2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2025 Ford Bronco Sport

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 across trims, with the Sport trim showcasing a dark triangular motif. The vehicle's imposing presence was enhanced by 22-inch wheels, while the wraparound taillights and 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 was a design misstep, offering little functionality.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport, on the other hand, embraced a rugged aesthetic, sharing its platform with the Ford Escape but diverging in style. It featured a rectangular grille with round headlights and "Bronco" lettering, echoing the larger Bronco's design. The Bronco Sport's square silhouette, flat hood, and upright greenhouse gave it a cute yet capable appearance. For 2025, new off-road packages like the Black Diamond and Sasquatch added modular steel bumpers and underbody protection. The Bronco Sport's interior was functional, with center-console grab handles and auxiliary switches for off-road accessories. While less distinctive than the exterior, the interior materials were durable, aligning with its off-road focus. The Bronco Sport's design successfully balanced ruggedness with approachability, making it a versatile choice for adventure seekers.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a smooth and comfortable driving experience, excelling on the interstate with its calm and poised demeanor. Despite its sporty exterior, the LYRIQ prioritized long-distance comfort over aggressive performance. The dual-motor powertrain, producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, provided continuous all-wheel drive, while the standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The 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 closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 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 absence of handling-enhancing features like torque vectoring and magnetic dampers further impacted its agility.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport retained its powertrain options from the previous year, with most trims featuring a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands model offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 hp and 280 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, featuring a dual-clutch rear-drive unit for torque vectoring. The Bronco Sport's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like Trail Control and a new one-pedal feature for 2025. The Sasquatch Package added off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and steel underbody protection. Despite its off-road focus, the Bronco Sport maintained composed and comfortable on-road driving dynamics, offering a balance of capability and comfort that was impressive for a compact crossover.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in functionality and build quality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty motorized charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray in the dash were notable issues. The glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving, and the floating console lacked practicality, leaving valuables exposed. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was cumbersome, and drive mode selection required navigating multiple menus. 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 Ford Bronco Sport excelled in practicality, offering more headroom in both rows compared to competitors like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and Subaru Forester Wilderness. While it lagged in second-row legroom, it provided competitive cargo space, with 32.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 65.2 cubic feet when folded. The interior featured a rotary shifter, wireless charging pad, and multiple USB ports for convenience. The Bronco Sport's towing capacity ranged from 2,200 pounds with the turbo-three engine to 2,700 pounds with the turbo-four engine, surpassing some rivals. Overall, the Bronco Sport balanced off-road capability with practicality, making it a versatile choice for adventure and everyday use.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ impressed with its 33-inch OLED screen, divided into three sections for various functions. The infotainment system featured native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The available Super Cruise system offered hands-free driving, with a helpful colored bar on the steering wheel indicating system status. The 19-speaker AKG stereo provided excellent sound quality, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport upgraded to the Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with improved graphics and user-friendly menus. The available 360-degree camera system functioned as both a safety feature and off-road aid, providing clear views of obstacles. The Bronco Sport's technology enhancements elevated its interior experience, offering a more premium feel.

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 with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, rear emergency braking, and a rear camera displayed on the rearview mirror.

The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. IIHS ratings included "Good" scores in several tests and an "Acceptable" rating in the updated side-impact test. Standard driver-assist features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Reverse automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition were optional on higher trims.