When we last checked in on the Cadillac Lyriq, it was an EV that promised futuristic tech and comfort with a small pinch of performance to sweeten the deal even more. However, for buyers who are entering the high-performance EV market, the dual-motor version of the Lyriq simply couldn’t cut the proverbial mustard.
The luxury brand is now out to change that with the introduction of the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V. But is this V all show? Or does it have enough go to back up its claims?
Lyriq-V Speaks Softly
At first glance, you would be hard-pressed to try and find anything distinct about the Lyriq-V. From a distance, it looks like any other Lyriq on the road, with the SUV having a smooth shape that’s complemented by a sporty rear end. But move closer, and some of the finer differences begin to make themselves apparent.
The Lyriq-V gets model-exclusive V-badging, and the front and rear fascias also get tweaks to help them cut through the air better. Lyriq-Vs also get lighter 20-inch alloy wheels that look sharp too. We wish the design would do a better job of conveying what the Lyriq-V is all about from the start, since the EV tends to blend into the crowd in traffic and alongside rivals.
Comfy interior continues to bring on the tech
Slip inside, and you’ll find the interior of the Lyriq-V doesn’t stray too far from the standard models either. The most prominent differences here are trim elements, with V models getting higher-quality materials and a steering wheel with the V badge on it. But the things it does carry over still make this EV stand out, with the large 33-inch LED display screen continuing to do a good job of providing a seamless display of information. Physical controls, including toggle controls, augment the screen.
The front seats get a V-exclusive seating material, but since this is also carried over from other Lyriqs, we wish Cadillac would have given these thrones more support as well as more definitive V badges to drive home the fact that you are in a high-performance vehicle. The second-row seats are comfortable for adults, but they can be folded down to help boost rear cargo room, which is encouraged by the lack of a formal frunk.
Our highlight feature, though, is the AKG premium audio system, which continues to hit the proverbial sweet spot when it comes to delivering bespoke sound quality, with Dolby Atmos applying its magic to select pieces of music.
Lyriq-V is the ultimate Q-Ship
With the rest of the Lyriq-V speaking too softly for its own good, we’re glad to see that Cadillac chose to let the mechanical upgrades do much of the talking here, with all Lyriq-Vs being powered by an upgraded dual-motor setup. The upgrades include increased power, but annoyingly, it doesn’t come by default in the Lyriq-V. Instead, you have to go through several menus to access Velocity Max mode to get access to the full 615 combined horsepower. Leave it in its default drive modes, and the V makes the same 515 horsepower that other dual-motor models get. The 650 lb-ft of torque is also very noticeable.
But when you’re in Velocity Max, the Cadillac transforms into an otherworldly driving experience, with the acceleration our tester provided making us feel like you’re being shot out of a cannon. Cadillac says the Lyriq-V can make the sprint to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, but while this makes it quicker than the V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing, it also feels quicker than advertised, and we suspect Cadillac is baking the numbers just a bit.
Alot of this newfound vigor is due to upgraded electric motors on both axles as well as upgraded inverters, with the carryover 102 kWh battery pack getting better cooling to help it cope with the increased performance load. The V is also the first Lyriq to get Sachs adaptive dampers and is the only one not to get Cadillac’s familiar Magnetic Ride Control System. Caddy says they made that decision to reduce weight while also improving roll and responsiveness.
Our tester certainly felt like it was on better dance shoes, but this is still a vehicle that weighs over 5900 lbs, and you still feel all of that heft when asking it to go through sharp corners. Upgraded 6-piston front Brembo brakes help bring the EV to a smooth and controlled stop.
All of this performance comes at a cost
While the range-topping Lyriq-V comes with an appropriately high price tag (more on that later), all of this beefed-up performance also comes with a noticeable range penalty. Unlike other Lyriqs, which are capable of going over 300 miles on a single charge, the V manages 285 miles on a single charge. This is still a very usable range for most buyers, but it does cause the V to be left behind some rivals when range numbers are brought up.
In addition, the Lyriq-V still uses an older CCS charge port from the factory, but GM will eventually add NACS ports to all models for the 2027 model year. Owners of 2026 models like our tester will need to use an adapter GM offers to plug into Tesla Supercharging stations and other charging setups that use NACS technology.
Value Quotient
With the V here referring to its performance, it should come as no surprise to see that value is not on the priority list here. A base Lyriq-V starts at just over $80,000 when taxes and fees are applied. Our uplevel Premium model increases that base price to over $85,000, with the laundry list of options our tester had causing the final as-tested price to surge past $95,000 when taxes and fees are applied.
This pricing causes the Lyriq-V to be in a strange spot. While it is cheaper than the recently sidelined Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, it’s also more expensive than the Audi SQ6 e-tron. As a result, customers will be in a tough spot trying to make the Cadillac feel like a justified purchase, and with some of the improvements Cadillac needs to make in the finer details, it might be a pretty hard task, especially when teammates like the Vistiq do the job better.
Leave a Reply