2024 Cadillac Lyriq review: First look

It’s the only Cadillac Lyriq in Australia and it travelled about 15,500 kilometres to get here, flown in secretly from General Motors' Spring Hill manufacturing plant in Tennessee, where it’s built, and via Hawaii.

Wheels is the first local media outlet to see it, weeks ahead of its official press unveiling in Melbourne, as part of exclusive ‘long lead’ coverage for the latest issue of our print magazine (which goes on sale imminently – so grab yourself a copy!).

Dressed in black (paint), the Lyriq hasn’t arrived at our nondescript Port Melbourne studio in what would be the first choice of Ellen Dewar, our head of photography, who’s tasked with shooting some pretty studio pictures.

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Well, it would be last choice, but that’s compensated for by the sense of excitement around not just a new vehicle but a whole new brand – even if speculation around Cadillac’s return has been strong, especially when the Lyriq name was trademarked a few months ago.

(That was along with the Optiq and Escalade IQ names of what are expected to be future models joining the Lyriq here.)

Pictures can disguise a vehicle’s size, and even in the metal you need to be looking at the Lyriq in profile to appreciate it is indeed a large SUV; one that’s a few mils short of five metres.

Caddy’s designers have also done a terrific job with the Lyriq’s stance and proportions, with very short overhangs – a 3.1m wheelbase dominates the length – and a roofline that’s relatively low and tapering to the rear. There are hints of the Range Rover Velar to the styling, which most would view as a compliment.

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There’s also a subtlety to the design that’s often missing from big American SUVs.

And here’s a particularly subtle touch: the Cadillac badge is monochromatic for its EV models.

Disappointingly for Australia, our local vehicle design rules (ADRS) means the Lyriq's LED-patterned grille will need to be disconnected for our market. (There are different LED grille patterns for different model grades.)

The Australian show car is a Sport variant, the flagship of a three-tier range in the US.

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A ‘600e4’ badge on the tailgate represents three drivetrain elements: 600 is a rounded-down reference to the Sport’s torque (610Nm), e is for electric (of course), and 4 indicates the all-wheel drive created by the dual motors.

Single-motor, rear-drive versions of the Lyriq are available in the US, producing 255kW (versus 373kW for the dual motor) and 440Nm.

Maximum quoted electric ranges aren’t significantly different: the 505km figure for the Lyriq RWD is just 11km more than the AWD.

The Lyriq is keen to make a good impression even before you step into the cabin. Opening the front doors reveals illuminated sills featuring Cadillac in script next to a silhouette graphic of the Lyriq.

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The Lyriq’s cabin design is far off Tesla’s ultra-minimalist approach, yet, again, there’s more restraint than with your typical US SUV interior.

A 33-inch digital display dominates the dash, though we can’t explore the dual displays as they’re not yet configured for the Australian market.

The driver instrument section is customisable, though, we know.

On the centre console, there are knurled edges for the Google Built-In infotainment system’s rotary controller, volume scroller, and cup-holder borders.

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There are intricate controls for the air vents and soft materials are placed in key areas, though plastics do start to get harder the lower the eye level.

Seat-shaped adjustment switches embedded in a genuine matt wood door section could have been pulled out of a Mercedes, though the overall interior styling arguably has the most in common with Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis.

Our strangest thought: the steering wheel looks like a headless Darth Vader opening his arms outwards. (Or maybe it’s just because I’ve watched Star Wars about 50 times.)

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Door pockets are generously sized, and while the main console cubby is quite shallow, there’s a lower section for larger items that also serves as the inductive tray for smartphones.

The storage/charging tray, as well as a cubby that pulls out of the central dash, are finished in a bright blue felt that comes right out of the… Let’s call it a ‘surprise and delight’ feature as the colour has no relationship with anything else in the interior.

For the glovebox, Cadillac borrows an idiosyncrasy from Tesla – it can be opened only via a button on the infotainment touchscreen.

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Interior options include an AKG audio system with 19 speakers – including in the headrests.

A wheelbase not far short of 3.1 metres delivers as expected in the rear seat: limousine legroom.

The flat floor and wide cabin mean three adults could sit across the bench with a high degree of comfort.

Pressing the monochromatic Cadillac badge at the rear opens the electric tailgate.

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Inside, there’s an amount of boot space that makes Cadillac’s 793-litre boot measurement sound realistic, even if some of that likely includes a sizeable underfloor well (where cables or other items can be placed).

There are electric switches for lowering the 60-40 seatbacks, though the auto operation is a one-way ticket only; the seatbacks need to be raised manually.

With the seats flattened, Cadillac quotes cargo space of 1722 litres.

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As the tailgate lowers to a close, that completes our static tour of the Cadillac Lyriq.

With the full local market launch still at least 12 months away, our heavy desire for a steer of the electric Caddy means it may be time for us to fly ?? kilometres in the opposite direction.