Lexus NX 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 vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, while the grille and lighting effects enhanced its unique style. The interior was crafted with attention to detail, featuring 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 2026 Lexus NX maintained a fresh appearance with well-integrated styling elements like chunky fenders and a spindle grille. The design team refined the existing recipe, balancing the oversized grille with well-placed headlights and air intakes. The NX was available in various powertrain options, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, with packages like F Sport adding sporty features. Despite its bold styling, the NX's interior didn't quite match the luxury expectations, with an all-black interior that felt similar to high-end Toyota models.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sleek exterior, didn't deliver the sporty drive one might expect. It excelled on highways, offering a calm and poised ride with a dual-motor powertrain producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp. The 102-kilowatt-hour battery provided a range of up to 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, leading to understeer and uninspiring steering feel. Regenerative braking was a plus, but the overall chassis needed improvement.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered a variety of powertrains, with the NX 350 F Sport 3 featuring a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine producing 275 horsepower. The engine felt more suited for a pickup truck, and the eight-speed automatic transmission lacked urgency. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models offered more compelling performance on paper. However, the NX's chassis tuning was indifferent, with firm dampers and lifeless steering. Despite the F Sport package, the NX didn't deliver the engaging driving experience found in competitors like Audi and BMW.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port were notable issues. The interior design, while stylish, lacked practicality, with a small centre cubby and a cumbersome rotary selector for the touchscreen. The spacious back seat came at the cost of cargo space, offering 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered competitive passenger space but with some compromises. Rear-seat headroom was comparable to rivals, but legroom was slightly less. The front seats felt constrained, and outward visibility was hindered by the deep dashboard and large mirrors. Cargo space measured 643 litres with the seats up and 1,328 litres when folded, trailing behind competitors. The NX's towing capacity was also limited at 907 kilograms.

Inside the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, the 33-inch OLED screen was a highlight, offering touch-enabled controls and a large, legible instrument cluster. The infotainment system featured Google Maps and Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2026 Lexus NX came with a standard 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 14-inch display available in higher packages. The NX featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless device charging, and a head-up display in premium packages. The voice recognition system offered some convenience, but the touch slider for fan speed was awkward. The instrument cluster presented information efficiently, though it resembled older analog displays.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ included standard safety features like 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 2026 Lexus NX boasted a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping aids. Additional features like park assist and a 360-degree camera system were available. The NX was named a 2025 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, though it missed the highest award due to an "Acceptable" score in one crash test. The NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the NX.