2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2025 BMW X7

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that commanded attention. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, with a long hood and low ground clearance, drawing inspiration from the classic Seville Elegante of the early 1980s. The LYRIQ featured vertical light bars with nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking, surrounded by a solid grille with lighting effects. The Sport trim had a more muted appearance with a dark triangular motif. The vehicle's wraparound taillights and fender-mounted vertical lights created a bold presence, while the steeply raked glass window added to its unique style. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, including leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating center console lacked practicality, offering limited usable space.

The 2025 BMW X7, although not as massive as some of its competitors, exuded a commanding presence with its bold design. The X7's styling was accentuated by a large twin-kidney grille and stacked quad headlights, giving it a distinctive look. The M Sport Package added sporty elements like 22-inch wheels and a boy-racer aesthetic. Inside, the X7's interior was a mix of traditional luxury and modern technology. The cabin featured carbon-fiber trim, light-up graphics, and a crystal shift toggle, creating a sense of opulence. However, the combination of these elements sometimes felt disjointed. The X7's interior design was simple yet elegant, with diamond-pattern brown Merino leather upholstery adding a touch of sophistication. Despite some optional extras, the X7's interior maintained a sense of luxury and refinement.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a smooth and comfortable driving experience, particularly on the interstate. Its dual-motor powertrain delivered 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for all-wheel drive. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered a range of 314 miles with rear-wheel drive and 307 miles with all-wheel drive, though real-world testing showed a range closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the ability to top up to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The lack of handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers further impacted its performance.

The 2025 BMW X7 offered a range of powertrains, including the xDrive40i with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six producing 375 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. The M60i xDrive featured a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft, while the Alpina XB7 boasted 631 hp and 590 lb-ft. The X7's performance was impressive, with the M60i xDrive achieving a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. The X7's chassis technology, including rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension, contributed to its nimble handling and comfortable ride. The active anti-roll system kept the body flat during cornering, providing a sporty yet serene driving experience. The X7's V8 engine delivered a delightful burble, adding to the overall enjoyment of the drive.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced some challenges in terms of build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray in the dash were notable issues. The glovebox was difficult to access while driving, and the floating console lacked practicality, leaving valuables exposed. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch controls. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, with 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2025 BMW X7 provided competitive interior space with its three-row configuration. It offered more headroom in the front and second rows compared to some rivals, though legroom was slightly less generous. The X7's cargo space was impressive, with 48.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 90.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The split tailgate was a practical feature, serving as a backstop or bench for tailgating. The X7's towing capacity of 7,500 pounds was respectable, though not class-leading. The air suspension's ability to lower the vehicle when parked was a helpful feature for loading and unloading.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured 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 Super Cruise system provided hands-free driving capabilities, with a helpful colored bar on the steering wheel indicating system status. The 19-speaker AKG stereo offered variable surround sound modes, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2025 BMW X7 boasted a BMW Curved Display setup with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. The iDrive infotainment system, based on version 8.5 of BMW's operating system, was user-friendly, with a rotary controller and shortcut buttons. The X7 included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a natural-language voice recognition system. However, the voice recognition system struggled to pick up commands accurately. The X7 also featured digital-key functionality and augmented reality navigation, though the gesture control system was more trouble than it was worth.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. It came standard with 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.

The 2025 BMW X7 offered standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, park assist, and lane-keep assist. The Driving Assistance Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and BMW's hands-free Highway Assistant system. The Highway Assistant managed acceleration and braking while keeping the car centered in its lane, though it wasn't as sophisticated as Cadillac's Super Cruise. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.