The brand made famous for extravagant cars and blinged SUVs full of gas-guzzling V8s is about to start a whole new chapter, starting with the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq. This 100% electric SUV is the first in a wave of Cadillacs. that run solely on electricity. Featuring GM’s new Ultium battery technology, shared by the Hummer EV, the Lyriq has a 100-kilowatt-hour battery that gives an estimated 512-mile range in the 340-hp rear-wheel drive model. The estimated range of the 500 horsepower all-wheel drive Lyriq had not been disclosed at the time of writing, but you can expect it to be slightly lower. Coupled with fast charging times, the Lyriq arrives with fully competitive EV credentials.
As for the vehicle itself, the Lyriq is a mid-sized two-row SUV that’s a bit bigger than Cadillac’s XT5 on the outside, but a bit smaller on the inside (those super-cool looks result in a tradeoff in usability). The interior builds on the tech-focused Escalade interior, with an equally sized OLED curved infotainment/instrument display occupying much of the dash. The floating center console, minimal physical controls and streamlined vents are basically must-haves for an EV right now. The steering wheel also has a new design, and the green lights on the rim (pictured below) indicate that the Lyriq comes standard with GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving technology on the highway.
We’ve yet to test the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, but we’re definitely looking forward to it given its solid specs and attractive design. The order for the Lyriq has just been opened.
Interior & Technology | Passenger and cargo space | Performance and Range
Pricing and Features | Crash ratings and safety features
What’s new for 2023?
The Lyriq is a brand new model.
What is the interior and technology like in Lyriq’s car?
Welcome to the future. Slide into the driver’s seat of the Lyriq and you’ll be greeted by a huge expansive curved screen that extends from the A-pillar beyond the center of the dash. Unlike other seemingly huge screens, such as the Mercedes EQS Hyperscreen, which are really just separate screens in one housing, the Lyriq is a contiguous OLED unit that doubles as an instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The functional result is basically the same, but it sure is cooler!
The infotainment portion uses Google’s Android Automotive operating system, which basically provides the software framework on which Cadillac places its own design ‘skin’. Learn more about it in GMC form in this Yukon infotainment system overview. In general, we are satisfied with the functionality of the system, although we cannot say that it is better or worse than systems developed by different car manufacturers.
Elsewhere in the cabin, we like that Cadillac still uses physical controls for climate control and other vehicle functions (the cool little buttons controlling the air vents seem like a much better solution than touchscreen-controlled ones), though we have our doubts about the touch-sensitive steering wheel controls. . Like many EVs, the Lyriq has a floating center console with cup holders and an electronic shifter (a glowing rotating design) over an open storage compartment. There is a second drawer that pulls out from the bottom of the dash (pictured bottom left)
How big is the Lyriq?
Like other EVs, the Lyriq’s electrical architecture results in dimensions that don’t match gas-powered models. For example, the overall length is between a two-row BMW X5 and a three-row Lincoln Aviator, with a wheelbase that surpasses them both, but the overall height is about 5 inches lower than those SUVs. The result is a sleek and decidedly cool-looking SUV – along with less cargo space and headroom in the back.
The rear legroom of 39.6 inches is equivalent to larger mid-sized SUVs (and the Tesla Model Y), which should be fine for longer legs and rear-facing child seats. There’s also significant shoulder room at 58.6 inches, meaning you’re more likely to fit three people in. As for cargo space, there’s only 28 cubic feet of space behind the raised third row, a modest amount that’s less than many compact SUVs, let alone all of those mentioned above. However, it’s about what you’d get in a Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6, although those are admittedly cheaper EVs.
What are Lyriq’s range, charging and performance specifications?
As with other EVs, the number of driving wheels has a big impact on performance and somewhat on range. They both share a 100 kWh battery pack.
The rear-wheel drive Lyriq has a single motor that produces 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The range is an EPA estimated 320 miles. It features 19.2-kW AC charging capabilities, allowing it to recoup a 52-mile range using an appropriate Level 2 home charger.
The four-wheel drive Lyriq adds a front engine, boosting power to 500 horsepower. Torque figures and estimated range were not available at the time of writing, but GM lists a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds for the AWD model. It can only charge 11.5 kW at home, meaning it can only pay back 60 kilometers per hour with a level 2 home charger.
In terms of public DC fast charging, both RWD and AWD Lyriqs can charge at a maximum speed of 190 kW, which can pay for itself up to 120 km in about 10 minutes (depending on how much range is currently left in the battery). Lyriq buyers have the choice of two years of free charging with the EVGo charging network or a $1,500 credit through Qmerit for an eligible professional installation of a Level 2 wall charger or 240-volt outlet compatible with Lyriq’s supplied dual voltage charging cable .
What is the 2023 Lyriq price and what features are available?
The rear-wheel drive Lyriq starts at $62,990, including destination surcharge. The four-wheel drive Lyriq starts at $64,990, which is a surprisingly small premium given the hefty performance boost. As described above, owners will either receive two years of public DC fast charging or a $1,500 credit towards the installation of a home charger.
GM vehicles are currently not eligible for federal EV tax rebates, and the Lyriq’s base price is also above the $60,000 limit for California’s EV rebate. It may still have discounts in other states.
The RWD and AWD Lyriq share one common trim level called Luxury, but they do differ in equipment. Oddly enough, the RWD has more.
Standard equipment on both includes 20-inch wheels, acoustic laminated glass, LED headlights, Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assistance and other safety/assistance technology (see below), a glass roof, eight-way power front seats (heated, ventilated and massage ), simulated leather upholstery (Inteluxe), a heated electrically adjustable steering wheel, driver memory settings, the 33-inch curved LED display, Google Android Automotive infotainment interface, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless phone charging, five USB ports and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system including headrest speakers (shown below right). The rear-wheel drive version has a hands-free power tailgate, a mirror washer for the rear-view camera (wouldn’t the AWD Lyriq need that sooner?) and the option of 22-inch wheels.
At launch, the Lyriq will only be available in Satin Steel Metallic. Crystal White, Stellar Black and Opulent Blue are later options available at an additional cost.
What are Lyriq’s safety ratings and driver assistance features?
The Lyriq has not been crash tested by a third party at the time of writing.
Every Lyriq comes standard with one of the most robust suites of safety and driver assistance technology found in any car at any price. It includes as standard equipment front collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross traffic warning and emergency braking, blind spot warning and swerve assist, lane assistant, adaptive cruise control and Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance on the highway.