Ford Edge vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent design since its 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's contemporary styling. This refresh resulted in a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents to signify their premium status, while the Edge ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered similar exterior styling without the performance enhancements and higher price tag of the ST. Inside, the Edge's interior began to show its age, with a design that struggled to keep up with new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, both featuring contrast stitching.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a testament to Cadillac's flair for striking exterior styling, with a commanding street presence. Although designed as an SUV, its long hood and low ground clearance gave it the appearance of a sleek sedan, reminiscent of the classic Seville. The LYRIQ featured vertical light bars with nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille, adorned with lighting effects, varied between trims, with the Sport trim showcasing a dark triangular motif. The LYRIQ's design was further enhanced by thin, deployable door handles and wraparound taillights that accentuated its shoulder line. Inside, Cadillac paid meticulous attention to detail, with leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a unique three-spoke steering wheel. However, the floating center console, while visually appealing, lacked practicality. The 33-inch OLED display was a standout feature, seamlessly integrated into the interior without overwhelming the space.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily utilized a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured a more powerful EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST came with standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package offered upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST, while not quite matching the performance of a Porsche Macan, provided a sporty driving experience, especially given its aging platform. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, prioritized long-distance comfort over aggressive performance. The dual-motor powertrain in the test model produced an impressive 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, offering continuous AWD. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Both configurations utilized a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with Cadillac claiming a range of 314 miles for RWD and 307 miles for AWD. However, real-world testing showed a maximum range closer to 260 miles. The LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its substantial weight of 5,800 pounds, resulting in significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. While braking was strong, the LYRIQ's chassis lacked the finesse expected from Cadillac, with no handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring or magnetic dampers. The AWD LYRIQ had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in terms of interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom was generous in both the first and second rows, second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The rotary shift knob on the center console aimed to free up space, but the console's narrow width limited its effectiveness. A storage nook below the raised console was difficult to access and easy to forget.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose motorized charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray in the dash were notable issues. The glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited storage space. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch interaction. Drive mode selection required navigating multiple menus, and the metal door handles, while stylish, could be mistaken for window switches. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat typical of EVs. However, its cargo space was limited, with only 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were also standard. The Edge ST models boasted a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The inclusion of four USB ports, including two rear USB ports with one USB-C, ensured connectivity for passengers. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly, and the Edge stood out for offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a feature not available in all competitors.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ excelled in technology with its 33-inch OLED screen, divided into three sections. The leftmost portion was touch-enabled for lighting and trip odometer functions. While lacking augmented reality video feed, the instrument cluster was large and legible. The main touchscreen infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with simple menus and high-quality graphics. The map accurately estimated remaining battery charge at the destination. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Super Cruise system was a highlight, offering the best hands-free driving experience available. The 19-speaker AKG stereo provided excellent sound quality with variable surround sound modes.

The 2021 Ford Edge earned the title of an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick," achieving the highest "Good" rating in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios. However, it received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and varying headlight ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The Edge came with standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, including automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base SE trim.

As of this writing, the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated the cushions instead of emitting beeps and chimes. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, rear emergency braking, and a rear camera displayed on the rearview mirror.