2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

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 unique and bold look. 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 offered limited functionality, and some elements seemed less cohesive.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, presented a chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and flat hood. Its pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights fit well with Hyundai's design aesthetic. The Santa Fe offered a range of trims, each with specific wheel sizes and features. Inside, the Santa Fe provided ample space for seven passengers, with the top Calligraphy trim offering captain's chairs in the second row. The interior featured a mix of materials, from basic cloth to luxurious Nappa leather. While the fit and finish were generally good, some squeaks and rattles were noted. The Santa Fe's interior was practical, with physical dials for HVAC controls and a two-level glove box with a UV-C sanitizer on upper trims.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was designed for long-distance comfort rather than sporty driving. It featured two Chinese-sourced motors producing 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque for AWD, with a standard single rear motor setup offering 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The LYRIQ's 102-kWh battery pack provided a claimed range of 314 miles with RWD and 307 miles with AWD, though real-world testing showed closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 80% in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The braking system was strong, but the vehicle lacked handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring or magnetic dampers.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. It offered FWD or AWD, with the XRT trim exclusively available in AWD. The Santa Fe's eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission provided smooth shifting, though turbo lag was noticeable. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance for off-road capability. While the Santa Fe handled well in corners, it wasn't designed for rugged off-roading. The gear selector on the steering column required some adjustment, but overall, the Santa Fe delivered a stable and responsive driving experience.

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 were noted. The glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space. The LYRIQ's interior was spacious, with generous headroom and legroom, but cargo space was limited to 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space and practicality. The base SE trim offered essential features, while the XRT trim added heated front seats and a sunroof. The Calligraphy trim provided additional luxury with heated second-row seats and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe's two-level glove box with a UV-C sanitizer was a standout feature. It offered the most third-row legroom in its class, with adjustable second-row seats. Cargo space was impressive, with 40.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 79.6 cubic feet with both rows folded. The rear opening was widened for easier loading, and most trims could tow 3,500 pounds, with the XRT capable of 4,500 pounds.

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 excellent hands-free driving capabilities, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with the top trims also featuring a digital gauge cluster. The system was user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. Upper trims offered additional features like Amazon Music, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Hyundai Pay. Charging options included multiple USB-C ports and wireless charging. The Santa Fe also offered a digital key and an available fingerprint scanner for added security. The Bluelink app provided remote connectivity and over-the-air updates.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by 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 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist as standard. Higher trims added features like rear parking collision avoidance and Highway Drive Assist. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Good rating from IIHS, except for headlights and LATCH categories, which were rated Acceptable.