Subaru Crosstrek 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, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The vehicle's face 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 defined its shoulder line. 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 offered limited functionality, and some elements seemed more style-focused than practical.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek maintained a familiar appearance, closely resembling its 2023 predecessor. Despite this, it featured new sheet metal, a new chassis, and additional color options. The Crosstrek's dimensions remained largely unchanged, with a steeper departure angle and slightly reduced cargo space. Its base trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for off-road adventures. The Crosstrek's design included black plastic cladding with air inlets and outlets for improved aerodynamics. The split taillight design allowed for wider trunk access, and the Wilderness trim added unique exterior elements like a hexagonal grille and increased ground clearance. Inside, the Crosstrek offered a practical and robust interior with easy-to-clean materials and thoughtful storage solutions.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more suited for long-distance comfort than spirited driving. It featured two Chinese-sourced motors producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for AWD, with a standard single rear motor offering 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery provided a claimed range of 314 miles for RWD and 307 miles for AWD, though real-world testing showed closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 80% in 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 absence of handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers further impacted its performance.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a CVT, which Subaru had refined to minimize droning and rubber banding. The Crosstrek Wilderness trim featured a shorter final-drive ratio for better off-road performance and increased towing capacity to 3,500 pounds. The Crosstrek's steering was light but not sloppy, thanks to a new dual-pinion steering rack. Its AWD system, combined with Subaru's X-Mode traction management, provided excellent off-road capability. Fuel economy was competitive for a subcompact crossover, with the 2.0-liter engine achieving 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty 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. 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 Crosstrek, built on the Subaru Impreza platform, offered competitive cargo space for a subcompact SUV. Rear-seat legroom and headroom were adequate, though taller passengers might prefer the front seat. The Crosstrek provided 19.9 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 54.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Its interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring robust materials and ample storage solutions, including cupholders that accommodated Nalgene bottles. The Wilderness trim added adventure-oriented features like all-weather floor mats and a cargo tray.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen divided into three sections, with 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 available Super Cruise system offered excellent hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo provided high-quality sound.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek boasted an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, standard on all but the Base trim. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad available as an option. While the infotainment system was impressive, it suffered from glare in bright sunlight and required navigating through multiple menus for some features. In states with Right to Repair laws, Subaru removed certain features, such as remote start via the Starlink app.

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 Crosstrek had a strong safety record, with previous models receiving a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. The 2024 model was expected to maintain these ratings. Subaru's EyeSight safety system, standard on all trims, included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The system featured a wider-angle lens and automatic emergency steering for enhanced safety.