Subaru Ascent 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 wraparound taillights and fender-mounted vertical lights created a unique and bold look, while the interior boasted luxurious details such as leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating center console was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Ascent struggled with its styling, particularly after a refresh that introduced visually unappealing elements like tusks and a spear-like grille. The Ascent lineup remained unchanged, offering various trims from Base to Touring, with prices ranging from $34,395 to $48,695. The Touring trim provided premium features such as a panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The interior design was functional but lacked sophistication, resembling a modular assembly. Despite this, the Ascent's interior materials were of good quality, and it offered practical features like large cupholders and backpack pegs, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty appearance, was more suited for long-distance comfort than spirited driving. It featured a dual-motor powertrain producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. The standard setup included a single rear motor with 340 horsepower. 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 ability to top up to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The lack of handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers further detracted from its performance.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive with active torque vectoring. The Ascent excelled in various driving conditions, from city streets to off-road trails, and handled daily commutes and weekend adventures with ease. However, it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its weight and softly tuned suspension. Fuel economy was a downside, with the Ascent achieving 16.7 mpg in the city and 18.6 mpg overall during testing. Despite this, its 19.3-gallon fuel tank allowed for a decent range.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in terms of build quality and functionality. Issues like misaligned rear fenders and a malfunctioning charging port detracted from its appeal. The floating center console offered limited space and usability, while the glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, offering 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent prioritized function over form, with features like a dashboard shelf, large cupholders, and backpack pegs enhancing practicality. The Touring trim offered comfortable front seats with Nappa leather upholstery, though the lack of a height adjuster for the front passenger seat was a minor drawback. The Ascent's wide-opening rear doors facilitated easy loading of children and cargo, while the third-row seat provided acceptable comfort for short trips. Cargo space was ample, with up to 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 75.6 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded.

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 excellent hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was equipped with the Starlink infotainment system, featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims offered additional features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation system, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. While the display struggled in direct sunlight, physical buttons and knobs provided easy control of essential functions. The Ascent also offered a surround-view camera and a camera-based rearview mirror for enhanced visibility.

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 2024 Subaru Ascent received high safety ratings, with NHTSA awarding it five stars in most assessments and IIHS granting it a Top Safety Pick+ rating. The Ascent's EyeSight package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the lane-centering assist technology was less impressive, occasionally causing steering conflicts. Blind-spot monitoring and additional safety features were available on higher trims.