2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a testament to Cadillac's flair for exterior styling, boasting a street presence that was both commanding and elegant. Its design, reminiscent of the classic Seville, featured a long hood and low ground clearance, giving it the appearance of a sleek sedan rather than a typical SUV. The vertical light bars, nine LED headlights, and a solid grille with lighting effects added to its unique style. The Sport trim, with its dark triangular motif and 22-inch wheels, enhanced its imposing look, although the standard 20-inch wheels diluted this effect. Inside, the LYRIQ was a showcase of luxury, with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing. However, the floating center console was a design misstep, offering little practical space.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality shifted with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes that either stood out or blended in, depending on the shade. The X-Line and X-Pro models featured distinctive grille blocks and amber accent lights. The side profile was marked by angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs, while the rear view, with its rounded corners and vertical taillights, bore a resemblance to a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride Hybrid's interior was less controversial, offering a simple, modern dashboard layout. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, with its two-tone palette, added a touch of luxury, though the labeling on some buttons was hard to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, were comfortable but firm, with excellent surrounding material quality.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more at home on the interstate, offering a calm and poised ride. Its dual-motor powertrain delivered 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. The 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered a claimed 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 topping to 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its 5,800-pound weight, leading to significant understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The braking system was strong, but the vehicle's weight raised concerns about its durability under hard use.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, producing 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system provided a smooth and quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The Telluride Hybrid was comfortable on various terrains, with the X-Pro Prestige trim offering off-road capabilities. The ride was luxuriously smooth, with the suspension effectively absorbing bumps. On winding roads, the Telluride was composed and controllable, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, requiring some adjustment, but the vehicle responded well in panic stops.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a faulty charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray were notable issues. The glovebox was difficult to access while driving, and the floating console offered limited space. The rotary selector for the touchscreen was less intuitive than direct touch, and drive mode selection was cumbersome. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, though its cargo space was limited to 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid excelled in interior space, accommodating adults comfortably in all three rows. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, though access to the third row was slow with the Executive package. The middle-row seats offered ample travel, allowing for flexible cargo and legroom configurations. The Telluride's cargo capacity was competitive, with 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 89.3 cubic feet with seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The vehicle also offered practical storage solutions for personal items.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for lighting and trip information. The infotainment system, running native Google Maps and Google Assistant, was user-friendly with high-quality graphics. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch climate control screen. The infotainment system was intuitive, though it occasionally required a firm tap to register inputs. The climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customizable themes for the infotainment screen and a 14-speaker Meridian audio system with excellent sound quality.

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 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid also lacked crash test scores from NHTSA and IIHS. It offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had some operational issues, but the highway driving assist was effective on long trips.