2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2024 VW ID.4

• 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ

  

  Starting at

  $58,590^[a]

  2024 VW ID.4

  

  Starting at

  $39,735

  500	Horsepower	335
  450 lb-ft	Torque	402 lb-ft
  314 miles	Electric Range	291 miles

  In the past, you could say that changes sweeping the auto industry were electric, but you would generally have been speaking figuratively. Right now, however, the major changes in the industry are quite literally electric as all-electric models grow in popularity and every car company goes into overdrive to deliver new and exciting electric vehicles (EVs). However, trying to keep track of everything from different manufacturers can be difficult, so it helps to look at just one or two and see what they offer. When you check out the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ vs 2024 VW ID.4, it is easy to see that the LYRIQ has far more to offer in terms of performance, your overall driving experience, and the kind of exquisite luxury found inside.

  For starters, both of these EV SUVs give you a choice between a single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) configuration and a dual-motor electric all-wheel drive (eAWD) option. You cannot go wrong with either one for the Cadillac LYRIQ, though we certainly prefer the power and precision that eAWD delivers. Looking at these two models, however, there are big differences in the power they can deliver: the VW ID.4 tops out at 335 hp when you choose a dual-motor version, while the single-motor Cadillac gives you 340 hp. If you go with a dual-motor LYRIQ, you get 500 hp for an enjoyable and thrilling driving experience.

  You see similar differences when you look at the kind of driving range possible with these two vehicles. The Cadillac LYRIQ can provide you with an estimated 314 miles of total range from a full charge if you choose a RWD model, while the Volkswagen ID.4 tops out at just 291 miles from a full charge if you pick its best option for range. That is a significant difference, and even if you choose the powerful dual-motor version of the LYRIQ, you still get an estimated 307 miles of range, so you can go further with a Cadillac while getting tremendous power. Once you look inside and see things like the LYRIQ’s gorgeous 33-inch display that stretches across its front dashboard, the smaller 12.3-inch Infotainment display and separate driver screen in the ID.4 cannot keep up with what Cadillac offers.

• Power

  

  No matter what kind of vehicle you want, you deserve to get something that is fun to drive—something that gets you excited for every opportunity to hit the road. We know that not every SUV delivers that, but one of the reasons so many people choose Cadillac year after year is for the bold performance their vehicles deliver. Moving into the future with electrified power, Cadillac shows no signs of slowing down, and the LYRIQ takes advantage of the remarkable Ultium battery platform that GM has developed. The Volkswagen ID.4 has decent performance but falls short of the kind of driving experience you get with a Cadillac.

  Motor and Battery Configurations

  Both the ID.4 and the LYRIQ give you two options for motor configuration, though the ID.4 also has two different battery setups. The starting option from VW is a 62 kWh battery with a single motor, which provides 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. This is surprisingly low power from an EV model, but we assume VW developed it to offer as low-cost an option as possible. A better way to go is the available 82 kWh battery system; this is offered with a single motor that puts out 282 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque or a dual-motor option that boosts performance to 335 hp. There is no denying that a dual-motor setup with this enhanced battery is the way to go from VW, but you are about to see how much it falls behind the LYRIQ.

  You only have a single battery option from Cadillac, which is perfect because a 102 kWh battery system provides you with far more power than VW’s battery. If you go with a single-motor RWD setup for the LYRIQ, then you get 340 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, which you can see is far better than the starting performance from VW and more hp even than the dual-motor ID.4. With a dual-motor setup on the Cadillac LYRIQ, you get an incredible 500 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, providing you with a driving experience far beyond what VW offers. This massive power will push you back in your seat with a smile on your face as you realize how remarkable the future of the auto industry will be.

• Range

  

  For many drivers, the primary concern when it comes to EVs is the switch from gas and fuel efficiency to charging and maximum range. In reality, this is not a significant difference when it comes to your driving experience each day, though the convenience of charging your vehicle at home cannot be overstated. We can understand where range anxiety came from for drivers since older EVs had quite limited maximum ranges. Modern models, however, can go much further, and there is little reason to be worried about the maximum range on a vehicle like the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ.

  Charging Options

  We are pleased to see that both of these models have impressive range and great charging options; even though we are a Cadillac dealership, we still like to see when competitors make good vehicles. Looking at the VW ID.4, the maximum range changes a great deal depending on the options you choose. The standard 62 kWh battery has an, unfortunately, limited range with just 206 miles from a full charge; the available 82 kWh battery improves on this significantly with 263 miles of range with a dual-motor setup or a maximum of 291 miles with a single motor. Volkswagen supports at-home charging with the ID.4 and DC public fast charging, but the limited range of the starting model is a clear flaw.

  Looking at the Cadillac LYRIQ, you get an exceptional vehicle that is not only incredibly powerful but can go a long time between charging. The standard 102 kWh battery in the LYRIQ is a technological marvel that offers up to 314 miles of range from a full charge with the single-motor model; choosing a dual-motor option boosts performance and only lowers the maximum range to 307 miles. You can see this still tops the VW ID.4 and is far superior to both the starting model and dual-motor configuration from Volkswagen. With support for 190 kW DC fast charging, you can get about 77 miles of range added from just a 10-minute charge with the Cadillac LYRIQ, while 11.5 kW Level 2 charging at home can get you 31 miles of range in an hour. Better yet, available 19.2 kW Level 2 charging gives you up to 51 miles of range from an hour of charging for incredible convenience.

• Tech

  

  Some of the best things EVs are bringing to the auto industry are remarkable technology, the likes of which we have never seen before, though they are not all on the same level. Looking at the Volkswagen ID.4, for example, it has some good features like a standard 12.0-inch infotainment display, though a slightly larger 12.9-inch screen is available. The VW ID.4 light system that features a light bar across the front to provide you with information via light pulses and illumination patterns is a fun addition, though using it can feel a bit cryptic. Other standard features like advanced keyless access and dual-zone climate control are nice but nothing too exceptional.

  Infotainment

  The Cadillac LYRIQ, on the other hand, takes technology to another level entirely. For starters, upfront, you have a truly stunning 33-inch advanced LED screen with 9K resolution and the ability to display more than one billion colors. Stretching across the dashboard, this screen is gorgeous, and when you pair it with the available Cadillac-exclusive 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system, you get a driving experience that surpasses everything else on the road. Available tri-zone automatic climate control ensures everyone is comfortable in the LYRIQ, while the available Super Cruise system gives you true, hands-free driving on hundreds of thousands of miles of roads across North America and a taste of the future on your daily drive.

The Cadillac LYRIQ for the Win