2023 Cadillac Lyriq First Driving Impressions Review: Video
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The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq arrives as the luxury marque’s very first all-electric production vehicle, combining all the traditional opulence and comfort expected of the brand with the cutting-edge features of a modern EV. GM Authority recently got an opportunity to climb behind the wheel of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq and take it for a drive, and now, we’re relaying our first driving impressions with the following exclusive video.
Hosted by GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft, this exclusive 2023 Cadillac Lyriq driving impressions video was captured in Park City, Utah, and includes a stint on the highway, around town, and on tighter country roads. The video kicks things off on the highway, and right off the bat, Luft is impressed by the EV’s impressively low NVH levels.
“Quiet, collected, comfortable,” Luft says. “Those would be the words I’d use to describe the Lyriq.”
Indeed, with its GM Ultium battery pack and GM Ultium drive motor technology onboard for motivation, the typical noises, vibration, and harshness associated with internal combustion are eliminated. Refinement abounds, and in fact, even though there’s no internal-combustion noise, the road noise, wind noise, and even the usual chassis squeaks and rattles are all gone, leaving only silence, even at 60 mph.
The EV powertrain also provides “healthy” acceleration, doling out 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque through a single rear-mounted motor. For those buyers that need more performance, GM will also offer the Cadillac Lyriq Luxury AWD for the 2023 model year, featuring a dual-motor powertrain making more than 500 pound-feet of torque. That said, the single-motor Lyriq RWD still has more than enough juice to get up to speed.
“This has plenty of get-up-and-go to zip through traffic, to accelerate through a highway onramp,” Luft adds.
The handling, meanwhile, is surprisingly playful for such a heavy vehicle, with the suspension easily absorbing road irregularities and communicating what’s going on under the driver.
Looking for more? Then check out the full 2023 Cadillac Lyriq first impressions video right here:
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No frunk?
i don’t like the confetti cut-outs in the door panel but everything else looks pretty good. there is hope at cadillac!!!
steve: Have to agree with you there. Maybe it will look better in person. Same for the outside to me. I’m really excited to see the Celestiq when it’s shown.
Gotta love those grey seats…
Reading a variety of reviews from various publications, it sounds like many are suggesting the interior of the Lyriq is second to no other luxury brands. That’s awesome news if that’s true. The Lyriq doesn’t share internal components with any other GM model and that will be ongoing for all Cadillac models.
Looking forward to seeing them and what the next Cadillac products will be like in the future.
Isn’t the whole idea behind Ultium that there will be a few skateboard platforms and a common, scalable battery pack driving generic electric motors and then various bodies will be attached to this base unit? I’m not sure how one would then conclude that a vehicle built using this approach “doesn’t share internal components with any other GM model”. Seems to me it actually shares, or will share, everything not seen.
Wow, I specifically called out the interior not being shared with other GM brands and you go right to the Ultium system. If you’re going to continue to hate, why don’t you just go elsewhere?
Does it bother you how all the reviews are praising the Lyriq? Can’t wait to see what to see what hate you spew about the Celestiq.
From what I could see, the interior looks really plain, boring… Maybe I am missing something???
Well, sitting in an actual car and actually looking at the fit/finish of the materials might be a good start.
Now maybe the design/simplicity to the interior isn’t for you if you prefer 100s of buttons like the Pontiac’s of the 90s contained. But that’s your own personal choice.
Keep in mind that Cadillac is actually using buttons for the commonly used selections and not burying everything into the infotainment screen. You should be praising that as it’s becoming less common these days.
I should have clarified myself… I was not talking about the dash… I was talking about the seats, door panels, roof liner… The dash looks great. the rest of the interior looks mono-tone… very simple, one color with very little to catch the eye.
Yes, try sitting inside a Tesla now that is boring.
GMC Fan,
If you meant “interior components” that would be a different thing from “internal components”. It does appear that the interior is unique but then most Cadillac interiors have been unique in the past so I didn’t understand that to be your point. If I misunderstood you, I apologize for that.
I do think GM’s plan going forward is to share everything under the skin with, perhaps, a Brightdrop, Hummer, and Cadillac all using the same electric motors and the same scalable battery pack, etc. that would be sharing all internal components.
I do agree that the brands will be sharing Ultium components and I’m very curious how GM will distinguish Ultium between the various brands. It could all be programming of the electric motors that gives select brands/models different performance capabilities.
Yes, I used interior/internal interchangeably. Sorry about the confusion.
The other area GM needs to distinguish the brands is the interior. Based on what I’m reading, GM has finally set Cadillac above their other brands. Great news so far and hopefully Buick and GMC can get similar differences that separate themselves from Chevy.
The real problem today is the lack of standardized components across the GM line. The engines and transmissions and yes the electric systems must share a basic design. This is needed to make diagnostics and repairs faster do to the lack of skilled techs. All dealers are faced with the shortages of trained people who have the product knowledge needed. GM must develop a system that can be used on everything they build. And provide better training to pinpoint those problems in a faster time frame to get repairs out faster in the service departments. The more compartmentalized each division is the lack of cross trained people are.
I take a great amount of time each year to keep up with such changes. I have to deal with every model built across the board. The amount of time spent due to that is very costly. Time is money and that affects profit and quality of service. The difference should become a matter of style and cosmetics from one brand of vehicle within the GM line. That was the point within the corporations overall plan to improve efficiency and profitable operations. Cut out wast and build dependable proven products that work. That is why the big “T” is eating away at their market.
Ci2Eye: I agree with you. The way I read GMC Fan’s post was the same as you did. Sometimes I fail to make my point very well, so I’m thinking that GMC Fan knew what they meant but said it in a way that others didn’t understand. I like that you apologized for the misunderstanding. We (and myself too) need more of that in today’s volatile world.
I can see people seeking smooth quiet good handling cars will love the GM vehicles.
My last GM product lasted 16 years… The ride of my new 2022 Acadia Denali is very smooth and quiet. No road noise at all
I see the small speakers on the headrest. Alex, how is the audio?
My issue is that Cadillac is not launching its best edition, the with 4wd, from the word go. I think it bad judgement when any one with a pulse knows it will be compared to Tesla. The acceleration figures are mentioned in most reviews as acceptable. This is essentially a relaunch of Cadillac. Shouldn’t they have shot for a superlative? I’m sure it’s a good car. I’m sure it’s as quiet as they say. I just think that they should’ve matched Tesla off the bat. Luxury cars are about bragging rights. I personally hate that. But that’s what that market demands. For the luxury market the acceleration figures require excuses and rationalizations. That may work with Chevrolet- not Cadillac.
I disagree with you. Appreciation of a luxury class car is not dependent upon being the fastest. Being fast is good enough for a car which excels in all the other things – style, comfort, ease of operation, etc. And so far from what I’ve seen on YouTube and online, the Lyriq is a smashing hit out of the park.
When the time comes for the dual motor Lyriq, it will be another thing to celebrate. IMO it’s better to build up over time rather than to build down. Especially in the luxury class of automobile.
I disagree – the malaise at Cadillac really needs a big hit to jump start the brands perception. Aside from the Escalade the Cadillac lineup is not competitive in the legacy luxury brand market, they may be able to be competitive with Infinity, Buick, Audi, etc… NOT, Mercedes Benz and laughably far from Rolls or Bentley. As an electric car it should be easy to compete with Tesla on its luxury merits, because a luxury car Tesla is not -but as an electric car I don’t think it can compete with Tesla’s electric car merits. Thus, the need to strike with the premium drivetrain at launch.
Win in the luxury segment AND the electric car segment rather than lose at both.
AWD performance model will be available very early next year. IMO, the perception of Cadillac is changing and I see more younger people on the web commenting on new Cadillacs and etc. Sales of the Escalade is going strong and the LYRIQ is sold out for ’23 and preorders are currently underway for ’24. Even the Blackwings almost are spoken for.
For the LYRIQ in reviews, I see comments of posters raving the interior and exterior of the LYRIQ and several come to say that they never consider Cadillac in the past till now and this vehicle is changing mindsets.
It will get better from here on out and also, there are Premium Luxury, Sport and V models of this car coming out within a year with better materials from Luxury models which is exceptional from the start.
I can’t wait to see these stuck in the snow in Michigan!