BMW X7 vs Cadillac LYRIQ

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 that integrated seamlessly into the cabin. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little practical space.

In contrast, the 2025 BMW X7 exuded a bold presence with its large twin-kidney grille and stacked quad lights. The post-facelift design was distinctive, setting it apart from smaller models like the X5. The X7's exterior was complemented by large wheels and sporty design elements, especially with the M Sport Package. Inside, the X7 offered a mix of luxurious and sporty touches, such as carbon fibre trim and a crystal shift toggle. However, the interior design felt somewhat disjointed, with optional extras that seemed more like a collection of features rather than a cohesive luxury experience.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was built for comfort rather than sportiness, excelling on highways with its calm and poised ride. It featured two powertrain options: a single rear motor with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and an optional dual-motor setup producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Despite its impressive power, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its substantial weight of 2,630 kilograms, leading to significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The regenerative braking system was a welcome feature, but the overall chassis performance left much to be desired.

The 2025 BMW X7 offered a range of powertrains, starting with the xDrive40i's turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine producing 375 horsepower. The M60i xDrive featured a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 with 523 horsepower, while the Alpina XB7 boasted 631 horsepower. The X7's performance was enhanced by sophisticated chassis technology, including rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension. These features contributed to a nimble and sporty driving experience, with precise steering and excellent body control. The X7's performance was both engaging and comfortable, making it a standout in its class.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port were notable issues. The interior design included a floating console that lacked practicality, and the glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was limited compared to other midsize SUVs, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 BMW X7 provided competitive interior space with its three-row configuration, offering more headroom than several rivals. It had 1,376 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 2,560 litres with the seats folded, though it fell short of larger competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The split tailgate was a practical feature, and the air suspension's ability to lower the vehicle made loading easier. The X7's towing capacity of 3,400 kilograms was respectable, though not class-leading.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering a user-friendly interface with high-quality graphics. The infotainment system included native Google Maps and Google Assistant, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Super Cruise system was a highlight, providing excellent hands-free driving capabilities. The 19-speaker AKG stereo added to the LYRIQ's tech appeal.

The 2025 BMW X7 boasted a Curved Display setup with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. The iDrive infotainment system was intuitive, with a rotary controller and physical buttons for ease of use. The X7 included features like digital-key functionality and augmented reality navigation, though the voice recognition system struggled with accuracy. Gesture control was available but proved to be more of a novelty than a practical feature.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came standard with a suite of safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. 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 BMW X7 offered standard safety features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, with additional options available in the Advanced Driver Assistance package. The Highway Assistant system provided hands-free driving capabilities, though it was not as advanced as Cadillac's Super Cruise. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.