywhere from 36 minutes to 55 minutes ago. It’s not displaying the vehicle’s current status, whether it’s actually charging, locked or unlocked, or even turned on. Pulling down from the top of the screen to refresh the app triggers an update that takes minutes, not seconds. Those minutes feel like eternity. This doesn’t feel connected or seamless.

The Lyriq’s a great Cadillac, lovely luxury vehicle, and fine EV. The efficiency thing I can get over, because not everything’s going to sip electrons, though it’s a good goal. The inefficient packaging is puzzling, but livable, and the iOS app needs a solid update. The design and build quality make the Lyriq a solid buy. An iOS app update can come later.

_______________________________________

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Sport 3

Base price: $58,590, including $1,395 destination fee

Price as tested: $83,500

Drivetrain: 500 hp combined, dual-motor AWD

EPA range: 307 miles

The hits: Stunning design, solid build quality, button and knobs

The misses: Packaging mishegas, not efficient, iOS app experience lacking

Note–This story was updated to correct how the steering wheel controls function