Being one of the latest entrants to the crossover SUV segment, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is also the first offering from the legendary American luxury car manufacturer to sport a fully electric powertrain. Offered at a base MSRP of $62,990, the 2023 Lyriq comes with a sharp and elegant design language that looks like nothing out on the road. The Lyriq is also a perfect departure in terms of design from the other offerings from the Cadillac stable.

Coming in with three trim configurations, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq delivers all the qualities that prospective buyers would expect from a luxury electric SUV. The cabin is eerily silent, and the driving range is superior to many of the segment rivals. The classy cabin and impressive features list are onboard too. Competing with the likes of the Volvo XC40 Recharge, Audi e-Tron, and Mercedes-Benz EQB, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq.

RELATED: What You Should Know Before Buying The Cadillac Lyriq

10 Striking Design Helps It To Stand Out

2023 Cadillac Lyriq front third quarter accelerating view
Cadillac

The design of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is a departure from the contemporary design of the other Cadillac models. The grille-less design of the Lyriq coupled with the sequence LED lights that light up when you approach the vehicle and the vertical LED headlights with sequential LED turn signals look superb.

Gray Cadillac Lyriq
Via: Cadillac

We also adore the sculpted look with aggressive air dam and air vents and the best-in-class width, all of which give it the required road presence. The side profile is quite a bit longer than the Mustang Mach-E and the excellent wheelbase gives it all the space required. The 20" or 22" wheels provide it an aerodynamic look and the distinctive rear end is highlighted by elongated LED taillights and a blacked-out lower bumper.

9 Superb Range

2023 cadillac lyriq front 3/4 press photo
Via: Cadillac 

Coming with the 102-kWh Ultium battery pack and the single electric motor helps the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq to do an incredible 312 miles per charge, making it superior to many of the competitors. DC fast charging is on board and that helps to charge the batteries incredibly fast. Along with that, home charging is possible too.

Lyriq
Cadillac

With the DC fast charging, in just 10 minutes of charging, the Lyriq could do close to 76 miles. The optional 19.2-kW onboard charger is one of the fastest chargers in the electric car industry as well. The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq has an estimated 92 MPGe in the city and 82 MPGe on the highways.

RELATED: Here's Why The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Is Getting A Lot Of Love

8 Unique Interior

2023_cadillac_lyriq rear 3/4 view at night
Via: Cadillac

The intrinsically designed cabin of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is going to be one of its biggest selling points. Step into the cabin, and you would be surprised by the classy dashboard architecture that comes fitted with a massive digital gauge and infotainment on a single 33" screen.

2023 cadillac lyriq interior view
Via: Cadillac

The lovely aluminum and chrome accents on the door cards, dashboard, and center console give it the required classiness that you would expect from such a premium offering. The panoramic glass and the white upholstery make the cabin very airy, and the entire cabin is built to a very high standard.

7 Aggressive Regenerative Braking

Gray Cadillac Lyriq
Via: Cadillac

With multiple modes of regenerative braking like most of the segment rivals, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq has one of the most natural feeling systems out there. Put it into the most aggressive regen mode and the Lyriq could be driven with just the gas pedal. It decelerates effectively when you lift your foot off the gas pedal, and it doesn't feel jerky.

Gray Cadillac Lyriq
Via: Cadillac

If you want to do hard braking from high speeds, the 17" front and 18" rear ventilated rotors make sure that you do not have any treble shedding speeds. The SUV doesn't feel twitchy, and the nose dive is very minimal considering the heavy curb weight of 5,688 lbs. The brakes are very sharp and the braking progression is just perfect.

6 Reasonably Fast Powertrain

Cadillac Lyric Electric SUV Grille Design Close-Up View
Via: Cadillac

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq comes with both a single motor RWD variant and a dual-motor AWD variant, with the latter model being expected to be launched early next year. Both the lower trims get the single motor setup producing 340 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The 1-speed automatic and the RWD drivetrain help it to do 0-60 MPH in 6.2 seconds and the car has a top speed of 118 MPH.

2023 cadillac lyriq rear 3/4 press photo
Via: Cadillac

Even though the performance and acceleration numbers are pretty decent, it is not as impressive as rivals like the BMW iX and the Audi e-Tron. The highway performance feels a notch below these rivals too. However, the dual electric motor variant is going to be very enticing with its 500 hp tune, and the folks who want more performance should go with this variant once it launches in early 2023.

RELATED: Why You Should Pre-Order The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq

5 Infotainment System Isn't Intuitive

Gray Cadillac Lyriq
Via: Cadillac

The 33" continuous curved OLED display that is stacked onto the dashboard is easily one of the best displays present on a production vehicle. The brightness level and touch sensitivity are excellent, and it also comes loaded with a long list of features including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, wi-fi hotspot connectivity, and a 19-speaker AKG audio system.

Gray Cadillac Lyriq
Via: Cadillac

Even though the infotainment has all the things going for it, we found the interface to be a bit buggy. Some of the features and settings are not very easily accessible as well. However, the click wheel present in the center console does help the driver to access the infotainment with ease. The sound quality of the AKG audio system is easily the best in the segment too.

4 Harsh Ride Quality

Gray Cadillac Lyriq
Via: Cadillac

Stiff ride quality is a trait that many of the fully-electric offerings have due to the added weight of the battery pack. The same is also the case with the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq. The stiff 5-link independent front and rear suspension make this SUV not as comfortable as other monikers from the brand.

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq parked in front of a private house.
Via: Media Cadillac

Drive through the rough roads that are often found in the city streets and the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq does jostle the passengers around more than we like. The ride quality doesn't get better as the speed rises too. In comparison, the Volvo XC40 Recharge is better in terms of the comfort factor due to the more pliant suspension setup.

3 Decent Driving Demeanor

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq as a representation of the brand's EV future.
Via: Media Cadillac

Even though the suspension setup may not be very comfortable for the passengers, it does make the driving experience much superior to the likes of the XC40 Recharge and EQB. The steering feels very connected, and the excellent precision gives the driver all the confidence that is required.

2023 cadillac lyriq front 3/4 view
Via: Cadillac

The car corners relatively flat when you gun it in a tight corner and the high-speed stability is exceptional considering its high center of gravity. We also loved the low body roll and top-notch grip level. The heavy curb weight doesn't affect the driving manners one bit as well.

2 Cabin Is Pretty Spacious

2023_cadillac_lyriq interior press photo dashboard
Via: Cadillac

The best-in-class length and wheelbase of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq help it to come out with one of the highest cabin space and cargo capacity in the segment. The front row has impressive space all around and the leather seats which are heated, powered and ventilated make this electric SUV a comfortable cruiser.

2023_cadillac_lyriq front 3/4 view lights on
Cadillac

The rear row seat turned out to be perfect too. The seat offers top-notch under-thigh and lower back support and the flat floor makes it better than the rivals for three passengers. The legroom, headroom, and shoulder room are perfect for a mid-size SUV too. Open the powered liftgate, and it reveals a cargo capacity of 26 cu ft. The rear seat can be folded flat with a press of a button too.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Electric SUV

1 Gets Plenty Of Standard Driver-Assistance Tech

2023 Cadillac LYRIQ rear hatch open shot
Via: Cadillac

Being loaded to the brim with all the driver-assistance techs as standard, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq ticks the right boxes for the folks who cannot compromise on the safety front. The standard features include automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

2023_cadillac_lyriq side view in driveway press photo
Via: Cadillac

The Super Cruise hands-free driving system is standard for all three trims, however, due to the ongoing chip shortage, some of the monikers would only get it as an OTA update at a later stage. We also admire the solid build quality and the long list of standard safety features on offer.