The Ultium platform gave birth to some great vehicles
By now, it’s common knowledge that GM’s Ultium EV platform provides the skeleton for some great EVs, like the Chevy Blazer EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra EV, the GMC Hummer EV, the Buick Electra, the Acura ZDX, and the Honda Prologue. The platform allows for a larger battery, both a 400-volt and an 800-volt architecture, which is scalable. It’s a very flexible platform that gave way to some fantastic EVs from a few different companies. The Acura ZDX was one of my favorites for its well-roundedness and design, until I got behind the wheel of the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V.
Kristen Brown
The Lyriq-V is a fun one because it blends Cadillac’s performance prowess with a surprisingly practical family package. So, if you wanted to, you could be the undeniably cool aunt or uncle with a fast and gaudy EV, while still being able to fit the tots in their car seats without much hassle. A large, panoramic sunroof opens up and brightens the interior, ambient lighting makes it fun and flashy, and the seats are some of the coziest I’ve experienced. And for $87,510 with add-ons, packages, fees, and taxes, I’d expect it to be. Here’s how my week with the company’s quickest model went with my kids in tow.
I could probably charge rent for the rear seats
I mean that with sincerity. The available space in the rear seats of the Lyriq-V is vast. There are 39.6 inches of legroom for the second row, leaving plenty of room for rear-facing car seats and room to spare (minimum recommended acreage is 29 inches from the front and rear headrest, in case you didn’t know). Both of my daughters are front-facing, so they had more than enough room to crawl in and out of their seats and still have room to stretch their legs, or look out of their window or the sunroof. The Lyriq-V isn’t so wide they can’t kick each other’s chairs when boredom strikes, but it was enough to keep their legs from making contact with their arms, which was a huge relief for my husband and me. The second row can have heaters and ventilators installed as an add-on, too, if your passengers aren’t quite as small as mine were.
Kristen Brown
Despite the vastness of the rear seats, the trunk was reasonably large for the everyday hustler. There are 28 cubic inches of space to use, and my family and I certainly did. Though I did find it interesting that the 2026 Subaru Forester base model had 1.5 inches more, but for how much space there is for rear passengers, the space in the trunk was perfectly acceptable. My husband and I were able to make multiple trips to our storage unit to grab camping gear, the crossbars for the WRX, and a desk in one round trip, and I can confidently say that it would be able to fit a grocery haul, a double stroller, and anything else you’d need for a family outing or a vacation. The Lyriq-V also has under-floor storage for keeping clean-up items at the ready, first aid items, valuables, or whatever else you need to keep from prying eyes safe.
The range isn’t the best, and the charging isn’t all that quick, but it’s fast
The standard Lyriq can come in rear-wheel drive, giving it a higher maximum range of 326 miles. With all-wheel drive, the standard Lyriq can still go about 319 miles on a full charge. The Lyriq-V, which has been tuned and designed to have a sportier ride, has more horsepower and goes from zero in 3.3 seconds, thanks to modifications to the battery so it can handle that speed and torque. It doesn’t have that luxury. Instead, the maximum range is about 285 miles on a full charge. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not all that bad. A gas car with 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque would be considered next to godliness if it could go that far on a single tank of gas. That’s about how many miles I can go in my Subaru Forester before needing to refuel.
Kristen Brown
The range wasn’t the hardest part, though. The Lyriq-V, unlike many of the Ultium platform’s larger EVs, doesn’t have an 800-volt architecture. It’s built with a 400-volt system, so it has slower peak charging rates and slightly less thermal efficiency (though it still has nice battery preconditioning capabilities). Instead of 350 kW fast charging speeds, it maxes out at 190 kW. That seems like a big drop, but it can still get from 10 to 80% in about 34 minutes at fast chargers. And, because it comes with a DC charging port, it’s compatible with nearly all public fast chargers. The range and charging are pretty good for families, but it could be better. Compared to most performance EVs, the Lyriq-V hits a happy medium in that department.
Now for the “V” part of the equation
There’s plenty of engineering that went into the company’s quickest model (not fastest—that’s the Blackwing—but the Lyriq-V has the quickest 0-60 time). Cadillac didn’t just dial up the power for the Lyriq‑V—it reworked the core hardware to make the SUV feel sharper, quicker, and more controlled than the standard model. The V‑Series gets higher‑output dual motors with more aggressive inverter tuning, stronger cooling circuits, and a rear‑biased torque split that gives it a livelier, more athletic feel. Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 replaces the standard Lyriq’s passive dampers, and the suspension gains stiffer bushings and revised geometry to keep the big EV flatter and more composed in corners. Brembo front brakes, stickier tires, bigger wheels, and retuned steering all contribute to a driving experience that feels genuinely performance‑oriented rather than just “fast for an EV.”
Kristen Brown
What makes this engineering meaningful for families is how it improves confidence and control in everyday driving. The stronger cooling and smarter torque management help the Lyriq‑V deliver consistent power for merging or passing, even when the cabin is full, and the cargo area is loaded. The adaptive dampers smooth out rough pavement, the upgraded brakes inspire trust on long downhill grades, and the chassis tuning keeps the SUV stable on winding roads or during quick maneuvers. It’s a rare performance EV that feels exciting for the driver without sacrificing the comfort, predictability, and refinement that matter when kids are along for the ride. And, of course, when the kids are at school, you can slap ‘er into Sport mode and enjoy a spirited drive to work. If you want to get fancy, you can show off the Launch Control to your coworkers. It’s amazing.
The interior tech is intuitive, responsive, and aesthetically gorgeous
Many—including myself—critiqued GM for bowing out of using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay for their EVs. The Lyriq, though, comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as it was grandfathered in before the software was axed. While I loved having it, the mirroring was on such a tiny section of the screen that I honestly would rather not have it, especially since I’m an Android user and GM’s native software includes all the Google apps I use, like Google Maps, Assistant, and the Play Store. You can download streaming apps, too, like YouTube, so kids can watch content on the main screen while it’s plugged into a charger. Because I’m a Google Girly, using all the built-in apps was easy. If you’re an Apple user, well, you’ll have to adjust. The user interface is so easy to navigate, though, that it won’t take much time at all.
The only setting that was a bit annoying to manipulate was the HUD height. It was all the way to the left of the steering wheel under “Layout,” at the very corner of the 33-inch LED display. My husband and I loved the HUD, especially the green arrows that pop up and flash in the direction you’re supposed to turn when you’re coming up to said turn—and it’s customizable. It tells you when you can use Super Cruise, what the speed limit is (thanks to navigational data), and how fast you’re going, too. It was especially helpful at night, but a little distracting during the day. Thankfully, all of that can be adjusted or turned off completely.
Kristen Brown
One thing I spotted that I loved about the Hummer EV was the active noise canceling technology that can help snuff out road noise, which, in the Bay Area on these horrific roads, was much appreciated. The AKG sound system was mindblowing, and my husband and I both loved how we could manipulate all of the driving modes (Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, My Mode, and V-Mode) to change the steering feel, suspension feel, and braking regen. Then, when you press the “V” button on the steering wheel, you can turn on V-Mode, Velocity Max, and Competitive Mode, which is where you access the Launch Control feature. Of which, can be done over and over and over again, because Cadillac tuned the battery for it.
Super Cruise is a hit for parents, too
Of course, I can’t talk about a GM product without mentioning Super Cruise. My tester came with Super Cruise as standard equipment, and owners get a trial period of three years. After those three years are up, it costs $25 per month (or $300 annually) plus an OnStar subscription to use it. But I’d say it’s worth it, especially as a parent. I’ve said it a million times by now, but Super Cruise is a godsend for parents to help reduce fatigue and anxiety on longer highway stretches. The Lyriq-V will let you know when Super Cruise is available, and then all you have to do is hit the button on the steering wheel. From there, just set the speed, and the Lyriq-V will handle the rest. Especially if you turn on the lane centering assist. It can make lane changes for you if you need it, but otherwise, it’s a much nicer form of adaptive cruise control.
Kristen Brown
I liked it because of how easy it made tending to my kids. I could set Super Cruise, and then reach for the water bottle my daughter dropped, reach for the snack bag, grab their sunglasses from their day bag, hand them a wet wipe for their sticky mitts, rescue a dropped toy, you name it—all without jerking the wheel, accidentally crossing lanes, or disrupting traffic. When the kids are sleeping, I still like to use it so I can go through the car’s settings if I need to, grab what I need, or simply enjoy the view (there’s not much of a view in the East Bay, but you get what I’m saying). It makes safer driving so much easier, and when you don’t need the extra assurance with kids, it makes commuting easier and less stressful, too. Ask me how I know. Traffic is synonymous with Bay Area living.
Final thoughts
The Cadillac Lyriq-V is a great example of how a great car balances agility and versatility. Do you need over 600 horsepower to commute or to drop the kids off at school? No, you don’t. Something with 200 horsepower would do just fine. But does it make everyday errands more fun? You bet your buns, and as a parent of toddlers, finding fun in the little things is hard to do—but the Lyriq-V makes it a whole lot easier. My toddlers loved hauling butt on the highway when it was clear and safe to do so, and my husband liked the technology’s intuitiveness, massaging seats, and overall comfort. We both agreed that it feels very much like a Cadillac, in the best of ways. It’s a land yacht, but it’s comfortable. For the first time (at least in my life), it didn’t drive like a boat. It drove like a rocket ship. A fun and gorgeous one, at that.
