Volkswagen Taos vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering affordability and practicality while maximizing passenger comfort. Despite its small SUV classification, the Taos was nearly as roomy inside as the larger Tiguan model, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs available. The Highline trim, with its Cornflower Blue paint and 19-inch alloy wheels, provided a stylish and sporty appearance. Inside, the Taos Highline featured light grey leather seats and a premium look reminiscent of a more affordable Audi, enhancing its appeal despite its higher price point.

In contrast, the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ boasted a striking exterior design with a long hood and low ground clearance, reminiscent of the classic Seville. The vehicle's street presence was undeniable, with vertical light bars and a solid grille that played a light show upon unlocking. The Sport trim, with its dark triangular motif and 22-inch wheels, added to its imposing look. Inside, the LYRIQ offered a luxurious experience with leather-wrapped seats, chrome-outlined controls, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating centre console was a design misstep, offering little usable space.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel drive models and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic for all-wheel drive versions. Despite its sporty appearance, the Taos struggled with power delivery, often exhibiting unpredictable powertrain responses. The vehicle averaged 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, slightly above the official rating. While the Taos offered a firm and stable driving experience, its lack of power was evident compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, on the other hand, featured a dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup included a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Despite its impressive power figures, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its substantial weight of 2,630 kilograms. The vehicle's steering was uninspiring, and its handling lacked the agility expected from Cadillac. However, the LYRIQ excelled in long-distance comfort, with a smooth ride and a range of up to 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior with various trim options, including cloth, artificial leatherette, and real leather seats. The Highline trim featured heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. The Taos provided ample rear-seat room and generous cargo space, with up to 1,866 litres available with the rear seats folded down. However, the interior materials included hard plastics, and some storage areas were not lined, potentially causing noise and vibration.

In contrast, the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port were notable issues. The floating console offered limited storage space, and the glovebox was difficult to access while driving. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo capacity was smaller than most compact SUVs, offering 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came equipped with standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch screen for lower trims and a 10.25-inch display for the Highline. The infotainment system varied by trim, with the Highline offering an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker Beats Audio system. However, the user experience was marred by hidden virtual controls, a cumbersome radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for lighting and trip information. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The available Super Cruise system provided an excellent hands-free driving experience, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its safety features with standard Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Taos received decent crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though not perfect.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came standard with forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat. 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 an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system.