Honda Passport 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, surrounded by a solid grille with lighting effects. The Sport trim, in particular, had a muted dark triangular motif, and the vehicle sat impressively on 22-inch wheels. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, including leather-wrapped seats with C-shaped headrests, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console offered limited functionality, and some elements seemed cobbled together.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Passport maintained a familiar design, with minor updates since 2022. It featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners, but its overall look remained consistent with previous generations. The Passport offered three trim levels: Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all equipped with a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim, designed for ruggedness, came with all-terrain tires and roof rails. Inside, the Passport had a simple and utilitarian design, with physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen. The TrailSport trim featured black leather upholstery with orange contrast stitching, while the interior was well-integrated with resilient materials.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more suited for highway cruising. It offered a calm and poised ride, with power delivered smoothly by its dual-motor powertrain, producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided a range of up to 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive and 494 km with all-wheel drive. However, its handling was hindered by its weight of 2,630 kilograms, leading to understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The regenerative braking system helped reduce stress on the brakes, but the chassis lacked handling-enhancing features.

The 2024 Honda Passport, on the other hand, was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport offered smooth acceleration. The TrailSport trim featured wider tracks and off-road-tuned suspension, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Passport's torque-vectoring iVTM4 all-wheel-drive system and traction-management system added value, while its steering was well-balanced and accurate. The Passport's towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms surpassed some competitors, although it fell short of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in terms of functionality and build quality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose motorized charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray in the dash were notable issues. The glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space. Despite its midsize dimensions, the LYRIQ's cargo space was smaller than most compact SUVs, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded. However, it provided generous headroom and legroom for passengers.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering 1,430 litres of space behind the rear seats, with additional underfloor storage. The cargo space expanded to 2,854 litres with the rear seats folded, providing ample room for long items. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, with rear-seat legroom on par with the segment. The front featured a redesigned centre console bin, offering more storage space. The Passport's interior was practical, with numerous cupholders and a well-thought-out layout.

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 hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2024 Honda Passport, however, was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, which felt small given the cabin's spaciousness. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with Bluetooth connectivity and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system had sharp resolution and quick response, but the turn-by-turn directions on the driver's information display were a minor annoyance. The TrailSport trim's seven-speaker audio system was adequate but lacked the depth of higher-end systems.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came 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 an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system.

The 2024 Honda Passport offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Despite these features, the Passport received an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap crash test and a "Marginal" rating in the updated side-impact crash tests from the IIHS. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall but four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests.