Jeep Cherokee 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, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The front of the LYRIQ was adorned with vertical light bars and nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille, with its arrow-shaped molding, added to the vehicle's unique style. The interior was meticulously crafted, with leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a three-spoke steering wheel. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

In contrast, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee embraced a more traditional SUV design, reminiscent of the classic XJ Cherokee. Its boxy shape was less polarizing than its predecessor, though it risked appearing generic among other rugged crossovers. The rear-end design was more successful, combining aerodynamic surfacing with distinctive taillights. The Cherokee's interior was practical, with a concave dashboard and rotary shifter. While the lower trims featured cloth upholstery, the higher trims offered leatherette seats, emphasizing an environmentally conscious approach. Despite the use of plastic in the interior, Jeep's choice of muted finishes was commendable, avoiding the pitfalls of smudge-prone materials.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was built for comfort rather than sportiness, excelling on highways with its calm and poised ride. It featured two Chinese-sourced motors delivering 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for continuous all-wheel drive, with a standard single rear motor option providing 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The 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 reaching 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, leading to significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The braking system was strong, but the vehicle's weight raised concerns about its durability under hard use.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee's powertrain consisted of a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a two-motor hybrid system, producing 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. The standard all-wheel drive system featured a clutch-based rear-axle disconnect for improved fuel economy. While the Cherokee's off-road capabilities were limited compared to other Jeep models, its Selec-Terrain drive modes and impressive approach and departure angles offered some versatility. The hybrid system was smooth and quiet, though the steering lacked precision. Regenerative braking was minimal, with a "low mode" providing additional braking force but causing high engine rpms on descents.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray were notable issues. The glovebox was difficult to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was smaller than most compact SUVs, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee offered comparable headroom and legroom to its competitors, though rear-seat legroom was slightly less than rivals. Cargo space was also limited, with 951 litres behind the rear seats and 1,934 litres with the seats folded. The Cherokee's towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms was impressive, matching certain versions of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The dashboard was uncluttered, with important analog controls, though some buttons were difficult to locate. The climate controls and seat heaters used touch sensors, which lacked feedback and were challenging to use while driving.

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 offered variable surround sound modes.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with USB-C ports for both rows. The system was stable and upgradable via over-the-air updates. However, the digital instrument cluster's graphics were plain, and the native navigation system was laggy compared to Android Auto. The audio system in the Overland model offered little improvement over lower trims.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ included standard safety features such as 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. The LYRIQ received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system, but it had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee offered standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Active Driving Assist was also standard, with traffic sign recognition available on the Overland model. A surround-view camera system was optional. Crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.