GMC Acadia vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that captured attention on the streets. Its long hood and low ground clearance gave it the appearance of a sleek sedan rather than a traditional SUV. The vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, while the illuminated grille and wraparound taillights enhanced its unique style. Inside, the LYRIQ offered a luxurious experience with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

In contrast, the 2024 GMC Acadia emphasized its increased size with a more upright front end and broad grille, reflecting GMC's full-size SUVs and trucks. The wheel arches and door skins featured subtle detailing, while the quad exhaust tips added a sporty touch. The Acadia was available in various trims, including the off-road AT4 and luxe Denali, each with unique styling features. Inside, the Acadia offered a spacious feel with a low dashboard and generous glass, accommodating new and bigger screens. The Denali trim featured leather seats with a unique stitching pattern, while the AT4 had a rugged look suitable for outdoor adventures.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more suited for highway cruising. It featured a dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered a claimed range of 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive and 494 km with AWD, though real-world testing showed closer to 420 km. Charging was efficient, with the battery topping up to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, leading to understeer and uninspiring steering feel.

The 2024 GMC Acadia was powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 2.0-litre turbo and 3.6-litre V6 options, offering more power. The Acadia's eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive provided smooth acceleration and a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The AT4 model featured off-road enhancements, including a ride height lift and special suspension tuning. While the Acadia handled well on various terrains, its steering was slow and imprecise, making it feel larger than it was.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty charging port, and a cumbersome glovebox were notable issues. The floating console offered limited storage, and the rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was limited to 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2024 GMC Acadia excelled in interior space, offering more headroom across all three rows compared to competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and Kia Telluride. The redesigned Acadia boasted 651 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 2,761 litres with the second and third rows folded. An underfloor storage bin and a presence-based power liftgate added to its practicality. The Acadia's small-item storage was reasonable, though the headlight controls were inconveniently located on the touchscreen.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering 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 Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2024 GMC Acadia came equipped with an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch touchscreen, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system featured Google built-in apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant. The touchscreen layout was logical, with high-quality graphics and easy access to important menus. The Acadia also offered a 12-speaker Bose audio system, with an optional 16-speaker setup available.

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

The 2024 GMC Acadia offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Acadia received an Acceptable rating for its moderate overlap front test and collision prevention system from the IIHS, but a Marginal score for its headlights. The optional Super Cruise system allowed for hands-free driving on certain roads.