Lincoln Navigator vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that drew inspiration from the classic Seville Elegante of the early 1980s. Its long hood and low ground clearance gave it the appearance of a sleek sedan rather than a traditional SUV. The exterior 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, with its dark triangular motif and 22-inch wheels, added to its imposing presence. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, including leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console lacked practicality, offering no usable space beneath the cupholders.

In contrast, the 2025 Lincoln Navigator embraced a more understated glamour, toning down its previous glitzy appearance. The Black Label Special Edition package added blacked-out wheels and details, with the illuminated star logo on the grille and light bars providing a touch of elegance. The Navigator's design was simpler and cleaner, with new 24-inch wheel designs and the exclusive Sunrise Copper paint colour adding flash. Inside, the Navigator featured a minimalist cabin design with a 48-inch panoramic display and an 11.1-inch touchscreen. While the interior materials were generally of high quality, some cheap-looking elements remained. The Navigator's Black Label trim offered luxurious features, including power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated second-row captain's chairs and a dual-touchscreen entertainment system.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, prioritized comfort over sportiness. It excelled on highways, offering a calm and poised ride with a dual-motor powertrain producing 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided a claimed range of 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive and 494 km with all-wheel drive. However, real-world testing showed a maximum range closer to 420 kilometres. The LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. Regenerative braking helped reduce stress on the friction brakes, but the overall chassis needed improvement.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator continued to use a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and a towing capacity of up to 3,950 kilograms with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. The Navigator's 4WD system and adaptive damping suspension provided decent grip and body motion control, although the ride quality was rough, especially with the 24-inch wheels. The Navigator excelled on smooth highways, offering a quiet and composed ride. BlueCruise, Lincoln's hands-free driving system, allowed for comfortable long-distance travel.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose motorized charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray in the dash were notable issues. The floating console lacked practicality, and the glovebox was difficult to access while driving. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo hold was smaller than most compact SUVs, with 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator excelled in interior space and cargo capacity, though taller passengers found the rear seats less accommodating. The Navigator featured Perfect Position seats with up to 24-way power adjustment, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Black Label trim offered 30-way adjustment and massage functionality. The Navigator's cargo area was versatile, with a new 40/20/40-split third row and a Split Gate tailgate design. The Navigator L provided even more cargo space, with volumes expanding to 1,022, 2,135, and 3,443 litres, depending on the seat configuration.

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 excellent sound quality.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator introduced the Lincoln Digital Experience infotainment system with a 48-inch panoramic display and an 11.1-inch centre touchscreen. The system integrated Google Built-in and Alexa Built-in, offering an intuitive interface. However, some controls, such as air vent adjustments, were only accessible through the touchscreen, which could be distracting while driving. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system provided a satisfying listening experience, and additional tech features included Phone As A Key and Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came equipped 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 had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator offered an extensive list of standard advanced driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. Additional features included intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and BlueCruise, Lincoln's hands-free driving system. BlueCruise 1.4 provided driver-signaled automatic lane changes and in-lane repositioning. The Navigator had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.