Lincoln Aviator vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that commanded attention. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, with a long hood and low ground clearance, drawing inspiration from the classic Seville Elegante of the early 1980s. The LYRIQ featured vertical light bars with nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking, surrounded by a solid grille with lighting effects. The Sport trim had a more subdued appearance with a dark triangular motif. The vehicle's design was further enhanced by thin, deployable door handles and wraparound taillights that defined its shoulder line. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted a luxurious interior with C-shaped headrests, leather-wrapped seats, and polished controls. The sweeping 33-inch OLED display was a standout feature, although the floating center console offered limited functionality.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, showcased classic design proportions with a blunt nose, short front overhang, and a tapered roofline. While the styling was appealing, the 2025 updates made it appear more generic, especially with the optional Jet Appearance Package. Inside, the Aviator exuded a classic architectural sensibility, with a focus on comfort rather than overwhelming technology. The interior featured plush materials and a more traditional approach to luxury. However, the remote keyless entry fob was a disappointment, made of cheap plastic. The Aviator was available in Premiere, Reserve, and Black Label trims, with our test vehicle in Reserve trim featuring optional all-wheel drive and a range of desirable features.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more suited for long-distance comfort than spirited driving. It featured a dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered a claimed range of 314 miles with rear-wheel drive and 307 miles with all-wheel drive, though real-world testing showed closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery topping up to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, leading to understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The braking system was strong, but the vehicle's weight raised concerns about its durability under hard use.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Aviator offered multiple driving modes, including Excite, Conserve, and Normal, with adaptive air suspension enhancing the ride quality. While the Aviator wasn't particularly exciting to drive, it excelled in providing a comfortable and composed ride. The twin-turbo V6 offered ample power for acceleration and passing, though fuel economy was a concern, with observed figures of 17.7 mpg. The Aviator's adaptive air suspension and large tires contributed to a quiet interior, though road noise was noticeable on rough surfaces. The Aviator's handling was not as athletic as some competitors, but it excelled in providing a secure and calming driving experience.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray were notable issues. The glovebox was difficult to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited storage space. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch controls. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, with 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator excelled in interior comfort, with available Perfect Position front seats offering 30-way adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs were also comfortable, though the third-row seats were less accommodating for adults. The Aviator offered excellent storage space, with a well-organized center console and deep door panel storage pockets. The cargo space was generous, with 19.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 42.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 78.6 cubic feet.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for lighting and gauge cluster layouts. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Super Cruise system provided hands-free driving capabilities, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo offered variable surround sound modes.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Lincoln Digital Experience technology. It supported Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant in the test vehicle was unresponsive, though Apple CarPlay and Siri worked well. The Aviator's 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system provided excellent audio quality, and the head-up display offered a widescreen presentation of data.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. It came standard with forward automatic emergency braking, 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 2025 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems. It included active blind-spot monitoring, intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and reverse braking assist. The Aviator's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist worked effectively, and BlueCruise provided hands-free driving assistance on approved highways. The Aviator received five-star ratings from NHTSA and Good ratings from IIHS, indicating strong safety performance.