2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, was a compact SUV that drew inspiration from the iconic Wrangler. Its design featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille, which were carried over from its 2019 refresh. The Renegade offered a modern and functional cabin with an upright center stack, reminiscent of the Wrangler, making controls easily accessible. It came in various trims, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each offering unique features and equipment.

The Sport trim included push-button start, dual-zone climate control, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Jeepster added keyless entry and remote start, while the Latitude offered additional USB ports and alloy wheels. The Upland trim was adventure-focused with 4WD and skid plates, and the 80th Anniversary trim featured a larger touchscreen with navigation. The Islander had exclusive graphics and a panoramic moonroof. The Limited trim provided luxury features like leather upholstery and heated seats, while the Trailhawk focused on off-road capability with skid plates and a lifted suspension.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking SUV with a design that evoked the elegance of the classic Seville. Its long hood and low ground clearance gave it a sedan-like appearance, while the vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch. The grille featured lighting effects, and the Sport trim had a dark triangular motif. The Lyriq's design was complemented by 22-inch wheels, although the standard 20-inch wheels diminished its imposing presence. The wraparound taillights and fender-mounted lights created a unique visual signature.

Inside, the Lyriq showcased Cadillac's attention to detail with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sleek three-spoke steering wheel. The air vents had a retro design, and the 33-inch OLED display was a standout feature. However, the floating center console lacked practicality, and some interior elements felt disjointed. Despite these issues, the Lyriq offered a spacious cabin with generous headroom and legroom, although its cargo space was smaller than expected for a midsize SUV.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive or 4WD. While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged option provided better torque and refinement. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with good cornering stability and maneuverability, making it a great city car. The Trailhawk trim excelled off-road with its terrain management system and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, prioritized long-distance comfort over performance. It featured a dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for AWD, while the standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Both powertrains used a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering a range of 314 miles with RWD and 307 miles with AWD. However, real-world testing showed a range closer to 260 miles. The Lyriq's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. Regenerative braking helped manage the weight, but the chassis needed improvement.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with them in use, making it competitive in the subcompact SUV segment. Its tall, boxy design offered ample headroom in both rows, with good legroom in the front seats. The Renegade featured practical storage solutions, including foldable front passenger seats for added versatility.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray were notable issues. The glovebox was difficult to access while driving, and the floating console lacked practicality. Despite these drawbacks, the Lyriq offered generous headroom and legroom, but its cargo space was limited to 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on higher trims. Both screens featured the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, offering easy navigation and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available for enhanced sound quality.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ boasted a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for lighting and trip information. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made several safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. However, the Trailhawk trim lacked emergency braking. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and parking sensors. Despite these enhancements, the Renegade received a four-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, and rear emergency braking.