Cadillac’s Lyriq is truly redefining the new luxury, according to our man-about-road Michael Satterfield of TheGentlemanRacer.com. Join us as we take an exclusive spin into truly electrifying territory.

Photography courtesy of The Gentleman Racer

ELECTRICALLY CURRENT

Electrification is here and Cadillac has pulled the wraps off their first all-electric offering the midsized Lyriq SUV. According to Cadillac, the Lyriq will offer an impressive range of more than 300 miles on a full charge and come in 340 or 500 horsepower configurations. This places it squarely in line when positioned against the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi e-tron, and Tesla Model X. Where the Lyriq stands out, however, is price…with the single-motor Debut Edition starting at thousands less than the Audi and Jaguar, and tens of thousands less than a base model Tesla Model X.

The reasonable price point can be attributed to General Motors massive resources since the Lyriq doesn’t compromise in quality or luxury when compared to rivals in this class. Riding on G.M’s new scalable battery architecture, the Lyriq benefits from being developed as an EV from the ground up, offering more space and a low center of gravity. The Lyriq is important for another reason, too. It is the first step towards Cadillac’s goal of an all-electric future. “Every new Cadillac we introduce from this point on in North America will be a state-of-the-art luxury electric vehicle,” shared Vice President of Global Cadillac Rory Harvey, during the launch of the Lyriq. That is a bold statement for a company known mostly for its elegant Escalade and luxurious full-size sedans.

Where the Lyriq really stands out for me is in the styling. While it has a more traditional look, the Lyriq has a presence that will surely attract many first time EV buyers. It is futuristic without trying to be different simply for the sake of being different. The handsome SUV’s styling still has signature Cadillac design cues, including a front panel resembling a grill that evokes the current generation of Cadillac gasoline powered vehicles. The Debut Edition is offered in four colors: Opulent Blue Metallic, Crystal White Tri-Coat, Satin Steel Metallic, and Stellar Black Metallic.

INSIDE MOVES

Moving inside the Lyriq offers all the luxury you would expect in a Cadillac, and of course, the latest technology, including a 33-inch advanced LED display stretching across the dash that has Super Cruise, active noise cancellation, and the Google Built-In connected service. The rocking 19-speak ATG Studio premium sound system features adaptive volume and surround technology while working in concert with the active noise cancellation system. This filters out undesirable road noise and creates the optimal listening experience for driver and passengers. The layout of the dash and other interior features is intuitive and clean. In fact, while the large LED screen offers a lot of control points, there are still buttons and knobs where you expect to find them.

To help ease the transition to all-electric, owners who purchase a new Lyriq will receive an option to choose between either two years of unlimited public charging credits on the EVgo charging network, or a credit of up to $1,500 that can be applied toward an eligible installation of a Level 2 home charger or a 240-volt outlet through Qmerit.

While I haven’t had the chance yet to do a long-term test in the Lyriq, it is safe to say  the Lyriq needs to be on your short list when considering a purchase of an EV. Ordering for the 2023 LYRIQ RWD and AWD models began on May 19, with RWD deliveries expected to start this fall. Deliveries of the 2023 LYRIQ Debut Edition, available online only with a $100 reservation, began this summer.