Compare the2023 Lexus RZVS 2023 Cadillac Lyriq

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RZ have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac Lyriq doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The RZ has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Lyriq doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the RZ. But it costs extra on the Lyriq.

The RZ’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Lyriq doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RZ and the Lyriq have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 17th.

As tested in Car and Driver the Lexus RZ is faster than the Cadillac Lyriq electric motor:

The RZ has a standard locking charge port with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The Lyriq doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the RZ’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Lyriq:

The RZ stops much shorter than the Lyriq:

The RZ 450e Premium handles at .83 G’s, while the Lyriq pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the RZ’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Lyriq’s (36.8 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RZ has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Lyriq (7.8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the RZ to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Lexus RZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1050 pounds less than the Cadillac Lyriq.

The RZ is 7.5 inches shorter than the Lyriq, making the RZ easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RZ has 1.3 inches more front headroom and 2 inches more rear headroom than the Lyriq.

The front step up height for the RZ is 1.2 inches lower than the Lyriq (18” vs. 19.2”). The RZ’s rear step up height is 1.1 inches lower than the Lyriq’s (18.1” vs. 19.2”).

The RZ has a much larger cargo volume than the Lyriq with its rear seat up (34.9 vs. 28 cubic feet).

The RZ’s cargo area is larger than the Lyriq’s in almost every dimension:

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Cadillac. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 17% lower rating, Cadillac is ranked second.

The RZ offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Lyriq doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RZ offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Lyriq doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Both the RZ and the Lyriq have standard heated front seats. The RZ Luxury also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Lyriq.