2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that commanded attention. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, while the grille and lighting effects enhanced its unique style. The interior was meticulously crafted, featuring leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid presented a more conventional design, losing some of its distinctiveness but gaining a cohesive look. Its rugged appearance was accentuated by black plastic elements, hinting at its off-road capabilities. Inside, the Forester retained some of its previous charm with a beveled dashboard and a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin featured a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch materials, with ample cushioning in the front seats and heated outboard rear seats. While it may have lost some personality, the Forester's design aimed for broader appeal.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more at home on the highway, offering a calm and poised ride. It featured a dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered a range of 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive and 494 km with AWD. However, the Lyriq's handling was hindered by its weight, and the steering was uninspiring. Regenerative braking helped reduce stress on the brakes, but the chassis needed improvement.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre flat four-cylinder engine combined with a parallel hybrid system, producing 194 horsepower. Its all-wheel drive system promised better traction, especially off-road. While acceleration was adequate, the hybrid transmission made it feel slower than it was. The hybrid system functioned smoothly, with consistent braking and predictable handling. The ride quality was firmer than expected, but the Forester excelled off-road with its X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control, offering a balanced performance for both urban and adventurous drivers.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty charging port, and a problematic glovebox were notable issues. The floating console lacked practicality, and the centre cubby was small. Despite these drawbacks, the Lyriq offered generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was limited at 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid provided an unobstructed forward view, thanks to thinner roof pillars. The front seats offered ample space, and the cockpit felt open and airy. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom and headroom, enhanced by a panoramic sunroof. Storage options included a wireless charging pad, cup holders, and door pockets. The Forester Hybrid offered 779 litres of cargo space, with a hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases for added convenience.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls and a large, legible instrument cluster. The infotainment system ran Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Super Cruise system provided hands-free driving, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen, featuring built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, with large on-screen buttons and easy-to-navigate menus. The X-Mode off-road drive menu and external camera views enhanced its off-road capabilities. The Forester Hybrid also included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered standard safety features like forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. However, it received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, where it received four stars. The non-hybrid model received high marks from the IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick award. The Forester Hybrid included Subaru's EyeSight suite of safety features, with additional features like blind spot monitoring and a surround-view monitor on the top trim.