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If you left this planet a few decades ago, you missed Cadillac's transformation from a floaty land yacht to a high-performance vehicle competing with six figure domestic and imports.
The V-Series Cadillac started the trend in 2004 going head-to-head with BMW's M Series. It was followed by the Blackwing supercharged track car six years later boasting 668 horsepower while hitting the 60 mile-per-hour mark in 3.4 seconds.
The evolution continued with a luxury plug-in hybrid in 2013 offering 37 miles of electric power but the ELR model fizzled three years later due to its high cost.
Four years ago, the Cadillac Lyriq was unveiled – its first all-electric manufactured in Spring Hill, Tennessee and one of five electrics Cadillac is now producing.
With Lyriq sales around 25,000 per year, it's the top selling electric manufactured in the U.S.
The Lyric V and V Premium are mid-size luxury SUVs sporting one or two electric motors respectively. Our Premium tester developed 615 horsepower and 650 lb. ft of torque in Velocity Max mode making it the fastest Cadillac built.
The three-ton all-wheel drive SUV reached 60 miles per hour in a quick 3.3 seconds at our independent track facility utilizing launch control with minimal tire slippage.
Whether traveling around city streets or at full throttle, the Lyriq emits a synthetic hum allowing pedestrians to hear the approaching SUV. We found the safety feature a worthwhile add on. The Lyriq delivers a comfortable ride in most driving conditions.
For all its heft, the Lyriq can perform like a sports car - rounding curves under power with its self-sealing 22-inch summer paws with little tilt. This phenomenon is the result of continuous damping control and a lowered suspension to offset centrifugal force.
Brakes are upgraded with six-piston, 15.4-inch Brembo calipers to bring the SUV to a standstill from 60 mph in about 100 feet, outdistancing most rivals including Audi Q8 e-tron, Mercedes-Benz EQE and Tesla Model Y.
Range anxiety is present with Lyriq's roughly 300-mile range. If the Lyriq is your daily driver, plan on plugging in nightly using a 240-volt Level 2 charger. For quick charging, locate a Level 3 system that fully charges in one hour for a price.
Inside there is a 33-inch curved LED display dominating the dashboard with Google built-in. Massive front seats include a massage function along with heated and ventilated controls. Our tester included a premium 23-speaker AKG Studio audio system with center console volume control.
Cabin climate controls are conveniently located below the screen with toggle switches although most other adjustments are accomplished with screen drilling.
A big plus for the Lyriq is a relatively low $80s price point compared with many rivals stickered at six figures plus.
This rocket propelled SUV looks a bit stodgy from the rear with a high waist line and low-slung roof cutting into rear seat headroom. Rear storage is limited to 28 cubic feet, expanding to 60 cubes with rear seats folded.
An underfloor storage compartment conceals valuables as well as charging cables. Unfortunately, there is no 'frunk' storage up front.
With numerous camera angles displayed up front, there is limited visibility out the smallish rear window and thick pillars.
(Contact independent automotive columnist Len Ingrassia at editor@ptd.net .)
2026 Cadillac Lyriq V Premium
Engine: Dual-motor electric propulsion 102 kWh battery, 668 horsepower.
EPA mileage: 285-mile range fully charged.
MSRP/as tested: $83,795/$87,885.
Assembled: The Lyriq is assembled at GM Manufacturing Plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. U.S./Canadian parts content, 43%. Major source of foreign parts content, China, 18% and Korea, 17%. Country of origin for engine motor, South Korea and transmission electric drive, China.
Crash test ratings: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Lyriq a five-star rating -- its highest for overall score as well as five stars in driver frontal crash, side crash and rollover protection with front passenger rated four-stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in partial testing, awarded the Lyriq "Good" ratings, in small, moderate and side crash tests and a "Superior" rating for vehicle to vehicle and pedestrian protection.
Warranty: 4-year/50,000-mile bumper to bumper; 8-year/100,000-mile EV battery; 6 year/70,000-mile powertrain/drivetrain. One covered maintenance visit within 18 months of ownership.