Mercedes-Benz GLE 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 varied across trims, with the Sport trim showcasing a dark triangular motif. The vehicle's aesthetics were further enhanced by thin, deployable door handles and wraparound taillights that accentuated its shoulder line. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted a luxurious interior with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display that was both functional and stylish.

In contrast, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a more traditional SUV appearance, with a rounded profile and a wide stance. Its design was a nod to previous generations, featuring squared-off wheel arches and a horizontal grille. The GLE Coupe models, however, had a fastback-style roofline that created odd proportions. Inside, the GLE offered a variety of interior colours, with features like chunky air vents, mesh speaker grilles, and ambient lighting that added to its upscale feel. The interior was designed to be both functional and luxurious, with a focus on providing a comfortable and special driving experience.

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, while the standard single rear motor offered 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Both setups used a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with a claimed range of 505 kilometres for RWD and 494 km for AWD. However, real-world testing showed a range closer to 420 kilometres. The LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight of 2,630 kilograms, leading to significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. Despite strong braking, the vehicle lacked handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrain options, starting with the GLE 350's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The GLE 450 featured a 3.0-litre inline-six with 375 hp and 369 lb-ft, while the GLE 450e combined a turbo-four with electric assist for 381 hp and 479 lb-ft. The AMG GLE 53 and AMG GLE 63 S performance models delivered 429 hp and 603 hp, respectively. The GLE 63 S, in particular, offered exhilarating acceleration with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds. Despite its impressive powertrains, the GLE felt larger than it was, with limited nimbleness even in AMG spec. Maneuvering in tight spaces was challenging, but the vehicle's overall refinement was commendable.

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 floating console offered limited space, and the glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving. 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 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available in two-row and three-row configurations, though third-row space specs were not provided. The GLE offered competitive headroom and legroom, with slightly more space for second-row passengers compared to rivals. Cargo space was also competitive, with 894 litres behind the second-row seats and 1,790 litres with all seats folded. The centre console provided reasonable storage space, and the GLE's towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms was impressive, matching the Audi Q7 and surpassing other competitors.

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, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo offered variable surround sound modes.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE's interface consisted of dual 12.3-inch screens, creating a continuous horizontal display. The MBUX system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in navigation. Multiple access methods, including a touchpad and voice recognition, were available, though they could be confusing. The AMG GLE 63 S Coupe offered additional settings for drive modes and damper firmness, with off-road displays and a "transparent hood" function for enhanced visibility.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came standard with 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. 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 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, with some available as part of an optional package. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. The optional Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. The GLE received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, though its front-crash prevention tech received mixed ratings. NHTSA ratings were not available at the time of writing.