2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2024 Kia Seltos

The 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, resulting in subtle yet impactful changes. The updated headlight and grille designs, along with a connecting light strip between the smaller taillight assemblies, gave the Seltos a rejuvenated appearance without a significant price increase. The test model, adorned in the new "Pluton Blue" paint, presented a sharp look. Inside, the Seltos introduced two new interior colors, "Gentle Brown" and "Midnight Green," although the test model featured the standard black interior. The most striking interior update was the expansive digital panel covering two-thirds of the dashboard, integrating a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ boasted a striking exterior design, reminiscent of the classic Seville with its long hood and low ground clearance, giving it the appearance of a long sedan rather than an SUV. The vertical light bars, nine LED headlights, and a solid grille with lighting effects contributed to its unique style. The Sport trim, tested in all black with 22-inch wheels, exuded a commanding presence. Inside, Cadillac paid meticulous attention to detail, with leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating center console and some functional aspects, like the glovebox access, left room for improvement.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The base model featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The LX trim came standard with all-wheel drive, while the S and EX trims offered front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive. The X-Line and SX trims were equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in Sport mode, and handled various road conditions with ease.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, prioritized long-distance comfort over sportiness. The dual-motor powertrain in the test car produced 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, offering continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Both powertrains utilized a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with Cadillac claiming a range of 314 miles for rear-wheel drive and 307 miles for all-wheel drive. However, real-world testing showed a maximum range closer to 260 miles. The Lyriq's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel, despite strong braking capabilities.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 26.6 cubic feet with the seats in use. The SX trim offered a hands-free power liftgate. The Seltos featured an upright seating position, ample headroom, and good rear legroom, accommodating taller occupants comfortably. The front seating area included decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the SX trim added a removable cargo cover.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced some build quality issues, with misaligned rear fenders and a problematic motorized charging port. Functionality was also a concern, with a glovebox that couldn't be easily accessed while driving and a small center cubby. The floating console lacked sliding capability, leaving valuables exposed. Despite these issues, the Lyriq offered generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was smaller than most compact SUVs, with 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured a consistent large digital bezel across its trim lineup, with screen sizes varying by trim. The base infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The SX trim offered an upgraded eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch for smartphone access.

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

The 2024 Kia Seltos came equipped with standard driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and driver attention warning. The S trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The SX trim offered advanced features like smart cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and highway driving assist.

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