Volkswagen Tiguan vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking presence on the road, with its sleek exterior styling reminiscent of a long sedan rather than a typical SUV. Its design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, while the illuminated grille and sequential turn signals enhanced its visual appeal. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, such as leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a unique steering wheel design. However, the floating centre console was a minor misstep, offering limited functionality despite its stylish appearance.

In contrast, the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan embraced a modern redesign, shedding its conventional compact SUV look for a sleeker, more contemporary appearance. The front end featured narrower headlights and a larger grille, drawing inspiration from VW's electric vehicle lineup. The Tiguan's sportier silhouette was achieved through shorter overhangs and a tapered rear hatch. Inside, the Tiguan's interior was more minimalist, with a tablet-like infotainment display and a digital instrument panel. The gear selector's relocation to the steering column allowed for increased storage space, while the materials used were average for its class, with some areas prioritizing durability over luxury.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more at home on the highway, offering a calm and poised ride. Its dual-motor powertrain delivered 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power without aggressive acceleration. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered a range of up to 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive, though real-world conditions saw closer to 420 kilometres. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its substantial weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Its eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive provided smooth and linear power delivery. The Tiguan's acceleration was average for its class, reaching 100 km/h in approximately 8.5 seconds. Its suspension favoured comfort, effectively smoothing out road imperfections while maintaining composure in corners. The Tiguan's cabin was notably quiet, contributing to a comfortable driving experience. A more powerful Turbo variant was anticipated for 2026, promising increased performance for those seeking a sportier drive.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced some challenges in terms of 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 inconvenient 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 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, improved interior space by eliminating the third row of seats, resulting in increased second-row legroom. The removal of capacitive-touch buttons in favour of traditional controls enhanced usability. The centre console offered ample storage, with cupholders, a smartphone slot, and a deep armrest bin. The Tiguan's cargo capacity behind the first-row seatbacks was 1,668 litres, though the space behind the second row was yet to be finalized. The angled liftgate hatch limited loading of bulkier items, but remote seatback releases and a power liftgate added convenience.

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, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a digital instrument panel and a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 15-inch display available on the top trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, complemented by a wireless phone charger with a cooling fan. The infotainment system featured capacitive-touch sliders, but a new volume knob on the centre console improved usability. The standard audio system performed well, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system available on the top trim.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a range of 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 an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan's crash test results were not yet available, but it came equipped with standard advanced safety features such as forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. The Emergency Assist system and post-collision braking added an extra layer of safety. The Highline R-Line trim offered additional features like a head-up display and a surround-view camera system.