This is not just another electric SUV designed by committee to offend absolutely no one. This is Cadillac waking up one morning, looking at Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes, and saying: “What if we made an EV… but loud in spirit, aggressively American, and slightly unhinged?”
Exterior
At first glance, the Lyriq V is stealth wealth incarnate. From the outside, it’s a minimalist dream: crisp lines, flush surfaces, and a front grille that’s all style and no air intake because, spoiler alert, it doesn’t need one. It doesn’t shout “I cost more than your house” in bright chrome letters, but it doesn’t whisper either. Instead, it offers what any self-respecting EV should: presence. Whether it’s parked in a Mayfair valet queue or gliding through a desert dusk, it subtly declares, “Yes — I am expensive. And yes — I know it.”
But looks, as ever, are only the opening salvo. The real story, as with any good car, is what lies beneath the surface.
What’s New in the V?
The Lyriq-V’s suspension has been turned from “luxury lounge” into “quietly furious athlete.” The rear anti-roll bar is now 533 percent stiffer than the standard Lyriq, which is not an upgrade so much as an act of engineering violence. The bars themselves are 63 percent thicker, the front top mount is 140 percent stiffer, and the entire setup has been retuned to stop this big electric sofa from leaning about like a cruise ship in a mild crosswind.
There’s also a quicker steering rack, because Cadillac decided you should actually know what the front wheels are doing, and Sachs adaptive dampers that keep the body in check without turning the ride into a dental procedure. It’s firm when it needs to be, soft when it should be, and surprisingly clever for something that weighs roughly the same as a small moon.
Then there are the wheels. Enormous 22-inch V-specific alloys, wrapped in proper summer tyres, not the usual all-season compromise nonsense. On this car, they’re Continental PremiumContact 6s, fat 275/40s front and rear, which cling to the road like a cat to a sofa it’s not supposed to be on. Behind them sit serious brakes, with six-piston Brembo calipers up front, ready to haul this electric missile back down from illegal speeds with confidence and very little drama.
Power? Oh yes. In standard mode, the Lyriq-V produces 515 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, which arrives instantly, silently, and with the sort of force that makes your internal organs briefly consider rearranging themselves. Cadillac has also fitted a shorter final-drive ratio at both axles, meaning acceleration is sharper, angrier, and much more “oh good grief” than you’d expect from a luxury electric SUV.
Under The Hood
Using Velocity Max mode, the Lyriq has 615 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel it from 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds. Since we got the Blazer SS to sixty in 3.2 seconds, I would expect this to be a tad quicker.
Lyriq-V Competitive Mode
One of the drive modes on offer is Competitive mode, which slackens the stability control, uses single-wheel braking, and prioritizes rear-axle torque delivery to allow for some tail-out antics, which should quell this nearly three-ton EV’s propensity to understeer.
Fake Sounds
LYRIQ-V’s sound design is made of five “layers” of sounds that play through the vehicle’s 23-speaker AKG Studio Audio System.
First is a base layer that is active under light acceleration, joined by a second layer that plays under heavier acceleration.
The third layer is a simulated “rev” sound that kicks in when you blip the accelerator pedal when the car is stationary.
The fourth is a low-frequency tone that activates between 50 and 70 mph, while the fifth is a higher frequency that comes in above 80 mph.
The question is, does it work? In a word, not really, so I turned it off.
Range and Charging
With a 102-kWh battery, the Lyriq V has 285 miles of range, which is 22 miles of range less than the standard AWD Lyriq. It will charge up to 190 kWh on a fast charger, which is quick,k but I would like it to be quicker.
Driving
The Lyriq V’s dual motors produce ample torque, and it’s absurdly quick. You don’t so much accelerate as manifest forward motion with a mischievous grin.
Yet, for all its shove, the Lyriq V doesn’t drive like a novice adrenaline junkie. It’s composed. Balanced. Poised. On winding B-roads, it refuses to flinch, a trait more commonly associated with smug sports coupes than luxury SUVs. Body roll is kept in check with a poise that borders on erudite, and the steering is satisfyingly communicative without being twitchy. It’s a bit like having a well-trained but enthusiastic dog that can absolutely outrun you if it wants to.
The suspension, adaptive air springs with a suite of drive modes absorbs bumps as if it’s memorised every road imperfection in North America and politely chosen to ignore them. Rough pavement? What pavement? The result is something at once athletic and indulgent: imagine a ballerina wearing boots made of marshmallows.
If you’re a committed enthusiast, you might bemoan the lack of spine-tingling feedback from analogue machinery. But anyone who’s driven a modern EV knows that this is its own flavour of magic. The Lyriq V isn’t a track day weapon, and it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead, it brings performance to everyday life in a way that feels generous, unforced, and strangely a little bit soulful.
Quirks & Quibbles
Nothing is perfect. The Lyriq V’s steering, while communicative, could offer a bit more weight and drama for those seeking a deeply involving drive. Some rivals offer a slightly more tactile connection to the road. And while the interior tech is excellent, the sheer scale of the curved display might intimidate those who prefer the simplicity of analog gauges.
Also, let’s address the elephant in the room: range. Cadillac’s figures are competitive on paper, but in the real world, especially when you’re enjoying the performance, expect consumption to climb. Not disastrously so, but don’t plan epic cross-country sprints without consulting charging infrastructure ahead of time. Also, it doesn’t get V-specific seats, which, given the additional performance over the AWD model, it really should.
Interior
Step inside, and the Lyriq V’s cabin is like entering a luxurious tech spa. There are acres of space, draped in supple leather, rich trim, and contrasting piping that whispers “millionaires only” without actually saying it. The seats are immensely comfortable, offering support where you want it and luxury where you don’t even realize you needed it. Long journeys are not endured — they are enjoyed.
Dominating the dashboard is Cadillac’s sprawling curved display, seamlessly integrating both the driver’s instruments and the central infotainment screen. It’s crisp, intuitive, and surprisingly responsive, a rare quality in automotive touchscreens, which often feel like they were designed by someone allergic to user satisfaction.
Behind the wheel, everything feels considered. The buttons are satisfyingly tactile, there’s an absence of the sort of pointless toggles you find on cars trying too hard to look sporty, and visibility is excellent, a boon in a world where SUVs increasingly resemble armored postcards.
Rear passengers aren’t left as an afterthought either. They get generous legroom, plush seating, and their own climate controls. In other words, take your in-laws, your friends, your annoying cousin who always complains about the cold, they’ll all be far too comfortable to complain.
Storage is generous, too. The cargo area swallows weekend luggage with ease, with 28 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 60.8 cubic feet (or 61 cubic feet) with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats down, plus extra underfloor storage for essentials like charging cables.
Pricing
The base price on this Premium Trim, which is the top trim for the V series, is $83,795. This one has the exterior carbon fiber package for a whopping $5,700. It also has red painted calipers for $595, and this Radiant red paint will cost you $1,225. Add it all up, and the total is $92,910.
VIDEO REVIEW
Verdict
It’s an electric leviathan wrapped in velvet. A 6,000-pound whale tuned to behave like it’s starring in Fast & Furious: Suburbia Drift. It’s silent but savage, luxurious yet agitated, and endlessly entertaining. If you want an EV that’s timid and polite, buy a toaster instead. But if you want American electric excess with a side of subtle menace? Then this is your new best friend.
2026 Cadillac Lyriq V Numbers
BASE PRICE: $83,795
PRICE AS TESTED: $92,910
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, SUV
FRONT MOTOR: Permanent-magnet AC
REAR MOTOR: Permanent-magnet AC
COMBINED POWER: 615 hp
COMBINED TORQUE: 650 lb-ft
BATTERY PACK: Liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 102.0 kWh
ONBOARD CHARGER: 19.2.5 kW
PEAK DC FAST CHARGE RATE: 190 kW
TRANSMISSION: direct-drive
CURB WEIGHT: 5,980 lb
RANGE: 285 miles
0-60 MPH: 3.3 seconds
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB: 87/72/80 mpge
CARGO SPACE: 26 cubic feet, 60 cubic feet with rear seat folded
PROS: Very upscale interior, very quick, beautiful exterior, super smooth ride
CONS: Needs V-specific seats
