Meeting Cadillac’s New EV Era
A few days ago, while walking with my wife, I came across a LYRIQ in person.
And even from a distance, I could instantly tell—
that’s definitely a Cadillac.
The brand has always put enormous effort into design, and this car is no exception.
Even though it’s an EV, the artificially sculpted front grille, the long, clean LED signature,
and especially the welcome light show all scream Cadillac.
That lighting sequence wasn’t just well-designed—it felt like something they poured serious money into.
I saw it at night, so I couldn’t get a good look at the rear,
but the front alone gave me the strongest first impression I’ve ever felt from an electric car.
So, what exactly makes the LYRIQ appealing?
Let’s dive into it.
Cadillac, the Brand That Lives on Design, LYRIQ Is No Exception
Cadillac has always been a brand that thrives on bold design.
If any automaker could be described as “design-driven,” it’s definitely Cadillac—
and LYRIQ proves that once again.
- The Black Crystal Grille that lights up entirely during the welcome sequence
- The vertical DRLs paired with sharp, horizontal headlamps
- And the way the front still looks like it has a massive grille—despite being an EV
Americans treat a car’s front end as its identity, almost like a badge of honor.
And LYRIQ embodies that philosophy perfectly.
During my honeymoon in LA, I noticed how people there adored the huge chrome grilles on trucks like
the Silverado and GMC Sierra.
That exact design DNA flows right into the LYRIQ.
From the side, it leans heavily toward a coupe-like SUV profile.
The roofline tapers smoothly, and the C-pillar sits in a beautiful, sleek angle—
almost giving the impression of a CT6 transformed into an electric coupe SUV.
The light strip stretching all the way to the C-pillar feels like Cadillac declaring,
“We will not cut costs when it comes to design.”
And honestly, I love that.
The rear isn’t as flashy as the front,
but it stays clean, elegant, and unmistakably Cadillac.
Interior: the 33-inch OLED dominates everything
Many cars now use digital clusters, but LYRIQ’s 33-inch curved OLED panel is on another level.
It’s the same style of display found in the latest Escalade—just sized differently.
If you love American luxury design,
this interior hits the sweet spot perfectly.
Ultium, GM’S Next Generation EV Platform
LYRIQ rides on GM’s next-gen Ultium platform.
The biggest advantage?
It’s basically a Lego-like modular EV architecture.
Sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks—GM builds all of them on this same foundation.
LYRIQ also uses a high-nickel NCM battery,
built with large-format pouch cells.
And what does that mean?
Simple: it’s expensive.
If you’re not familiar with NCM, LFP, or EV battery chemistry in general,
I’d recommend checking out my write-up on NCM vs LFP to understand why LYRIQ costs what it costs.
you can read Post
Performance, Too Weak for the Price Point.
LYRIQ AWD specs:
- 500 hp
- 0–100 km/h in the mid-4s
- 102 kWh battery
On paper, that sounds decent.
But here’s the reality:
most modern EVs already hit 2–3 seconds in 0–100,
and 100 kWh batteries are becoming standard.
Performance-wise, LYRIQ isn’t exceptional.
It isn’t great value either.
The competitiveness simply isn’t there.
You buy LYRIQ because you love Cadillac, not because it’s the fastest.
Competing cars at the same price:
- Taycan 4S → 2s
- Model S → low 2s
- BMW iX M60 → 3.8s
- So LYRIQ’s 4-second range?
- Just average.
“From a performance standpoint, LYRIQ has no compelling reason at this price point.”
Price in US, Europe and Asia. is it All reasonable?
In Korea, it starts around 107 million KRW.
It’s expensive in Europe as well, although in the U.S. Cadillac’s brand recognition makes it more acceptable.
But in markets like Japan and Europe, people love
small, efficient, practical EVs,
which is the complete opposite of what LYRIQ is.
Japan even has the garage certification requirement—
you must prove you physically have a parking space before owning a car.
A nearly 5-meter EV like LYRIQ simply doesn’t fit their lifestyle.
And let’s be honest:
Cadillac has never been a “value-for-money” brand.
So naturally, LYRIQ struggles outside the U.S.
So Who would Actually choose LYRIQ?
If you love Cadillac, you’re already halfway sold.
I personally love the brand too,
and at one point LYRIQ was genuinely a contender on my EV list.
If money weren’t an issue, I’d probably get one just for fun.
Why did I consider it?
- I genuinely like Cadillac’s design language
- I love the harmony of straight lines and lighting
- The “luxury for luxury’s sake” welcome lighting absolutely stole my heart
Pretty simple.
But if you care even slightly about value, efficiency, or practicality,
LYRIQ is not the car for you.
You’re better off with Tesla or something similar.
Tesla builds excellent cars—
they’re just aiming at a completely different target audience.
If I were a billionaire,
LYRIQ would easily be one of my “fun toys.”
But realistically?
It’s not a value-oriented EV by any means.
Cadillac has always invested heavily in design,
and they famously employ a huge design team.
People who understand Cadillac’s design philosophy
won’t hesitate to pay for it.
And honestly? I get that.
I agree with LYRIQ being positioned at this price point.
I’d always said that ” The most beautiful car in your eyes will always be the best car for you”
