2025 Dodge Durango 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 vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, while the grille and lighting effects enhanced its unique style. The interior was crafted with attention to detail, featuring leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sleek steering wheel. However, the floating center console was a design misstep, offering little functionality. Overall, the LYRIQ's design was a blend of elegance and modernity, though not without its flaws.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat exuded a more aggressive and muscular presence, especially with the Silver Bullet special edition package. The satin black hood, dark badges, and black exhaust tips added to its visual attitude. Inside, the Durango maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. The cabin was solidly constructed, though some plastic surfaces detracted from its luxury appeal. The Durango's design was more about performance and practicality, with a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a smooth and comfortable driving experience, ideal for long-distance travel. Its dual-motor powertrain delivered 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power without aggressive acceleration. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered a range of up to 314 miles with rear-wheel drive, though real-world testing showed closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the ability to reach 80% in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, leading to understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The lack of advanced handling features further limited its performance capabilities.

The 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, on the other hand, was a powerhouse with its 710-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine. It accelerated to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Durango's towing capacity of 8,700 pounds was impressive, making it a versatile choice for those needing power and utility. Despite its performance focus, the Durango offered a comfortable ride with adaptive damping suspension and Brembo brakes. However, its fuel economy was poor, with an EPA rating of 12/17/13 mpg. The Durango excelled in delivering thrilling performance while maintaining practicality.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in terms of build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port were notable issues. The interior design, while stylish, lacked practicality, with a small center cubby and a cumbersome rotary selector for the touchscreen. The glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was limited compared to other midsize SUVs.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function. Its spacious interior featured heated and ventilated front seats, a large center console, and thoughtful storage solutions. The second-row captain's chairs offered comfort and leg support, while the third row provided ample space for adults. The Durango's cargo capacity was impressive, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The power liftgate and accessible controls added to its practicality, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ boasted a 33-inch OLED screen with intuitive controls and high-quality graphics. The infotainment system included Google Maps and Google Assistant, with accurate navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Super Cruise system offered excellent hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo provided impressive sound quality. The LYRIQ's technology was a highlight, enhancing the driving experience with advanced features.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, and a native navigation system. The Harman Kardon audio system delivered excellent sound quality, and the SRT Performance Pages allowed drivers to track performance metrics. While the voice recognition system required specificity, the overall technology package was robust and user-friendly, catering to both entertainment and performance needs.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came equipped with standard safety features such as forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. However, the LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by major safety organizations at the time of writing.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited by its older engineering. Standard features included forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, with optional upgrades like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a concerning performance in the IIHS's small overlap frontal-impact test. Its safety offerings were adequate but not exceptional.