Luxury battery-electric models from the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are about to face some fresh competition in the form of the Cadillac Lyriq EV, which will launch here before the end of the year, priced from $117,000 (MRLP).

A large five-door, five-seat SUV built on GM’s modular Ultium electric vehicle platform, the Lyriq signals the arrival of Cadillac to the Australian market after numerous false starts over the years.

When it launched Stateside in 2022 the Lyriq was hailed as the first all-electric vehicle from the US luxury car maker and is designed to be in the vanguard of what will eventually become a full range of battery electric models.

Rivals here will include the BMW iX, Genesis GV60 and GV70, Polestar 3 and Mercedes-Benz EQE, with the Lyriq’s price point clearly positioning it as a competitive offering against these rivals.

The Cadillac will be offered in two different models, Luxury and Sport, with the Luxury variant available from $117,000 (MRLP) and the Sport from $119,000 (MRLP).

Both offer an impressive 388kW of power delivered via an all-wheel drive electric powertrain featuring a 102kWh battery capable of 530km (WLTP) between charges.

Notable features of both models include 21-inch alloy wheels, a curved 33-inch diagonal advanced LED display, an AKG Studio 19-speaker audio system and a full glass roof with power sunshade.

Key differences between the two are primarily aesthetic with the Luxury featuring chrome trim elements and the Sport adopting a darker, more performance-oriented look.

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Specific to the Sport is a different grille treatment with dark grille-bar finish, unique wheels with dark inserts, obsidian chrome finishes and dark accents on front and rear fascia, windows and bodyside mouldings.

A full glass roof stretching through to the roof spoiler is a key exterior design feature of both, as is a dual-panel power sunroof and hands-free tailgate.

The Lyriq’s luxuriously trimmed interior features a 33-inch LED display infotainment screen, in the form of a single large screen spanning the viewing area of the driver.

The high-end sound system incorporates Active Noise Cancellation, and there’s also 126-colour ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar massage, heated and ventilated rear outboard seats, and tri-zone automatic climate control.

Passive safety is covered via a full suite of airbags, including dual-stage front, seat-mounted side-impact for driver and front passenger, knee for driver and front passenger, and head-curtain for all outboard seating positions.

Additional driver assistance features include Blind Zone Steering Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Alert, Surround Vision, Rear Pedestrian Alert, Automatic Parking Assist, Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking.

The Lyriq will be imported and distributed in Australia and New Zealand by GMSV (General Motors Special Vehicles) which already sells the Silverado pickup and Corvette sports car range, and has recently confirmed local conversion of the eight-seat GMC Yukon SUV.

Unlike the Silverado and Yukon, however, the Lyriq is built in factory right-hand drive at the Spring Hill Manufacturing Plant in Tennessee, USA.

Like rivals Tesla, Genesis and several other brands, Cadillac will pursue an online sales model with customers able to specify and order the vehicle online, or at dedicated ‘Experience Centres’ in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland to allow customers to see the vehicles firsthand.

Both models are covered by a five-year unlimited-kilometre factory vehicle warranty, five years roadside assistance, five years scheduled servicing and an eight-year/160,000km Electric Vehicle Propulsion Battery Warranty.

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