Chevrolet Traverse 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, with a long hood and low ground clearance, drawing inspiration from the classic Seville Elegante of the early 1980s. The LYRIQ featured vertical light bars with nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille, adorned with lighting effects, varied between trims, with the Sport trim showcasing a dark triangular motif. The vehicle's wraparound taillights and steeply raked glass window added to its unique style. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, including leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console lacked practicality, offering no usable space beneath the cupholders.

In contrast, the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse impressed with its exterior styling, continuing Chevrolet's trend of attractive SUV designs. The Traverse's interior featured digital instrumentation and a Google-based infotainment system, though it fell short in material quality, with hard plastics and artificial leather that didn't convincingly mimic the real thing. The Z71 trim, tested for its off-road capabilities, came with Radiant Red paint, a panoramic sunroof, and an Enhanced Driving Package. Despite its rugged appearance, the Traverse's interior materials left much to be desired, especially given its price point.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty appearance, excelled on highways with its calm and poised ride. It offered a dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Both powertrains utilized a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering a claimed range of 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive and 494 km with AWD. However, real-world testing showed a maximum range closer to 420 kilometres. The LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. Regenerative braking helped alleviate stress on the friction brakes, but the overall chassis needed improvement.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. In front-wheel-drive mode, it exhibited torque steer, but engaging all-wheel drive provided controlled acceleration. The Z71 trim, designed for off-road adventures, offered increased ground clearance and off-road suspension. It handled trails with ease, thanks to its all-terrain tires and Terrain driving mode. While the Traverse excelled off-road, its on-road performance felt less sporty, with a large and bouncy feel on narrow roads. The all-terrain tires provided good grip and minimal noise, but the steering lacked road feel.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in build quality, with misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port. Its interior functionality was hindered by a small centre cubby and a rotary selector that was less intuitive than the touchscreen. The glovebox required the vehicle to be in Park to access, and the floating console lacked practicality. Despite these issues, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was limited compared to compact SUVs, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse boasted impressive interior volume, particularly in width. Front seat occupants enjoyed ample space, and the eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat made finding a comfortable position easy. The Traverse offered eight-passenger seating with a second-row bench seat, while our test vehicle featured captain's chairs. The third-row seats provided adequate comfort but lacked a view due to the rear window design. Cargo space was commendable, with 648 litres behind the third row and up to 2,764 litres with the second row folded. However, folding the third row required adjusting the second-row seats, adding complexity to the process.

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

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Google Built-in, OnStar services, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The interface was user-friendly, with Google Assistant responding accurately to voice commands. The Traverse also offered an 11-inch digital instrumentation panel with customizable views and a camera-based digital rearview mirror for enhanced visibility.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came equipped with standard safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. 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 Chevrolet Traverse offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Enhanced Driving Package added Super Cruise and remote-parking technology. The Traverse received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS.