2025 Audi Q7 vs 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that commanded attention. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The front of the LYRIQ was adorned with vertical light bars and nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille varied between trims, with the Sport trim offering a more subdued look. The vehicle's 22-inch wheels added to its imposing presence, although the effect was diminished with the standard 20-inch wheels. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, including leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a unique steering wheel. However, the floating center console was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

In contrast, the 2025 Audi Q7 featured a refreshed front fascia with Matrix-design LED headlamps and a cohesive exterior look. Customization options allowed buyers to personalize the front bumper, door trim, and rear diffuser. The Q7 was available in eight colors, with new wheel designs in 20- or 21-inch diameters. Inside, the Q7's updates were minimal, with new wood and carbon trim inlays. The interior colors remained standard, but the design was sleek, with piano black accents and stacked infotainment screens. The HVAC vents stretched across the dash, emphasizing the vehicle's proportions. Despite the lack of extensive updates, the Q7 maintained a sophisticated and modern interior.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a smooth and comfortable driving experience, particularly on the interstate. It featured two powertrain options: a standard single rear motor with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and an optional dual-motor setup producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for all-wheel drive. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided a claimed range of 314 miles with rear-wheel drive and 307 miles with all-wheel drive, though real-world testing showed closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 80 percent in 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The vehicle lacked advanced handling features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers, which affected its agility.

The 2025 Audi Q7 offered two engine options for the Premium and Premium Plus trims: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and a 3.0-liter turbo V6 with 335 horsepower. The top Prestige trim came with the larger engine, delivering smooth power delivery through an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the Q7 handled well, especially with available all-wheel steering, its Sport mode was less engaging compared to competitors. The Q7's drive modes included Comfort, Dynamic, Individual, All Road, and Off Road, catering to various driving conditions. Fuel economy for the Q7 with the 55 TFSI engine was rated at 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined, slightly lower than some rivals.

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 offered limited space. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch interaction. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, offering 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2025 Audi Q7 offered a more refined interior experience. The top Prestige trim included features like a Bang & Olufsen stereo system, 360-degree camera, and ventilated and massaging front seats. The Q7's three-row seating was best suited for children in the third row, with limited legroom for adults. Cargo space measured 14.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 35.7 and 69.6 cubic feet when the third and second rows were folded. Small storage spaces were limited, with a shallow center console and door pockets that could be challenging to access.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured 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 available Super Cruise system provided excellent 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 Audi Q7's Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system was housed on a 10.1-inch center screen, with a smaller screen for HVAC controls. The digital gauge cluster was configurable, and the menu structure was user-friendly, though the screen required a firm touch. Audi's navigation system, powered by Google Maps, was a standout feature, offering satellite view on the gauge cluster. The Audi App Store allowed for third-party app downloads, and the myAudi app offered customization options for the MMI system. The Q7 included online navigation and traffic light information for three years, along with a six-month trial of high-speed Wi-Fi.

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 Audi Q7 was equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. It could park itself in both parallel and perpendicular spaces, though the lane-centering feature was less robust than competitors. The NHTSA awarded the Q7 five out of five stars overall, with top marks for side crash and four stars for front crash and rollover. The IIHS had not yet rated the 2025 model, but the 2024 model received "Good" ratings in crashworthiness and seatbelts, with "Average" marks for pedestrian front crash-prevention.