Compare the2024 Kia EV9VS 2024 Cadillac Lyriq

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Kia EV9 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 EV9 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Lyriq doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The EV9’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 EV9 and the Lyriq have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Kia EV9 (Built after January 2024) achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Lyriq has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The EV9 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Lyriq’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV9 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the Lyriq. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Lyriq ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 38 percent more Kia dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EV9’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The EV9 GT-Line’s electric motors produces 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 450) than the Lyriq’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the EV9 GT-Line electric motors is faster than the Cadillac Lyriq electric motors:

As tested in Car and Driver the EV9 GT-Line electric motors is faster than the Cadillac Lyriq (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the EV9 Light Long Range gets better mileage than the Lyriq RWD (100 city/78 hwy vs. 95 city/82 hwy MPGe).

The EV9 has a standard locking charge port with a power remote release 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 EV9’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Lyriq:

The EV9 stops shorter than the Lyriq:

For better traction, the EV9 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Lyriq (285/45R21 vs. 275/40R22).

The EV9 offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Lyriq doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The EV9’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Lyriq doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the EV9 is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Lyriq.

The EV9 GT-Line AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the Lyriq pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the EV9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Lyriq (7.8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the EV9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia EV9 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 450 pounds less than the Cadillac Lyriq.

The EV9 offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Lyriq can only carry 5.

The EV9 has 53.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Lyriq (158.8 vs. 105.1).

The EV9 has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, 3.9 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Lyriq.

The EV9’s cargo area provides more volume than the Lyriq.

The EV9’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Lyriq’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac Lyriq is only 3500 pounds. The EV9 AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the EV9 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Cadillac doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Lyriq.

The EV9 GT-Line has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information 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.

The EV9’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Lyriq’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EV9 has a standard rear wiper. The Lyriq doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the EV9 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Lyriq doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The EV9 has standard front air conditioned seats and the EV9 Land/GT-Line also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Lyriq doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The EV9 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Lyriq has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV9 as the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Lyriq has never been chosen.