Hyundai Tucson vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking presence on the road, with its sleek exterior styling that combined the essence of an SUV with the elegance of a long sedan. Its design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The vertical light bars and LED headlights created a captivating light show upon unlocking, while the grille and lighting effects added to its unique style. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, such as 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 Hyundai Tucson maintained its contemporary appeal with taut angles and a distinctive grille-headlight integration. The Tucson's design was both aggressive and cohesive, making it stand out even in a neutral colour like white. The interior was modern and refined, with technology seamlessly integrated into the cabin. While some controls were less intuitive, the overall layout was user-friendly. The Tucson offered a range of trims, each with unique features, from sporty accents in the N Line to luxurious touches in the Ultimate trim, ensuring a well-rounded driving experience.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more suited for highway cruising than spirited driving. 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 conditions showed closer to 420 km. 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, leading to understeer and uninspiring steering feel.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Preferred came with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. While adequate for city driving, it struggled with highway acceleration. The Tucson's handling and ride quality were commendable, offering a comfortable and composed driving experience. It wasn't as athletic as some competitors, but it struck a balance between ride comfort and cornering prowess. The Tucson's non-hybrid powertrain was the only option, but hybrid variants offered more power and efficiency, albeit with a unique shifter design that required some adjustment.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in 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 interaction. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, offering 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson excelled in interior space, providing up to 2,119 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 1,097 litres with them in use. The hands-free power liftgate, available on most trims, was a convenient feature, allowing easy access to the cargo area. The Tucson accommodated up to five passengers comfortably, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The cabin featured numerous storage solutions, including deep cup holders and a centre tray with a wireless charging pad.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen divided into three sections, offering touch-enabled controls and a high-quality infotainment system with Google Maps and Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the Super Cruise system provided an excellent hands-free driving experience. The 19-speaker AKG stereo added to the LYRIQ's technological appeal.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson's infotainment system included a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a fully digital instrument panel. While Android Auto and Apple CarPlay required a wired connection, the interface was glove-friendly. The Tucson's remote start system was intuitive, allowing drivers to start the vehicle remotely and drive off without pressing the start button. The system's usability in cold weather was a practical advantage.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came equipped 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, the LYRIQ received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Ultimate trim added advanced features like a 360-degree camera system and Smart Park remote-parking. The Tucson received high safety ratings from the IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick+ designation for the 2023 model, and performed well in NHTSA tests.