Compare the2025 Lexus RZVS 2025 Cadillac Lyriq

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Lexus RZ is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Cadillac Lyriq, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

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.

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, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 Lexus RZ 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 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 16th.

As tested in Motor Trend the RZ 450e electric motors is faster than the Cadillac Lyriq electric motors:

The RZ has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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.

The RZ 450e Luxury executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Lyriq Luxury AWD (25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

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 (7.9 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 1200 to 1350 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 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 (34.1 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 14% lower rating, Cadillac is ranked fifth.

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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The RZ’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Lyriq’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RZ, based on reliability, safety and performance.