There are few automotive names with the history and instant recognition of Cadillac. Founded in Detroit in 1902, the American luxury marque has spent more than 120 years building everything from imposing luxury saloons to some of the most extravagant cars to come out of the United States. Now Cadillac is embarking on a new chapter, one that is entirely electric, and Irish motorists are finally getting an opportunity to experience it properly. Cadillac made its Irish debut through Charles Hurst at last year’s Nevo EV Show in Dublin’s RDS Simmonscourt, where the LYRIQ and larger VISTIQ were shown to Irish customers for the first time. The move forms part of Cadillac’s wider European expansion, with Charles Hurst investing €1 million in bringing the brand to Ireland. The LYRIQ is the first model available to Irish customers, with further models set to follow as Cadillac builds its presence here.
On first sighting, it certainly makes an impression! Although pictured here in red, our LYRIQ Sport test car was finished in Crystal White Tricoat and looked fantastic in the sunshine, particularly on its 21-inch wheels. Cadillac has resisted the temptation to make its new electric SUV look like everything else in the premium EV class and for this we are grateful. The distinctive illuminated front treatment, sharp vertical lighting and sheer size give it genuine presence. Perhaps one of the things we like most about the LYRIQ is simply that it is different and seeing that famous Cadillac crest on Irish roads is a welcome sight. Inside, the American approach to luxury continues. Dominating the dashboard is a sweeping 33-inch LED display, while Google built-in takes care of much of the infotainment experience. There is also an excellent 19-speaker AKG audio system. Heated front and rear seats, ventilated and massaging front seats, tri-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and acoustic laminated glass all add to the sense of occasion. There’s plenty of space too, with 588 litres of luggage capacity increasing to 1,751 litres with the rear seats folded.
One feature that particularly impressed us was Cadillac’s seat-based safety alert. Rather than relying solely on another warning tone, the system can vibrate the driver’s seat to indicate the direction of a potential hazard. It initially catches you by surprise, but it’s something you quickly become accustomed to and we found it a clever and surprisingly intuitive way of communicating with the driver. Out on the road, the LYRIQ is smooth and impressively comfortable, with minimal road noise entering the cabin. With 528hp from its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system there is certainly no shortage of performance either. It isn’t as dynamic through a series of backroad bends as the new BMW iX3 we recently tested, but the Cadillac still pulls strongly out of corners and hides its considerable size reasonably well. The Brembo performance front brakes are particularly welcome when reigning in all that weight approaching a tighter bend.
Cadillac quotes up to 530 kilometres from a full charge. As ever, conditions and driving style will dictate the reality, but a figure somewhere in the late 400km range remains very respectable for a large, powerful luxury SUV. Charging is equally impressive, with AC capability of up to 22kW, while rapid DC charging can add an estimated 200 kilometres of range in around 15 minutes. Cadillac has also been clever in building awareness beyond the traditional motoring audience. Its presence at the recent college football game at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium generated considerable interest, particularly among American and Irish-American spectators. Cadillac staff who attended the event told us there was a particularly positive reaction to the cars on display, with many American residents genuinely excited to see such a familiar home-grown marque establishing itself in Ireland. There was perhaps an element of nostalgia involved too. Cadillac may be a new name in Irish showrooms, but it certainly isn’t an unfamiliar one.
The LYRIQ Sport and Luxury currently kick off from €95,109, with our test car coming in at a shade over €100,000. That places Cadillac straight into serious premium territory, where the LYRIQ faces some extremely accomplished and well-established opposition. Two further Cadillac models are expected to join the Irish range before Christmas, while a new flagship Cadillac Dublin facility in Sandyford, Dublin 18 is also planned to replace the existing premises. How the brand performs in Ireland, and indeed how residual values fare over the coming years, only time will tell. What Cadillac does have, however, is something many newcomers would spend fortunes trying to create: heritage, recognition and personality. The LYRIQ doesn’t simply feel like another electric SUV arriving in Ireland. It feels distinctly like a Cadillac, and that alone makes Irish roads a little more interesting.
