The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V Is Delightfully Weird, But There’s A Limit To Its Performance

Cadillac and electric-vehicle is starting to sound not so odd. Cadillac and wagon, though, sounds odd to anyone who can’t yet get AARP. If you were born after the late ‘70s, the last Cadillac wagon you probably thought about was the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. Until the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq came along.

The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V Premium Came To My House Very Well Equipped

My test unit showed up with a sticker price of $83,795. Standard equipment included 22-inch wheels, on-demand energy regeneration, a five-link suspension front and rear, continuous damping control, Brembo front brakes, selectable drive modes, dual-panel panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather seats, interior wood trim, Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving, satellite radio, LED exterior lighting, front cornering lamps, heated parking perch for the windshield wipers, heated/folding outside mirrors, Google infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, Dolby 23-speaker audio, ambient interior lighting, rain-sensing front wipers, heated and cooled front seats, second-row heated outboard seats, massaging front seats, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, rear camera mirror, hands-free liftgate, tri-zone climate control, launch control, competive mode, and augmented reality head-up display.

Standard advanced driver-assist systems include enhanced automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian and bicyclist braking, reverse automatic braking, rear cross-traffic braking, forward-collision alert, intelligent automatic high beams, blind-zone steering assist, and safety-alert seat.

Options on my test unit included the Red Radiant paint, red-painted brake calipers, and self-sealing all-season tires. The final as-tested price was $87,210, including D and D fees.

The V-Series is new to the Lyriq in 2026. 

This 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V review wouldn’t be complete without the powertrain basics. This Caddy had a 19.2-kW lithium-ion battery pack with 102 kWh of usable energy and dual electric motors, one at each end for all-wheel drive. The range, so equipped, is 285 miles.

Total system horsepower is 615 and torque is at 650 lb-ft of twist.

V-Series cars get a different lower front fascia and side rockers, body-colored trim, and available carbon-fiber accents. The lower front grille is also different from non-V Lyriqs, and there’s a chin spoiler in the rear.

On The Road With The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V Premium

When Cadillac slaps the “V” moniker on something, it implies performance. And this one definitely has the quickness. The instant availability of torque provided by full electrification helps get this 5,838-pound wagon get moving with alacrity - that’s appreciated during passing or merging, and putting the car in “V” mode brings out even more raw sportiness.

You can also improve the handling and stiffen the ride by playing with the drive modes, but the weight, shape, and immutable laws of physics limit the fun. Push it hard on a curvy on-ramp and it’s fun at first, especially in V mode, but body roll intrudes before too long and the tires start to warn you that you can only do so much.

There’s enough sportiness to satisfy, but some tweaking could really turn the Lyriq V into a surprisingly adept handler. For now, you can have fun in doses.

At least the steering is generally pleasing, and ride isn’t heavily sacrificed - there’s a nice blend of smooth and sport.

Super Cruise works well when on the prescribed roads.

Like most Caddys, the Lyriq-V is a nice commuter or road-tripper. Longer drives were nice and comfortable.

Wagon or SUV, whatever you call it, there’s a level of practicality that’s very helpful when you have a power liftgate and cargo area instead of a trunk. Wagons can be cool and useful, who knew?

I generally liked how the digital gauge and infotainment screens blended together in a sweeping dash, though I shudder about out-of-warranty repair costs for that. I do wish some controls didn’t involve using the touchscreen, but the toggle HVAC controls below the infotainment system work just fine.

The body shape looks cool, but the roofline feels low and slopes towards the rear, leaving headroom tight front and rear. Legroom up front is acceptable but not much more, and the rear seat is a tad tight.

Overall, the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V Premium blends luxury, power, and fun fairly well, though there are some limits to its sporting performance. The Lyriq-V plays in a small niche, and the power-per-dollar number is reasonable. Cadillac likely won’t sell a ton of these, but those who take one home won’t be too unhappy, especially if quirkiness appeals to them.

About The Author

Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.