Buick Enclave vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2026 Buick Enclave shared its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, yet it carved out its own identity with elegant exterior lines and a welcoming cabin that aligned with Buick's entry-level luxury image. Its exterior featured a streamlined look with a swooping hood and narrow accent lights, while the oversized grille tied it to its smaller siblings. The Sport Touring trim showcased a glossy black grille, contrasting with the silvery metallic finish on other trims. From the side and back, the Enclave's design was subtle, blending into traffic like a well-fitting gray suit, emphasizing quiet refinement over excitement.

Inside, the Enclave boasted a classy horizontal dashboard with a modern curved digital display. The materials were superior to those in the Traverse, with more soft-touch surfaces and fewer hard plastics. However, the dashboard's low placement created an unusual driving position, making the driver feel too high. Despite this, the Enclave's cabin was as appealing as the Acura MDX and better than the Lexus TX. The top Avenir trim added premium leather and upgraded ambient lighting, enhancing its luxury appeal.

The 2027 Cadillac LYRIQ stood out with its striking design, maintaining its handsome appearance over the years. Its interior was a blend of technology and old-school luxury, with top-notch materials and tactile climate control switches. Despite past issues with build quality, the test vehicle showed improvements, suggesting Cadillac had addressed these concerns. Buyers were advised to thoroughly inspect their vehicle before purchase.

The LYRIQ's driving experience balanced comfort and refinement with precise steering and good body control. Its ride comfort was impressive, even with 22-inch wheels, offering a sophisticated feel compared to the Optiq. The LYRIQ provided three braking settings, including one-pedal driving options, offering a smart and distinctive approach to braking.

The 2026 Buick Enclave was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. The Enclave accelerated to 60 mph in just over 7 seconds, though it felt slower due to the dull transmission response and loud engine noises. The brakes were predictable and easy to modulate, while the suspension prioritized ride quality over handling. The top Avenir trim featured adaptive dampers for improved handling and comfort. The Enclave offered a respectable 5,000-pound towing capacity with an optional trailering package.

The 2027 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 102-kWh battery pack with a DC fast-charging speed of 190 kW. It switched to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, facilitating Tesla Supercharger use. The single-motor RWD model produced 365 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA-rated range of 326 miles. The dual-motor AWD Lyriq-V delivered 615 hp and 650 lb-ft, with a range of up to 285 miles. The tested AWD model offered 515 hp and 450 lb-ft, with a range of 319 miles using the standard 11.5-kW AC charger. Despite its power, the LYRIQ's throttle was tuned for refined, linear acceleration, reminiscent of a torque-rich V8. Its driving experience balanced comfort and refinement with precise steering and good body control.

The 2026 Buick Enclave offered second-row captain's chairs, limiting passenger capacity to seven but providing a central pathway to the third row. Taller passengers enjoyed ample space in the middle row, while the third row accommodated adults up to five-foot-ten comfortably. The Enclave boasted 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 57.1 cubic feet with the third row folded and 97.5 cubic feet with the second row stowed. The Power package included power-folding third-row seatbacks and a hands-free power liftgate. The front seats provided ample storage, with a large center armrest bin and a giant tray under the center console.

The 2027 Cadillac LYRIQ's interior storage was nearly as good as its Optiq sibling's, with large cupholders, wide door bins, and a deep center armrest bin. The cargo space offered 28 cubic feet behind the back seat, with a larger under-floor storage compartment. The LYRIQ's back seat provided abundant legroom, accommodating six-footers comfortably. It was wider than the Optiq, making it easier to fit three people across.

The 2026 Buick Enclave featured a 30-inch curved digital display with a Google Built-in operating system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, a WiFi hotspot, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was praised for its sharp graphics and quick response. Physical buttons for climate controls allowed for less distracting adjustments. The Power package added a head-up display, while voice commands were handled by Amazon Alexa. The standard Bose audio system lacked some punch, but the top Avenir trim offered a 16-speaker system for improved audio quality.

The 2027 Cadillac LYRIQ's OLED touchscreen was beautifully crisp and bright, contributing to the cabin's luxurious look. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Google built-in functions. The AKS audio system with Dolby Atmos provided sensational sound quality, with speaker grilles visible throughout the cabin.

The 2026 Buick Enclave received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with standard driver assistance features including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Power package added a digital rearview mirror and GM's SuperCruise, allowing for hands-free highway driving on select roads.

The 2027 Cadillac LYRIQ came standard with driver-assistance features, including GM's Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assist system. It received five stars for overall safety from the NHTSA and top marks from the IIHS for crash safety and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention tech. However, it received an Acceptable score for vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention and a Poor headlight score due to excessive glare.