Chevrolet Trax vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous image to emerge as a more stylish and modern vehicle. The design team embraced a "longer, lower, wider" philosophy, resulting in a vehicle that was 28 centimetres longer, 10 centimetres lower, and 5 centimetres wider than its predecessor. This redesign borrowed elements from the midsize Chevy Blazer, such as a prominent grille and distinctive body lines, giving the Trax a commanding presence despite its compact size. The Trax offered various trim levels, including the LS with 17-inch steel wheels and higher trims with 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum wheels. The interior featured a mix of cloth and Evotex upholstery, with design elements like a freestanding touchscreen and large air vents adding a touch of modernity.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, on the other hand, was a testament to Cadillac's commitment to striking exterior styling. Its design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long hood, low ground clearance, and a unique style. The front end boasted vertical light bars with LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille and lighting effects added to its visual appeal, while the Sport trim offered a more subdued look. Inside, the LYRIQ showcased attention to detail with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, some functional issues, such as misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port, detracted from its overall appeal.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. While less powerful than its predecessor, the Trax managed to improve its acceleration, reaching 100 km/h about a second faster. The engine's flat torque curve provided strong response, and turbo lag was minimal. The Trax retained its six-speed automatic transmission and was available only with front-wheel drive. Its handling was tuned to be more car-like, offering a planted feel and nimble handling, although it still exhibited some body roll.

In contrast, the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a choice between a single rear motor with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque or a dual-motor setup with 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided a range of up to 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive and 494 kilometres with all-wheel drive. However, its handling was hampered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The LYRIQ lacked handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers, which affected its agility.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered increased rear-seat legroom, but headroom and shoulder room were slightly reduced. It provided a more car-like driving position with low window sills for excellent visibility. Cargo space increased to 725 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,532 litres when folded, making it competitive in its class.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its midsize dimensions, prioritized passenger space over cargo capacity. It offered generous headroom and legroom, but its cargo hold was smaller than most compact SUVs, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded. Functional issues, such as a difficult-to-access glovebox and a small centre cubby, detracted from its practicality.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw significant infotainment upgrades, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on lower trims and an 11-inch touchscreen with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging, were available. The infotainment system was user-friendly, although the screen's tilt favoured the driver.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls and a large, legible instrument cluster. It ran native 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 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered a range of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The Trax also featured the Teen Driver system, which monitored driving behaviour and provided a report card to parents.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came with standard safety features such as 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.