Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that captured attention on the streets. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The front of the LYRIQ was adorned with vertical light bars and nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille, with its arrow-shaped molding and lighting effects, added to its unique style. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted a luxurious interior with leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating center console was a design misstep, offering little usable space.

In contrast, the 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer retained its upright stance and large windows, but the refreshed illuminated grille and welcome-lighting sequence gave it a modern feel. The Upland trim added front recovery hooks, enhancing utility without compromising elegance. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer featured a clean design with strong horizontal lines. The 12-inch infotainment screen, though smaller than expected, was complemented by redundant HVAC and audio controls. The seats were comfortable and highly adjustable, making long drives pleasant. The cabin materials were premium, with options for Nappa and Palermo leather, and the overall fit and finish were impressive.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty appearance, was more suited for long-distance comfort than spirited driving. It excelled on the interstate, offering a calm and poised ride with a dual-motor powertrain delivering 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided a claimed range of 314 miles with RWD and 307 miles with AWD, though real-world testing showed closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery topping to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its 5,800-pound weight, resulting in significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a standard 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine, producing 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. This engine delivered smooth and effortless power, even in the 6,000-pound SUV. The Grand Wagoneer was also set to receive a range-extended electric powertrain with a 92-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine, offering an estimated 647 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque. Despite its large size, the Grand Wagoneer was surprisingly agile and absorbed road imperfections well. The seats provided comfort for long journeys, and the vehicle remained quiet, with minimal tire and wind noise.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with 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 difficult to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was cumbersome, and drive mode selection required navigating multiple menus. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, though cargo space was limited to 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer excelled as a people mover, with three rows providing ample leg and hip room. The optional bench seat in the second row allowed for seating up to eight passengers comfortably. While using the third row reduced cargo space, it still offered 27.9 cubic feet, with a long-wheelbase version available for increased capacity. The Grand Wagoneer could tow up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. Features like three-zone automatic climate controls, heated-and-ventilated front seats, and Quadra-Lift air suspension added to its appeal.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ's standout feature was its 33-inch OLED screen, divided into three sections. The leftmost portion was touch-enabled for various controls, while the main touchscreen infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the available Super Cruise system offered excellent hands-free driving capabilities. The 19-speaker AKG stereo provided impressive sound quality.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, and a wireless phone charger. Higher trims offered additional features like a 23-speaker McIntosh premium sound system and a front passenger interactive display. However, the wireless phone charger had issues with overheating, and the 12-inch infotainment screen felt small for the vehicle's size. Adjustable pedals were no longer available for the 2026 model year.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, and rear emergency braking.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available features included automated parking assist, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. The Grand Wagoneer received mixed ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, with some lower scores in crash tests.