Cadillac LYRIQ vs Cadillac VISTIQ

After a shortened 2023 introduction, the 2024 Lyriq is the first full model year of Cadillac's midsize electric SUV. The Lyriq is the luxury version of the GM Ultium EV platform used in other EV SUVs, including the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Honda Prologue, and Acura ZDX. With ample power, just over 300 miles of range, and a properly upscale interior that finally looks different than a Chevy, the Lyriq is a good contender if you're shopping for a higher-priced, two-row electric SUV. We tested a fully-loaded Lyriq Sport at nearly $80,000.

Verdict: As an EV, the Lyriq is average. As a Cadillac, it’s much better than anything else in the showroom. Traditional brand hallmarks, such as a cavernous back seat and a gentle ride, blend with big screens and significantly improved material quality. But it's still not up to the luxury standard that Cadillac promises.

Like the Vistiq, the Cadillac Escalade IQ already offers three rows of seats and electric power. However, just as Cadillac sells the midsize XT6 alongside the full-size Escalade SUV (both internal-combustion vehicles), there's space to launch a smaller (but still generously-proportioned) three-row EV with a Cadillac crest. Enter the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, a new model the brand describes as a “baby Escalade” that’s perfectly sized to compete with the Lucid Gravity, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S, and Volvo EX90.

Verdict: The Vistiq is a practical three-row SUV that looks and drives like a true Cadillac, without the excess of its big sibling.