Land Rover Defender 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 Elegante of the early 1980s, 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 lighting effects, added to the vehicle's unique style. The interior was meticulously crafted, with leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display that integrated seamlessly into the cabin. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender had a rugged and customizable appearance. The Defender 110 was considered the most balanced in design, while the 90 and 130 models had their quirks. The Defender X trim featured black exterior elements and upgraded interior materials, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The test vehicle, dressed in Gondwana Stone paint, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its colour clashed with the orange brake calipers. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with an industrial theme that emphasized functionality over luxury. The cabin was spacious, with a panoramic sunroof and a fixed glass panel over the third row, creating an open and airy feel.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was not as sporty as its exterior suggested. It excelled on highways, offering a calm and poised ride with a focus on long-distance comfort. The dual-motor powertrain in the test car produced 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 all-wheel drive. However, real-world testing showed a range closer to 420 kilometres. The LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, and it lacked features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers, resulting in uninspiring steering and significant understeer.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, delivered 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 3,720 kilograms. The Defender X featured an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, making it highly capable off-road. On-road, the Defender 130's weight and 20-inch wheels limited its agility, but it excelled in absorbing bumps and maintaining a comfortable ride. The Defender's six-cylinder engine provided ample power, though it occasionally surged unexpectedly in city driving.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray in the dash were notable issues. The glovebox was difficult to access while driving, and the floating console lacked practicality. Despite its midsize dimensions, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, but its cargo space was limited, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 provided three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position offered excellent visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row enhanced the open feel of the cabin. While storage space was plentiful in the front, the Defender 130 was less accommodating for passengers' belongings in the rear. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, but the Defender excelled in passenger and cargo space, with a maximum cargo volume of 2,520 litres.

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, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessible via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and connected services. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but its accuracy was commendable. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system impressed, and additional features like a head-up display and a surround-view camera system enhanced the driving experience.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came standard with 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.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with automatic high beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The Defender's driver aids operated smoothly, though the lane keep assist occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at press time.