Chevrolet Tahoe vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that captured attention on the streets. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The vertical light bars, nine LED headlights, and a solid grille with lighting effects added to its unique style. The interior was meticulously crafted, with 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 functionality.

In contrast, the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe maintained its popularity with a more conservative design refresh. The new grille and updated lighting elements gave it a fresh look, while the six available trim levels catered to different preferences. The Z71 trim, which we tested, stood out with its rugged features like skid plates and all-terrain tires. Inside, the Tahoe boasted a new 17.7-inch touchscreen display, replacing the outdated controls with more stylish options. The cabin was spacious, with improved interior packaging thanks to the independent rear suspension. However, the steering wheel controls were cluttered, and the premium Bose sound system left room for improvement.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sleek appearance, was not a sporty performer. It excelled on highways, offering a calm and poised ride with a dual-motor powertrain delivering 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided a claimed range of 505 kilometres with RWD and 494 km with AWD, though real-world conditions saw closer to 420 kilometres. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The braking system was strong, but the chassis lacked handling-enhancing features.

The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe offered a choice of two V8 engines and a diesel option. The 5.3-litre V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.2-litre V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder diesel engine, with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft, was a refined and fuel-efficient choice. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Tahoe's steering was surprisingly light, but the brake pedal felt heavy and difficult to modulate. The independent rear suspension improved interior space, and the optional Magnetic Ride Control and Air Ride adaptive suspension enhanced ride quality.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in functionality, with misaligned rear fenders and a motorized charging port that frequently came loose. The glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space. The interior was spacious, with generous headroom and legroom, but the cargo hold was smaller than expected, offering 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe excelled in towing capacity, with the 5.3-litre V8 and RWD configuration capable of towing up to 3,810 kilograms. The 4WD versions had slightly lower towing capacities. The Tahoe's cargo volume was impressive, with 3,474 litres available with all seats folded. However, with all seats in place, the trunk space was limited to 722 litres. The Tahoe's large fuel tank and efficient diesel engine allowed for extended highway driving without frequent refueling.

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 as standard. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe's technology took a significant leap forward with a 17.7-inch touchscreen, 11-inch driver information screen, and optional 15-inch HUD. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but the Google Built-in system offered seamless integration of Google services. The touchscreen was user-friendly, but the steering wheel controls were cluttered and unintuitive. The premium Bose sound system was underwhelming compared to competitors.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came equipped with 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, the LYRIQ received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system.

The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe included a comprehensive suite of standard ADAS features, such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and pedestrian and bicycle braking. The 2024 model received four out of five stars in overall crash safety from the NHTSA, and similar results were expected for the 2025 model. The IIHS rated the 2024 Tahoe as Acceptable in the small overlap front test but Poor in the moderate overlap front updated test.