2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2025 Ford Bronco

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a testament to Cadillac's commitment to striking exterior design. It exuded a commanding street presence, with its long hood and low ground clearance giving it the appearance of a sleek sedan rather than a traditional SUV. Drawing inspiration from the classic Seville, the LYRIQ featured a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track, all contributing to its unique style. The front end was adorned with vertical light bars and nine LED headlights that performed a light show upon unlocking. The grille, with its lighting effects, varied across trims, with the Sport trim showcasing a more subdued dark triangular motif. The LYRIQ's design was further enhanced by its wraparound taillights and steeply raked glass window, which minimized the impact of its high-waisted tailgate.

Inside, the LYRIQ's attention to detail was evident. The seats boasted C-shaped headrests and were wrapped in leather, offering the luxury and adjustments expected from Cadillac. The interior featured polished black window switches and door-mounted seat controls outlined in chrome, resting on stained wood. The armrest, padded with leather and trimmed with aluminum, seamlessly integrated into the speaker grille. Unique to Cadillac were the shifter and turn signal stalks, along with the three-spoke steering wheel. The retro air vents, controlled by swiveling knobs, added a touch of nostalgia. However, the floating center console, while visually appealing, lacked practicality. The 33-inch OLED display was a standout feature, offering a modern touch without overwhelming the space.

The 2025 Ford Bronco successfully captured the essence of its 1960s predecessor while incorporating modern design elements. Its boxy shape was softened with rounded corners, and wide horizontal shapes dominated its design, particularly at the front with a full-width rectangular grille and round headlamps. The Bronco offered multiple top options, including soft, hard, or both, and removable doors for an open-air experience. The Sasquatch package, with its 17-inch aluminum wheels and 35-inch all-terrain tires, enhanced its off-road capabilities and added a menacing look.

The Bronco lineup for 2025 included seven versions, each with unique features and options. The base model, available in two- and four-door styles, could be upgraded with the Sasquatch package. The Big Bend model, offered only in four-door trim, provided additional options like the Black Diamond graphics package and the new Free Wheeling package. The Outer Banks model featured a turbocharged V6 engine and LED lighting, while the Heritage model embraced a retro look with standard Sasquatch equipment. The Badlands model, available in two- or four-door variants, boasted bigger tires and an upgraded suspension. The high-performance Stroppe Edition and Bronco Raptor catered to enthusiasts seeking race-ready and ultra-capable off-road vehicles, respectively. The Bronco Big Bend model, tested with the Sasquatch package, impressed with its Velocity Blue Metallic color and overall appeal.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, prioritized comfort over sportiness. After covering over 500 miles, it excelled on the interstate, offering a calm and poised ride. The dual-motor powertrain, producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, provided continuous all-wheel drive (AWD) and was optional on every trim. The standard setup featured a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Both powertrains utilized a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with Cadillac claiming a range of 314 miles for rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 307 miles for AWD. However, real-world testing showed a maximum range closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes at DC fast-charging stations. The LYRIQ's handling, however, was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. While braking was strong, the overall chassis needed improvement.

The 2025 Ford Bronco offered a choice of engines, with the base 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine increased output to 330 hp and 415 lb-ft. The Bronco Raptor featured a unique, more powerful engine with a 4,500-pound towing capacity. The standard seven-speed manual transmission included a low gear for off-road crawling, while a 10-speed automatic was available on various trims. The Sasquatch package, with its locking differentials and large tires, enhanced off-road capabilities. All Bronco models came with four-wheel drive (4WD) and a two-speed transfer case, with advanced 4WD systems available on higher trims. The Bronco's independent front suspension provided a comfortable ride on pavement, while the Badlands trim offered a front sway-bar disconnect for improved wheel articulation.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose 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 less intuitive than direct touch interaction. Drive mode selection required navigating multiple menus, and the metal door handles, though integrated into the armrests, could be mistaken for window switches. 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 provided ample space for passengers and cargo. The two-door model offered sufficient room for two passengers, while the four-door model increased rear-seat space and ease of access. The Sasquatch package's big tires and upgraded suspension raised the vehicle's height, necessitating a step up into the cabin. Two-door Broncos offered 22.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 53.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The four-door model provided 38.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the soft top, reduced to 35.6 cubic feet with the hard top. Ford incorporated numerous storage cubbies, including armrest compartments, door pockets, and MOLLE mounting points. The 2025 Bronco also introduced dedicated rear air conditioning vents and improved insulation for reduced road noise.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen divided into three sections. The leftmost portion was touch-enabled for lighting and gauge cluster adjustments. While lacking augmented reality video feed, the instrument cluster was large and legible. The main touchscreen infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The 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 variable surround sound modes.

The 2025 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4 infotainment software, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A seven-speaker audio system with a subwoofer was standard, with an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system available on higher trims. A second 12-inch screen served as a digital gauge cluster, customizable with various modes for off-road and safety settings. The Bronco featured five G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes, with additional modes available on specific trims. Each mode had its own animation on the digital gauge cluster.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by the 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 did not come standard with the Co-Pilot360 safety suite, but it was optional on the base trim and standard on higher trims. Features included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Post-collision braking, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control were standard. The IIHS awarded the Bronco top "Good" ratings for various crash tests, while the NHTSA gave it four out of five stars for frontal crash safety and three out of five for rollover testing.