Cadillac Lyriq | The real start

The designers of the Lyriq wanted to prevent the first buyers from having to deal with the problem. Impossible, but they at least limited the damage by reducing the quantities. Today, Cadillac assures that the ramp-up in production is underway in earnest. And to give consistency to this perspective, the American firm is counting on the extension of the Lyriq range to reach a wider and younger clientele.

Nothing was spared at the Lyriq for its debut. We won't list all the sources of irritation, but early buyers complained of inconsistent build quality, electrical problems and electronic malfunctions. For Cadillac, these clouds arrive at a very bad time. The Lyriq, which carries Cadillac's new ambitions in the all-electric field, is the first link in the chain. To ensure that no “teething blemish” disrupts the Lyriq's career, Cadillac voluntarily reduced its production rate before accelerating the pace again.

Flamboyant style

The Lyriq does not reveal itself at first glance. The style is multifaceted. But one thing is certain, you have to see it in profile, when it seems to be sliding on the asphalt in the middle of the traffic, to grasp its full singularity.

If some will hate the exterior appearance, the interior should be unanimous. The Lyriq offers a clear environment, which is a pleasure to be on board. The beautifully crafted interior design chooses a sobriety close to the world of contemporary furniture. Note also the presence of numerous and practical storage spaces as well as a remarkably well-designed wireless charger. The front seats will feel thin, but they are comfortable over long distances. The driving position does not raise any criticism.

The slightly curved electroluminescent panel which encloses both the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen is quite successful, but navigation remains complicated. Additionally, during the trial, applications like CarPlay And Waze had the annoying habit of disappearing suddenly only to reappear a few minutes later. Visibility is good overall, but if you don't have the reflex to blindly rely on blind spot sensors, the width of the central pillar will hamper you considerably during overtaking maneuvers.

This Cadillac, which seats its occupants well above the road, is spacious and comfortable, but also generous in trunk space if we ignore its low height under the luggage cover. The big winners are the rear passengers (three in principle, two in practice). Perfectly seated in an elevated position, they lose nothing of the landscape.

Reminiscence of the past

Assembled in the United States, the Lyriq uses its plastic on the Ultium architecture developed by General Motors. To know everything, it also serves as the technical basis for the Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX. Unlike the latter two which, in Canada, only offer all-wheel drive versions (read with two engines), the Lyriq offers a two-wheel drive version (at the rear) with a single engine. Note that this configuration, financially more accessible, does not recommend pulling any load. With four-wheel drive, the Lyriq is authorized to tow 1587 kg

This Lyriq drives with the same calmness once displayed by the owners of the DeVille (a former glory of the brand). With two electric thrusters, the acceleration force of this Cadillac will not blow anyone's mind. The Lyriq lifts itself from its static position effortlessly, but without haste either. At least, if we compare it to its closest, faster rivals.

The Lyriq invites you to another experience. There's nothing very sporty about his temperament. However, the placidity of this Cadillac can be experienced perfectly well. It swallows the kilometers without the thought of throwing it suddenly into the bends. The Lyriq is more of a “fingertip” drive type, with steering offering little feel for the location of the steered wheels.

On this subject, it would have been nice to have four (steering wheels) to shorten the large turning circle of this vehicle. The suspension will probably feel a little firm on damaged pavement. Braking, for its part, is easy to modulate, sufficiently durable and allows one-pedal driving.

The Lyriq is made for the pleasure of traveling and offers much more than performance. We will therefore not blame it for breaking with the refrain of sportiness, a theme that (too) many manufacturers put forward rather than addressing that of energy efficiency. In this regard, the American defends itself well if we consider its size, its weight and its closest competitor, the Acura ZDX. In addition, the Lyriq will soon be equipped with a compatible charging socket (NACS) for quickly refueling at Tesla…