2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was reminiscent of a pair of "dad jeans"—practical and offering great value, yet lacking modern flair. Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Sorento. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a squared-up grille with flush-mounted headlights, but its overall silhouette was soft and lacked the chiseled strength of contemporary SUVs. The vehicle's length, at 188.4 inches, placed it awkwardly between compact and three-row crossovers, resulting in a two-row midsize configuration. The rear design was casual, with a high-mounted window and a rounded lower fascia, emphasizing function over form. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized practicality with a button-filled center console, offering ease of use but lacking the sleekness of modern touchscreens.

In contrast, the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ boasted striking exterior styling with a commanding street presence. Its design, inspired by the classic Seville, featured a long hood and low ground clearance, giving it a sedan-like appearance. The front showcased vertical light bars with nine LED headlights and a solid grille with lighting effects. The Sport trim, with its dark triangular motif and 22-inch wheels, exuded sophistication. The rear was adorned with wraparound taillights and a steeply raked glass window. Inside, the LYRIQ paid meticulous attention to detail, with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a unique steering wheel. However, the floating center console offered limited functionality, and the 33-inch OLED display, while impressive, didn't dominate the space.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced blend of performance and efficiency with its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered impressive fuel economy estimates of 33 mpg city, 30 highway, and 32 combined. The hybrid powertrain was managed by a six-speed automatic transmission, and the HTRAC AWD system could distribute power between the front and rear wheels as needed. The Santa Fe Hybrid wasn't the quickest but outperformed its gas-powered counterparts in terms of fuel efficiency. Its noise insulation and compliant suspension provided a quiet and comfortable ride, though handling and steering were adequate rather than exceptional.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, prioritized long-distance comfort over sportiness. Its dual-motor powertrain delivered an impressive 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, with a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offering a range of up to 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 substantial weight of 5,800 pounds, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. While braking was strong, the lack of handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers was noticeable. Regenerative braking helped reduce stress on the friction brakes, but the overall chassis needed refinement.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the center stack. However, the stack itself was massive, with limited storage space. The interior was practical, with well-labeled physical controls for climate and drive modes. Rear passengers enjoyed 40.8 inches of legroom, and the cargo space offered 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet when folded. The Santa Fe Hybrid's interior was comfortable, with heated and ventilated front seats and leather upholstery on higher trims.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality, as misaligned rear fenders and a malfunctioning charging port were noted. Functionality issues included a glovebox that couldn't be easily accessed while driving and a floating console that offered limited space. The interior, while spacious, traded cargo space for a roomy back seat, with 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded. The screens were impressive, but certain physical components seemed poorly integrated, affecting Cadillac's luxury car aspirations.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen offering Over-The-Air map updates and dynamic voice recognition. The infotainment system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though both required a wired connection. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided essential driving information, and the Hyundai digital key allowed for advanced connectivity. The Limited trim featured a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ's standout feature was its 33-inch OLED screen, divided into three sections. The leftmost portion was touch-enabled for various controls, while the main touchscreen ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Super Cruise system offered hands-free driving, with a helpful colored bar on the steering wheel indicating system status. The 19-speaker AKG stereo provided excellent sound quality, further enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor, enhancing visibility and awareness. Standard safety equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, and more. The Santa Fe Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, highlighting its commitment to passenger safety.

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, 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.