Cadillac LYRIQ vs Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was built on the N3 platform, shared with the larger Kia Sorento, resulting in a noticeable size increase over its 2022 predecessor. It was 18 centimetres longer, with an 8.6-centimetre longer wheelbase, enhancing rear-seat legroom. The new model was also about 2.5 cm taller and a centimetre wider. The Sportage Hybrid featured a bold design with angular LED headlights and distinctive “boomerang” LED daytime running lights, setting it apart from other vehicles. The interior was centred around a large infotainment display, flanked by large air vents, and offered a minimalist, elegant look. The use of SynTex artificial leather was promoted as an “animal-free” alternative, although it felt somewhat cheap.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ boasted striking exterior styling, reminiscent of the classic Seville with its long hood and low ground clearance. It featured vertical light bars with nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille had lighting effects and a unique design, varying across trims. The LYRIQ's interior was meticulously detailed, with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console offered limited functionality. Despite its luxurious design, the LYRIQ faced issues with misaligned rear fenders and a malfunctioning charging port, detracting from its overall appeal.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor, producing 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It featured standard all-wheel drive in Canada, offering more power than its non-hybrid counterpart and competitors like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape hybrids. The Sportage Hybrid delivered smooth acceleration and seamless transitions between electric and gasoline power. Its well-tuned transmission ensured smooth shifts, while the quiet cabin and comfortable ride added to the driving experience. However, its steering felt artificially heavy in Sport mode, and its towing capacity was 907 kilograms.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty appearance, excelled in highway driving with a calm and poised ride. It featured a dual-motor powertrain producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, with a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offering a claimed range of 494 kilometres with AWD. However, real-world testing showed a range closer to 420 kilometres. The LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight of 2,630 kilograms, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. While braking was strong, the lack of handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers was noticeable. The LYRIQ's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version. It provided more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids, while rear-seat legroom was best-in-class. The dual-level cargo floor allowed for 1,118 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 2,087 litres with them folded. The Sportage Hybrid featured a rotary shift knob, freeing up space between the front seats, and included convenient storage solutions like a large bin for phones and clever cupholders.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, while offering generous headroom and legroom, sacrificed cargo space for a spacious back seat. Its cargo hold measured 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded, smaller than most compact SUVs. The LYRIQ faced functionality issues, such as a difficult-to-access glovebox and a small centre cubby. The floating console lacked sliding functionality, leaving valuables exposed. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch, and drive mode selection required navigating multiple menus. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ's interior featured high-quality materials and a luxurious design.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came equipped with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, with the SX trim adding a panoramic display combining the touchscreen with a digital instrument cluster. The system featured wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with pleasing graphics and responsive controls. Touch controls below the screen allowed for easy switching between audio and climate settings. The Sportage Hybrid included four standard USB-C ports, with additional ports and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system available on the SX trim.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen divided into three sections, with touch-enabled controls for lighting and gauge cluster layouts. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The available Super Cruise system offered hands-free driving capabilities, with a helpful coloured bar on the steering wheel indicating system status. The 19-speaker AKG stereo provided variable surround sound modes, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, due to its recent redesign, lacked crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA at the time of testing. The base EX trim included standard safety features like forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The SX trim added advanced driver-assist technologies, including a blind-spot view monitor, 360-degree camera system, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

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