2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that exuded street presence. Its long hood and low ground clearance gave it the appearance of a sleek sedan rather than a traditional SUV. The vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, while the wraparound taillights and fender-mounted vertical lights created a distinctive look. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, such as leather-wrapped seats and polished chrome accents. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little functionality despite its aesthetic appeal.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade maintained its status as a symbol of old-school luxury with a modern twist. The updated design featured a new front end that aligned it with Cadillac's EV lineup, while the massive 24-inch wheels emphasized its imposing size. Inside, the Escalade offered a screen-centric interior with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. The use of high-quality materials, such as semi-aniline leather and open-pore wood trim, elevated the cabin's luxury feel. Despite sharing a platform with other GM SUVs, the Escalade's interior design set it apart, offering a sense of exclusivity and refinement.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was designed for comfort rather than sportiness, excelling on highways with its calm and poised ride. Its dual-motor powertrain delivered 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, while the standard single rear motor offered 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery provided a claimed range of 505 kilometres with RWD and 494 km with AWD, though real-world testing showed closer to 420 km. Despite its impressive power, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The lack of advanced handling features further detracted from its driving dynamics.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, on the other hand, offered a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V variant boasted a supercharged V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and efficient power delivery. While the Escalade's ride quality was impressive for a body-on-frame vehicle, it couldn't match the handling prowess of its unibody competitors. The optional Brembo brakes offered improved stopping power, but the Escalade's weight remained a limiting factor in its overall performance.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in terms of build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port detracted from its appeal. The floating console and small centre cubby limited storage options, while the glovebox's touchscreen-dependent operation was inconvenient. Despite these issues, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo capacity was limited, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade excelled in interior space, offering both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations. The Escalade ESV provided additional cargo space and third-row legroom, making it ideal for larger families. With seating for up to eight, the Escalade offered ample headroom and legroom across all rows. Its cargo capacity was best-in-segment, with 722 litres behind the rear seats and up to 4,043 litres in the ESV. The Escalade's towing capacity of 3,675 kilograms met segment expectations, though it lacked some of the towing features offered by competitors.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for various functions. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade's 55-inch display spanned the dashboard, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. A separate touchscreen handled climate controls and other functions. The Escalade offered a 19-speaker AKG audio system as standard, with a 36-speaker version available. Additional features included an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with user-friendly controls and a traditional steering wheel.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came standard with forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. However, the LYRIQ received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered a comprehensive suite of driver assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, and automatic emergency braking. The Super Cruise system allowed for hands-free driving on mapped roads, though the handoff to manual control could be abrupt. Current crash test ratings were unavailable at the time of writing.