2024 Cadillac Lyriq priced lower than expected

Cadillac will undercut its key German rivals in Australia with its upcoming relaunch as an EV-specialist, starting with the Lyriq SUV, which has just been priced from $117,000 plus on-road costs.

Pitched as a new challenger for the BMW iX, Audi Q8 e-tron and Porsche Macan, the entry-level 2024 Cadillac Lyriq Luxury undercuts all its European rivals and will hit Aussie roads later this year alongside the $119,000 Sport.

The two variants can be told apart by their differing exterior trim finishes: chrome for the former and black/body-coloured for the latter.

Both grades share the same high level of equipment that incorporates a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, tri-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, heated and folding exterior mirrors and powered front seats with inbuilt massage, ventilation and heating functions.

The standard seat trim is ‘Inteluxe’ imitation leather, however buyers can opt for real leather or even Nappa leather as part of a selection of optional trims.

There’s also a huge 33-inch display screen that integrates the instrument cluster and central infotainment functions as well as 126-colour, dual-zone ambient lighting and a 19-speaker AKG sound system with advanced noise cancelling tech that can even anticipate the noise from bumps.

Safety gear includes eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, rear pedestrian alert, intersection emergency baking and rear cross traffic alert.

Also common between the two grades is a 388kW/610Nm dual-motor powertrain drawing current from a 102kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack, said to be good for around 530km of WLTP range – final figure still pending.

The battery can be charged at up to 190kW when using DC power which adds up to 128km of range after just 10 minutes, or 200km in 15 minutes.

Home AC charging can be done at up to 22.1kW for a full charge in about five hours. The more common 7.4kW wall box would take about 15 hours for the same charge.

The Lyriq will be covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with a separate eight-year, 160,000km warranty on the high voltage battery and available in eight colours: black, white, dark green, deep red, silver, grey, light blue and dark blue.

Of course, Cadillac’s biggest challenge will be brand acceptance.

While the brand itself is well known – there are countless pop culture references and a reputation for bold designs over many decades – it needs to convince buyers to turn away from the luxury brands they trust and have earned a loyal following Down Under.

How much does the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq cost?
Luxury – $117,000
Sport – $119,000
* Prices exclude on-road costs

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