The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is an important vehicle, ushering in a brand-new all-electric era for the luxury marque. The question is – does the new EV crossover have what it takes to satisfy the internal-combustion faithful? Now, we’re watching as world-famous ICE-devotee Jay Leno gives his review of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Debut Edition.
As expected, Leno has a long list of gasoline-powered Caddy models in his collection, including examples from 1918, 1925, and a 1957 as well. With that in mind, the importance of the brand’s first all-electric production vehicle isn’t lost on him. “I’ve always been a fan of the brand,” Leno states. “And there’s a lot of history here.”
Taking center stage in Jay Leno’s garage, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq features a single GM Ultium electric motor and rear-wheel drive, with a 100.4 kWh GM Ultium lithium-ion battery pack providing the juice. Output is rated at 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, while range-per-charge is around 300 miles.
All impressive specs, no doubt, but Leno seems particularly impressed by the price point. At around $60,000, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is relatively affordable for a luxury crossover, especially for something in the EV category.
Joining Leno is Cadillac Program Engineering Manager Bryan Stewart, who provides important background information and specs as Leno goes over the crossover, front to back. The pair also point out a few of the interesting features, such as the touch-sensitive charge port and doors, as well as some hidden easter eggs, such as the merlettes embossed in the side of the dash.
The Cadillac Lyriq rides on the GM BEV3 platform, which is a modular skateboard-type architecture that provides a wealth of options and configurations, including the ability to add an extra motor up front, as will be the case with all-wheel drive variants of the Cadillac Lyriq. The platform also gives the crossover a flat floor, which enhances the space and design inside the cabin.
So then, how does all this work for a gear head like Leno? Hit play to see for yourself:
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Comments
I watched this last night. It was interesting how Jay says he can see a place for EVs and he likes the Lyriq for quiet cruising; a traditional Cadillac virtue. He says you can still have the fun ICE car but you don’t necessarily need that for cruising up the 405 going to work. The GM engineer, Tony Romo, nods and agrees but that isn’t at all what his company is planning. His company is planning on taking that choice away and selling only EVs.
Also interesting was how Leno, a devout car enthusiast, keeps calling the Cadillac Blackwing models the “Batwings”. I was surprised by that especially since Leno had just tested a CT5 Blackwing with another GM engineer. Romo doesn’t correct him either.
I disagree. He’s saying for people that want ICE vehicles they can do the same as horse owners. They will become enthusiast vehicles. Sure people will need them to tow, race, etc., but the vast majority of people just need them to go to the store, work, and weekend getaways.
Except in GM’s future all the horses will be killed. That’s the point.
Leno is talking about a future where ICE vehicles are still around for enthusiasts, and Romo, nods in agreement but that’s not what GM says they’re going to do.
But GM won’t be the only car manufacturer will they, so why paint it as all ICEs will be gone? He simply acknowledged ICEs will still be around. Plus you’ll still have secondary market to buy ICEs.
GM is going to keep producing ICE vehicles as long as it is profitable. They won’t say that part out loud but it’s obvious.
Don’t forget FUN!
I hope that’s the case. For most people who just want a commuter car, BEV’s are perfect. But for enthusiasts who want a sporty driving experience ICE is just so much better. Yea BEV’s have ridiculous acceleration but ICE has so much better handling. A Tesla Model S Plaid can do 0-60 in like 2s compared to a Camaro ZL1 1LE that does 3.8s. But a ZL1 1LE is WAY FASTER than a Model S Plaid when it comes to track lap times, almost a 50 second difference which is like 100+ car lengths on the Nurburgring. When it comes to sports cars BEV’s are like the new “muscle cars” fast in a straight line poor handling.
That’s not bad $60k usd for a luxury Cadillac BEV SUV. That’ll definitely give Tesla some competition. 5600 lbs is pretty heavy, the average weight of ICE cars is 3000-4000 lbs. But it seems like they’ve worked on hiding that weight with centre of gravity, weight distribution and power.
I’m still going to be driving ICE for as long as I can because of refueling/charging inconvenience, but hopefully one day charging ports will be more accessible.
batteries are heavy…
Unfortunately, the MSRP starts at $63k – not $60K…. Hopefully this is an “SUV” by the EPA’s definition so that I’ll get a $7500 discount – or rather the dealership will who will then apply it to me. That is if the latest thing by the Feds get signed.
If GM truly does get rid of all ICE vehicles people will simply buy them from others. Doesn’t make sense to me that either FORD or GM would get rid of a business where this is one of their MAJOR core strengths.
Having said that, I’m disappointed in the over half hour long video. Not much technical information at all – other than I did here that the 19.2 kw charger was included in the very, very few “DEBUT” models sold…. Mine on order of course (since only the people who got in line in the first ten minutes got the DEBUT) has the same (to me) totally useless thing… The saving grace is the MSRP of the car – ‘SUPPOSEDLY’ is low…
I’ll have to take a good look at the vehicle – June and July have passed so we’ll have to see how many they ship in August…
One question I would have is – how is the MAXIMUM regen accomplished?
IN both my 2019 volt, and my 2022 Bolt EUV (and as was the case in the 2017 Bolt EV I traded in) – you have to do 2 simultaneous things to get the maximum regen, which I use at almost every stop light… It involves putting the car in either ‘low’ or in one-pedal mode, something ‘easy’ to do on all of the above vehicles… This one apparently involves menus and touch screens – so it will *NOT* be easily changeable.
And as mentioned by several others – the first thing to be defeated is that tackey light show giving one unneeded, and unwanted attention when getting in the car.
But all GM cars are like that… Hopefully the overall value of the car will be Good… If its GREAT – then so much the better.
When my kids come for my keys, I’ll trade them for a self driving EV
Wonderful features right down to the power operated door on the charge port.
Until you have to fix them.
Interesting that aside from the regen features, a lot of the same features are on my 2022 Acadia Denali AWD V6. Jay mentioned that the driver’s seat was tickling his testicles… That is the GM vehicle radar indicating the vehicle is getting too close to another in forward or backup mode. The foot swipe feature to lift and close the rear liftgate is on the Acadia… Just lights up “GMC” instead. I did not see any heads-up display activated. I have mine dimmed (turned off) as I find it very distracting. GM has come a long way with its infotainment systems partnering up with Bose for speakers. Amazing sound.
That being said, I still do not like the Lyriq. Can anyone please tell me what that means anyway???
I’m waiting for the Pyrrhiq. Supposedly the “LYRIQ” puts a Song in your Heart.
Unfortunately, the MSRP starts at $63k – not $60K…. Hopefully this is an “SUV” by the EPA’s definition so that I’ll get a $7500 discount – or rather the dealership will who will then apply it to me. That is if the latest thing by the Feds get signed.
If GM truly does get rid of all ICE vehicles people will simply buy them from others. Doesn’t make sense to me that either FORD or GM would get rid of a business where this is one of their MAJOR core strengths.
Having said that, I’m disappointed in the over half hour long video. Not much technical information at all – other than I did hear that the 16 – 19.2 kw charger was included in the very, very few “DEBUT” models sold…. Mine on order of course (since only the people who got in line in the first ten minutes got the DEBUT) has the same (to me) totally useless thing… The saving grace is the MSRP of the car – ‘SUPPOSEDLY’ is low…
GM doesn’t listen to customers very well.
ALMOST EVERYONE complained about the 55 kw (MAXIMUM) fast charge rate… In the almost 6 years the BOLT EV has been around, NO ONE and no weblog article has ever complained about the size of the 32 ampere charger…So what does GM do with the BOLT? Increase the size of the charger to 48 amperes but leaves the size of the fast charger pathetically slow. And then provide an 80 ampere charger for the 2wd LYRIQ… Of course, all the PERFORMANCE people will only get the 48 ampere one with the 4wd LYRIQ – and the 80 Ampere one will be unavailable for them – same as it will be unavailable for other performanence models such as the Blazer SS.
I’ll have to take a good look at the vehicle – June and July have passed so we’ll have to see how many they ship in August…
One question I would have is – how is the MAXIMUM regen accomplished?
IN both my 2019 volt, and my 2022 Bolt EUV (and as was the case in the 2017 Bolt EV I traded in) – you have to do 2 simultaneous things to get the maximum regen, which I use at almost every stop light… It involves putting the car in either ‘low’ or in one-pedal mode, something ‘easy’ to do on all of the above vehicles… This one apparently involves menus and touch screens – so it will *NOT* be easily changeable.
And as mentioned by several others – the first thing to be defeated is that tackey light show giving one unneeded, and unwanted attention when getting in the car.
But all GM cars are like that in that they have annoying things that the new car buyer must just tolerate..Such as on the VOLT it runs the electric heater whether you tell it to or specifically tell it *NOT* to, since you want to save the precious electricity from the battery.
OH, well, hopefully the overall value of the car will be Good… If its GREAT – then so much the better.
yup.. long video of Jay gushing over an EV… We learned one thing… Jay thinks the Lyriq is a “purdy” car… I personally do not like it… Pretty much no technical talk at all…
I looked at the time (32 mins) and bypassed, so thanks to all of you who suffered through it. My money is on Toyota and their commitment to hybrid technology. GM is dead wrong to think that there will be no ICE after 2035, so good luck to them. BTW, I’m not a GM hater. I just sold my 2012 Callaway Camaro for a 2023 C8 Stingray, and I’m on the Future Variant List for an e-Ray.
I just think GM is too woke to understand, and perhaps they are coddling for a reason, but I live in Disney’s backyard and they are feeling what it’s like when you mix woke politics with business. There’s a lot of runway between now and 2035, so we’ll see what moves they make in the long run.
Can I get a Corvette with a SMR? Asking for a friend.
GM is planning for the future. You can’t wake up in 2035 and say we need to do EVs. ICE technology is reaching a pinnacle without doing very exotic things that will make them even more expensive. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids are stepping stones, but not final destinations. As the world moves to EVs at a faster pace Toyota releasing another hybrid with 5 MPG increase it’s going to seem like yesterday’s tech.
I prefer hybrids over BEV’s too, because it would be more practical for someone like me who doesn’t have their own house with their own garage charger. Charging a BEV for half an hour to an hour at a charging station doesn’t sound like fun. With hybrids you can still get like 50+mpg while being able to fuel up to full in a couple minutes at the gas station.
Even BEV’s seem like a stepping stone in my opinion. Batteries are non recyclable and creates a lot of pollution, and majority of our electricity still comes from nuclear fission plants that creates nuclear waste which has to be buried underground for thousands of years.
I believe the future is going to be in hydrogen combustion. The only way I can see BEV’s being a long lasting thing is if we (as humans) are able to harness the power of nuclear fusion. Which still seems like a long way away.
I also bypassed the video. I don’t think there is a 32 minute long car video that I would watch. I live in Texas and we travel across the state regularly. I’m not thrilled about the limited range on the Lyriq. 400 real-world miles would be perfect. This would allow me to stop for a quick 10 to 20 minute charge while still traveling close to 600 miles with only one traditional stop.
I had similar thoughts as you with respect to Toyota, but they aren’t using their hybrid technology to increase range. The new Tundra has hybrid technology to improve the dinosaur of an engine, but I haven’t seen a significant improvement to mpgs to justify trading in my Silverado. The same goes for the Sequoia. I’m not interested in anything much smaller. The performance of the Highlander is lacking. Unless Toyota finds a better balance of performance and savings at the fuel pump, I can’t see how Toyota is the alternative to EVs.
Thanks for your comments. We are on our 2nd Highlander; our grandkids are still driving our 1st one. Haven’t delved into the details as you have plus I’m nowhere near ready to pull the trigger.
“As The World Moves” sounds like a great name for a soap opera. It’s more like as the World is being dragged kicking and screaming. Not going to debate the World’s readiness for total EV but please don’t patronize me and imply that that isn’t a forced march.
Looking forward to seeing Leno in the Celestiq.
5600 lbs. for the rwd model? My awd XTS Plat is 4200. Will the two motor version top 3 tons? That’s insane. I think Leno really thought the whole thing was a joke. After all, in his analogy he said rock and roll and rap are both music.