2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2026 Lexus NX

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 vertical light bars at the front, nine LED headlights, and a solid grille with lighting effects added to its unique style. The interior was equally impressive, with attention to detail evident in the leather-wrapped seats, polished window switches, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display. However, the floating center console was a misstep, offering little usable space.

In contrast, the 2026 Lexus NX maintained a fresh appearance with its integrated styling elements, including chunky fenders, LED daytime running lights, and the spindle grille. The design was more refined than some of its German counterparts, with key elements carried over from the previous generation. The NX was available in various powertrain options, including non-hybrid, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models, with trim levels like F Sport Handling adding sporty features. While the exterior design was well-received, the interior of the F Sport Handling model felt more akin to a high-end Toyota RAV4, lacking the luxury expected from the brand.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a calm and poised driving experience, excelling on the interstate with its impressive ride quality. The dual-motor powertrain in the test car produced 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Despite its power, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, leading to understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The regenerative braking system was a welcome feature, but the overall chassis needed improvement.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered a variety of powertrain options, with the NX 350 F Sport test car featuring a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The engine felt more suited for a pickup truck, and the eight-speed automatic transmission lacked urgency. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models offered more compelling performance on paper. However, the F Sport Handling upgrade did not enhance the driving experience, with firm dampers and lifeless steering detracting from ride quality and engagement.

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 floating console offered limited space, and the glovebox was difficult to access while driving. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, though cargo space was limited at 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered competitive passenger space, though with some compromises. Rear-seat headroom was comparable to rivals, but legroom was slightly less. The front seats felt constrained, and outward visibility was hindered by the deep dashboard and large mirrors. Cargo space measured 22.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.3 cubic feet when folded, trailing behind competitors. The NX's towing capacity was also limited to 2,000 pounds.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls and a large, legible instrument cluster. 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 2026 Lexus NX came with a standard 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 14-inch display available on higher trims. The NX included a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and six USB ports. Additional tech features required data connectivity packages, with options like cloud-based navigation and digital key functionality. The voice recognition system offered some convenience, but had limitations in controlling certain features.

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 2026 Lexus NX was equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, offering a comprehensive range of driver-assist features. These included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and traffic-sign recognition. The NX's electronic door handles were integrated with a Safe Exit Assist feature. The NX received a 2025 Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, though it missed the highest award due to an "Acceptable" score in one crash test.