Chevrolet Blazer EV vs. Cadillac LYRIQ

E

E365

Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
2,723
Location
USA
My 2024 Blazer EV (RS AWD) lease is coming to an end soon so I just bought a CPO 2025 LYRIQ (Sport 3 AWD) to replace it. ($30k off MSRP with 5,000 miles on it) Here’s how they compare.

LYRIQ Pros:
- SuperCruise, which is excellent. Available on 2025+ Blazer EVs though.
- More power. 515 HP vs. 288 HP
- More range. 319 mi. EPA vs 279
- Faster DCFC
- Quieter cabin
- Heavier, more direct steering (Blazer EV steering is super-light)
- More refined ride over expansion joints. The ride is firmer than Blazer, which is very soft - too soft even. LYRIQ is still very comfortable.
- Much nicer interior materials. Blazer is still just fine though, for a Chevy.
- 4” longer cargo area (enough that’s it’s noticeable)
- Better headlights. My #1 complaint with Blazer EV is the narrow headlight beams and no cornering lights.
- Beltline feels lower with better outward visibility
- All the buttons are very solid and clicky. They feel very high quality.
- Massaging seats
- Front row storage. LYRIQ has a nice big open tray down low. Blazer has a huge bin that’s kinda awkward to use.

Blazer EV Pros:
- I really miss the Blazer’s bigger 17.7” screen. It’s
significantly larger than LYRIQ. The LYRIQ screen is higher quality though with higher resolution and much blacker-blacks, so nighttime driving is better.
- Has audio controls on the back of the steering wheel, which I really like. Not present on LYRIQ.
- No start button, which I like. The 2026+ LYRIQs switched to no start button though.
- Slightly more rear legroom.
- Bolt-on roof rack vs. LYRIQ clamp-on design, because Blazer has the roof rails. Cleaner design when they’re bolted-on.
- HUD. I don’t use the HUD, but it has it, unlike LYRIQ (2026+ LYRIQ gets an optional A.R. HUD)


Overall, I’m very happy with the LYRIQ. VERY nice place to be. Super quiet. Very refined ride. I think the only interior parts these two cars might share is the digital rear-view mirror? A must-have feature, IMO. The LYRIQ has a variable, spring-loaded regen paddle vs. a single-click paddle on Blazer EV. Not sure which I like better yet.

I think a used Blazer EV SS might actually be a great mix of these two. The pros of the RS/LT but without the soft suspension and steering. Plus power to match the LYRIQ-V and better charging than Blazer RS/LT. I see they’re under $50k now. I was gonna get one but I need a trailer hitch and Blazer EV SS doesn’t come with trailer wiring, nor the factory bumper cutout trim piece to accommodate one.

IMG_9516.webp


With the Blazer EV wheels in it (my winter wheel/tire set).
IMG_9308.webp
 
Last edited:
Both are beautiful and eerily similar, even down to the wheels. What’s the difference in the MSRP? Elon needs to hire a couple of the GM designers….
 
Excellent writeip, thanks for taking the time to share the comparison of the two vehicles. Would appreciate updates on your experience with the Lyriq.
 
trd1zz said:
The immediate and steep depreciation on this stuff is wild
Click to expand...
No kidding! I definitely wouldn’t buy one new. This LYRIQ was $79k new and I got it for $49k and certified pre-owned. It was a GM Corporate-employee lease. They apparently let corporate employees do 6 or 12 month leases, then dealerships can buy them up and resell (others probably know the details)? Most of the used 2025s I saw were labeled the same. You can get 2024s even cheaper, but I wanted a 2025, which has some updates over 2023/2024
 
Brons2 said:
You say the charging rate is better, what are you seeing on the Lyriq?
Click to expand...

190kW peak vs. 150kW. (Blazer SS, RS RWD and Police Package also charge at 190kW). Published range “per 10 minutes charging” is technically a bit faster on the 190kW cars.

Neither are very fast compared to other EVs, but it’s plenty fast for what I do. I drive 340 miles round-trip to work and even the mediocre-charging Blazer EV comes out to 12 minutes charging each way - it matches my bathroom/drink/snack break time. I’d guess LYRIQ will be a 10 minute charging stop each way for my driving.

Not sure what the LYRIQ will do 10-80%. Maybe around 35-36 min? I’ll test it soon. My Blazer EV would do 34 minutes under ideal conditions. New OTAs in recent days claiming improved DCFC, but I doubt it changed at all.

Hopefully a next-gen LYRIQ will match the new BMW iX3/Gravity/etc. 400kW peak. 10-80% in under 20 min. I pondered waiting for an iX3 but learned it’s actually kinda small (smaller than an Equinox EV/OPTIQ)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: GON
Interesting timing. I just spent a chunk of my time today gathering suspension part numbers for all the Lyriq and Blazer trims. I have a 2024 RWD RS trim and one of biggest things that irks me about it is the bounciness of the suspension at high speeds. For my driving, it's severely underdamped. We had an Jaguar I-Pace before the Blazer so it's frustrating going from something that handled so well to something as bouncy as much as the Blazer.

There are no aftermarket parts yet, so I'm looking at swapping in the Lyriq springs and shocks from the Lyriq RWD trim w/ 22-inch wheels. Apparently, the parts are tuned for the the specific wheel sizes. The roll bars are larger on the SS and Lyriq V as well, so that would be part of the swap. I would have gone SS, but wanted the tax credit on my 2024 return and I drive too many miles to lease. The Blazer has been a pleasant surprise thus far. Apart from the suspension and it being a bit down on power, I have no other complaints. The pre 2026 AWD pre 2026 was definitely too slow. GM actually upped the power for 2026 and I think they added some in a recent software update as well. I used to pull 285 kW max and now I'm seeing over 300 for very brief periods.

GM would have to move to 800V to match the iX3 and Gravity. Not sure how quickly they'd be willing to do that if EV sales stay depressed. It would require rearchitecting the Ultium packs because their voltage is fixed based on the number of modules in series. Flexible, but somewhat lazy design.
 
Totally agree. Needs a major damper upgrade for anything spirited. It certainly cruises down the freeway wonderfully though! I never looked into suspension upgrades since mine was a lease, but a classic Bilstein or Koni damper upgrade would probably do wonders for it (if they existed).


jghall00 said:
Interesting timing. I just spent a chunk of my time today gathering suspension part numbers for all the Lyriq and Blazer trims. I have a 2024 RWD RS trim and one of biggest things that irks me about it is the bounciness of the suspension at high speeds. For my driving, it's severely underdamped. We had an Jaguar I-Pace before the Blazer so it's frustrating going from something that handled so well to something as bouncy as much as the Blazer.

There are no aftermarket parts yet, so I'm looking at swapping in the Lyriq springs and shocks from the Lyriq RWD trim w/ 22-inch wheels. Apparently, the parts are tuned for the the specific wheel sizes. The roll bars are larger on the SS and Lyriq V as well, so that would be part of the swap. I would have gone SS, but wanted the tax credit on my 2024 return and I drive too many miles to lease. The Blazer has been a pleasant surprise thus far. Apart from the suspension and it being a bit down on power, I have no other complaints. The pre 2026 AWD pre 2026 was definitely too slow. GM actually upped the power for 2026 and I think they added some in a recent software update as well. I used to pull 285 kW max and now I'm seeing over 300 for very brief periods.

GM would have to move to 800V to match the iX3 and Gravity. Not sure how quickly they'd be willing to do that if EV sales stay depressed. It would require rearchitecting the Ultium packs because their voltage is fixed based on the number of modules in series. Flexible, but somewhat lazy design.
Click to expand...
 
So far nothing has come out that sways me from the HmG products for EV. In pictures I like the Lyriq, but in person it's far too long to look good and visually it turns into a submarine with texture that appears to be a struggle to make those body panels make sense. Just my take on the looks, but that's totally subjective. The abysmal performance and charging are my technical dislikes, but the interior is a huge plus.
 
EV sales are depressed because:

1) Incentives drove massive sales previous months. Everyone who wants one, has one.
2) The economy is trash.
3) Interest rates are trash.
4) People have been spending on everything at an insane rate as a method to cope with how much life sucks, and they're about out of powder after paying 200% home prices (or 300% rent) (that they bid on), at 200-300% interest rates (compared to 2-3 years ago), and their little cuppy cups of "Starbs" going through the roof, coupled with no meme coins going to the moon, their OF subs falling off, and all the other little COVID pump-and-dumps that enabled it.
5) Gas prices are at historic lows with our current admin shifting more toward keeping it that way vs. subsidizing "Green". (no politics or preferences for them expressed here, just facts about funding).

Give it until:

Gas prices pop or market cycle and satiety again drive normal sales numbers.
 
Ws6 said:
EV sales are depressed because:

1) Incentives drove massive sales previous months. Everyone who wants one, has one.
2) The economy is trash.
3) Interest rates are trash.
4) People have been spending on everything at an insane rate as a method to cope with how much life sucks, and they're about out of powder after paying 200% home prices (or 300% rent) (that they bid on), at 200-300% interest rates (compared to 2-3 years ago), and their little cuppy cups of "Starbs" going through the roof, coupled with no meme coins going to the moon, their OF subs falling off, and all the other little COVID pump-and-dumps that enabled it.
5) Gas prices are at historic lows with our current admin shifting more toward keeping it that way vs. subsidizing "Green". (no politics or preferences for them expressed here, just facts about funding).

Give it until:

Gas prices pop or market cycle and satiety again drive normal sales numbers.
Click to expand...
Sadly, I agree. I don't think many people are feeling good about the current economy. Auto sales in general will suffer, not just electric. But terminating the credit definitely pulled demand forward. For those that have the income and can benefit from home charging, used EVs are a steal.
 
gman2304 said:
Both are beautiful and eerily similar, even down to the wheels. What’s the difference in the MSRP? Elon needs to hire a couple of the GM designers….
Click to expand...
I think he has winter tires on Blazer wheels - the Caddy wheels are more like what a luxury vehicle should carry …
 
Ws6 said:
EV sales are depressed because:

1) Incentives drove massive sales previous months. Everyone who wants one, has one.
2) The economy is trash.
3) Interest rates are trash.
4) People have been spending on everything at an insane rate as a method to cope with how much life sucks, and they're about out of powder after paying 200% home prices (or 300% rent) (that they bid on), at 200-300% interest rates (compared to 2-3 years ago), and their little cuppy cups of "Starbs" going through the roof, coupled with no meme coins going to the moon, their OF subs falling off, and all the other little COVID pump-and-dumps that enabled it.
5) Gas prices are at historic lows with our current admin shifting more toward keeping it that way vs. subsidizing "Green". (no politics or preferences for them expressed here, just facts about funding).

Give it until:

Gas prices pop or market cycle and satiety again drive normal sales numbers.
Click to expand...
I don’t know where you live - none of that squares where I am …
 
4WD said:
I don’t know where you live - none of that squares where I am …
Click to expand...
Well, the EV federal incentives and gas prices square, no? Maybe your economy is such that the housing bubble there already burst, but it's not going to do that where I am. It's "the new normal".
 
gman2304 said:
Both are beautiful and eerily similar, even down to the wheels. What’s the difference in the MSRP? Elon needs to hire a couple of the GM designers….
Click to expand...
They are likely built in the same factory and on the same chassis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
17" and 18" Wheels on Chevy Equinox EV
Replies
18
Views
1K
dogememe
Brons2
Rental Car Review: 2026 Camry
Replies
14
Views
377
Dave Hess
Back
Top Bottom