2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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 LYRIQ's design was further enhanced by its wraparound taillights and steeply raked glass window, giving it a unique and imposing presence.

Inside, the LYRIQ boasted a luxurious interior with attention to detail. The seats featured C-shaped headrests and were leather-wrapped, providing comfort and support. The interior was adorned with polished black and chrome accents, and the armrest was padded with leather and trimmed with aluminum. The steering wheel was unique to Cadillac, featuring knurled toggle switches and a sleek black panel of buttons. The air vents had a retro design, controlled by swiveling knobs. However, the floating center console was a design misstep, offering no usable space underneath. The 33-inch OLED display was a standout feature, seamlessly integrated into the interior.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained its handsome SUV appearance with subtle updates to its headlights, grille, and lower front fascia. Despite being a midcycle refresh, the changes were minimal, but the Grand Cherokee's design continued to make a strong visual statement. The thin grille and headlights, along with the traditional Jeep trapezoidal wheel arches, contributed to its substantial and wide-track look. The proportions of the hood and roofline paid homage to classic Jeep models, while the shark-nose angle of the front end and canted rear added a touch of modernity.

The Grand Cherokee's lineup underwent a major overhaul, with three core trim levels: Laredo, Limited, and Summit. The interior, while slightly more plain due to design elements borrowed from the smaller Jeep Cherokee, still justified its "grand" billing with smarter materials and more equipment at the upper trim levels. The Laredo and Laredo X models featured cloth upholstery, while higher trims offered leatherette and genuine leather options. Sunroofs were available starting on the Laredo Altitude and Limited trims. Despite some design similarities with the smaller Cherokee, the Grand Cherokee maintained its appeal with a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was not as sporty as its exterior suggested, but it excelled on the interstate with a calm and poised ride. It featured two Chinese-sourced motors producing 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for continuous all-wheel drive (AWD). The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. Both powertrains used a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering a claimed range of 314 miles with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 307 miles with AWD. However, real-world testing showed a range closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the battery topping to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes using a DC fast charger. Despite its impressive power, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee introduced the Hurricane 4 Turbo engine, delivering 324 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. This engine was standard in all trims except the base Laredo and Laredo X, which continued with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 producing 293 hp and 260 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions and offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel drive (4WD). The Hurricane engine provided impressive power across a broad range of rpm, making the Grand Cherokee feel quick and confident. The towing capacity remained at 6,200 pounds, matching the Pentastar V6. The Grand Cherokee's driving experience was comfortable, with a well-tuned suspension that absorbed road imperfections. However, its steering and suspension felt more truck-like, and its off-road capability varied depending on the chosen trim.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with 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 offered limited space. 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 were easily mistaken for window switches. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, but its cargo space was limited, with 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a spacious interior with two rows and five seats, while the Grand Cherokee L model provided a three-row option. The front seats offered competitive headroom and legroom, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel available on higher trims. The second row provided standard heated seats on Limited and higher models, but legroom was sub-par compared to some competitors. The two-row models offered 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 70.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Grand Cherokee L's cargo space was less than some three-row competitors. Despite lacking prominent dual wireless device chargers, the Grand Cherokee provided ample storage options, including a deep center console storage bin.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for lighting, trip odometer, and gauge cluster layouts. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The available Super Cruise system provided hands-free driving capabilities, with a helpful colored bar on the steering wheel indicating system status. The 19-speaker AKG stereo offered variable surround sound modes, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen on Laredo Altitude and higher trims, while the Laredo and Laredo X continued with a 10.2-inch touchscreen. All trims featured a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system provided wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with Off-Road Pages displaying useful information for off-road driving. However, the main touchscreen's home menu was cluttered, and the digital instrument cluster was disorganized. The Grand Cherokee offered a surround-view camera system with night vision and a low-angle off-road camera, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (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 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee came with standard driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors were also standard. Active Drive Assist, a hands-free highway driving system, was available starting on the Laredo Altitude trim. The 2025 model received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS 2024 Top Safety Pick, but updated ratings for the 2026 model were not available.