Pros
- Quickest Caddy to date to 60 MPH
- Great looking inside and out
- Quality tech
Cons
- Three tons
- Brakes didn’t like hard stops
- Average charging times
The results are in, and yes, we can confirm that the Cadillac Lyriq V is the quickest launching factory Cadillac of all time, which the brand had been trumpeting louder than a Wynton Marsalis solo since the electric SUV’s official launch earlier this year. Our track tested number of 3.3 seconds to 60 mph is dead on what Cadillac estimated for its V-ified version of the Lyriq.
It’s important to note, however, that beyond all the chassis stiffening and adaptive damping and the Velocity Max and Competition modes, this is still an SUV that could star in a reality show called My 6,059-Pound Life. That’s not to say we aren’t duly impressed with what Cadillac has accomplished here; far from it. But weight and physics remain undefeated.
On the Straight and Speedy
Launching three tons’ worth of Lyriq V is easy. First, press down hard on the brake and accelerator. It will prompt you to “FLOOR IT” until you get the setup right, then lift off the brake and proceed with a record-breaking launch. Before all that, we engaged Velocity Max via the steering wheel button to unlock its full 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and Competitive mode, which, among other neat tricks, loosens the stability control system and shoves more torque delivery to the rear.
The results were impressive, although we were looking for a little more drama, more violence. But at least we barreled down the dragstrip in style. Did we mention it’s the quickest Cadillac ever to 60 mph? Interestingly though, it’s not quicker through the quarter mile than the mechanically similar Chevrolet Blazer SS EV we tested, which hit the mark in 11.8 seconds at 117.5 mph, two ticks quicker than the Lyriq V’s 12.0 at 113.1 mph (it also must be noted that several CT5-V Blackwings have trapped in the low-11s at 125 mph or better).
Another performance-themed electric SUV we put through its paces in the Cadillac’s price and size ballpark is the not-long-for-this-world Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, which nipped the Lyriq V to 60 mph (3.1 seconds) and borderline spanked it in the quarter mile at 11.5 seconds at 117.0 mph.
Hot Stops and Dynamic Dancing
It’s quick, to be sure, but how did it go when it came time to haul down those three tons in a hurry? Things got heated. After one 100–0-mph braking run and four 60–0 stops, the Lyriq V’s brakes said no mas, and it limited itself to 71 mph to help cool them down. It employs six-piston Brembo calipers that bite into 15.4-inch discs at the front, and a single-piston caliper and 13.6-inch disc at each rear wheel. Again, physics are real (an upgrade at the rear maybe wouldn’t be the worst idea).
It is worth mentioning that not many people in the real world are going to be hammering on the binders like we do. The good news is our best stop came in at a more than solid 111 feet, splitting the difference between the EQE AMG (109 feet) and the Blazer SS (114 feet), both of which weighed in less than the Lyriq V.
Through the handling crucible that is our figure-eight test and out on the skidpad, the Lyriq V wasn’t setting any records, and the brakes didn’t do it any favors here, either, as they overheated again during the tail end of our hot laps. We were able to record some acceptable numbers (25.2 seconds at 0.79 g through the figure eight and 0.87 g around the skidpad), with it edging the Blazer SS on the skidpad and the Chevy returning the favor in the figure eight. The Benz, however, handily outpaced both of the General Motors EVs.
V EV Doing EV Things
All in all, for a hefty all-electric EV like this version of the Lyriq, it largely delivers the amount of power and performance you’d expect from a Cadillac with V badges subtly applied in several spots inside and out. Does that mean it also excels at doing EV things like charging quickly and pushing the range limits? Sort of.
