Toyota 4Runner 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 vertical light bars at the front, combined with nine LED headlights, created a captivating light show upon unlocking. The grille, adorned with lighting effects, varied across trims, with the Sport trim showcasing a dark triangular motif. The wraparound taillights and fender-mounted vertical lights added to its unique style, while the steeply raked rear window minimized the impact of the high-waisted tailgate.

Inside, the LYRIQ offered a luxurious experience with attention to detail. The seats featured C-shaped headrests and were fully leather-wrapped, providing the expected support and adjustments of a luxury brand. The interior boasted polished black window switches and door-mounted seat controls outlined in chrome, resting on stained wood. The armrest was padded with leather and trimmed with aluminum, forming a speaker grille at the driver's knee. The steering wheel was distinctively Cadillac, with knurled toggle switches and a sleek black panel of buttons. The air vents, controlled by swiveling knobs, added a retro touch. However, the floating centre console, while visually appealing, lacked practicality, offering no usable space beneath the cupholders.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner, in contrast, maintained a more traditional SUV design, evolving rather than revolutionizing its appearance. The exterior featured a bulkier, industrial personality with deep beveled creases and flared wheel arches, giving it a broad-shouldered stance. The design paid homage to previous generations, with elements like the slanted rearmost window, while retaining practical features like the sliding rear window for easier cargo access.

Inside, the 4Runner shared similarities with the Tacoma pickup truck, featuring a purposeful and comfortable cabin. While hard plastics were abundant for durability, there was light cushioning where needed. The materials quality was superior to competitors like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, though not as refined as the Land Rover Defender. The interior was well-organized, with logically placed controls and oversized knobs for easy adjustment, even with gloves. The off-road controls were grouped together for intuitive use, and the cockpit offered flexibility with auxiliary light controls and manual headlight adjustments. The 4Runner's interior was designed with practicality and user-friendliness in mind, catering to both on-road comfort and off-road capability.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more at home on the highway, offering a calm and poised ride. It featured two Chinese-sourced motors, delivering 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for continuous all-wheel drive (AWD). The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Both powertrains utilized a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with Cadillac claiming a range of 505 kilometres for rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 494 km for AWD. However, real-world testing showed a maximum range closer to 420 kilometres. Charging was efficient, with the battery topping up to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes at DC fast charging stations. Despite its impressive power, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The braking was strong, but the vehicle's weight raised concerns about durability under hard use.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner offered two engine options. The standard 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder produced 317 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid i-Force Max powertrain, based on the same engine, combined with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and electric motor, delivered 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid variant provided stronger power at lower speeds, ideal for off-roading. The 4Runner's new generation was quieter and more composed on pavement, with improved handling and reduced body roll. It retained its off-road prowess, with eight distinct packages offering varying levels of capability. The TRD Pro and Trailhunter models were particularly impressive, maintaining comfort and refinement on the road while excelling off-road.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in terms of 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 glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving, and the floating console lacked practicality, leaving valuables exposed. The centre cubby was small, and the rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch. Drive mode selection required navigating multiple menus, and the metal door handles, though integrated, could be mistaken for window switches. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, measuring 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner, measuring nearly 13 centimetres longer than its predecessor, offered minimal gains in passenger space. The front seats provided ample room for taller passengers, but the middle row was less accommodating, with adequate legroom and headroom. A third row was available on non-hybrid models, though it was cramped and lacked thigh support. The cockpit was well-organized, with logically placed controls and oversized knobs for easy adjustment. The off-road controls were grouped together for intuitive use, and the vehicle offered flexibility with auxiliary light controls and manual headlight adjustments. Storage options included slatted pockets, a dashboard tray, and a centre armrest bin. Cargo capacity measured 1,371 litres behind the second row, reduced to 1,206 litres in the Hybrid due to the raised floor for the batteries. A sturdy roof rack compensated for any cargo deficits, supporting a static load of 360 kilograms.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for lighting, the trip odometer, and gauge cluster layouts. While lacking augmented reality video feed, the instrument cluster was large and legible. The main touchscreen infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with simple menus and high-quality graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Super Cruise system provided hands-free driving, with a helpful coloured bar on the steering wheel indicating system status. The 19-speaker AKG stereo offered variable surround sound modes, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner boasted an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with an optional 14-inch touchscreen. Both were user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, along with a charging pad. Hybrid variants included a digital instrument panel, and most gas models offered it in extra-cost packages. Off-road models featured external camera views for precise tire placement, with automatic activation when the vehicle slowed. A 14-speaker JBL premium audio system was available, along with a portable centre speaker. Remote monitoring and control were accessible through a smartphone app, with a digital key function replacing the key fob.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came standard with forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, and a rear camera displayed on the rearview mirror. The LYRIQ received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system. It had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the Tacoma pickup truck on which it was based received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. All 4Runner models came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including frontal collision warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a traffic sign reader, and automatic high beams. The Proactive Driving Assist feature, which automatically slowed the vehicle on curves, could be disabled if desired. In Canada, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was also standard.