Chevrole Blazer EV vs Cadillac Lryriq
For a long time throughout the pandemic, when vehicles were scarce and our family was in the market for an all-electric family hauler, I had deposits down on both the Cadillac Lyriq and the Chevrolet Blazer EV – among other battery-electric SUV options. So, I was thankful to finally have a chance to drive both nearly back to back, and live with each for a full week of grocery runs, school shuttling and quick-charging.
This included test charges of both at Tesla V3 Superchargers with an aftermarket A2Z EV adapter, even though at the time of the tests – and as I write this – GM still doesn’t have official access to Tesla’s well-regarded Supercharger stations.
The Cadillac Lyriq started at roughly $7,000 more than a fully loaded Kia EV6 at the time I put down that deposit years ago, which seemed like tremendous value at the time. Prices have, not surprisingly, shifted since then, but the Lyriq still has a starting MSRP of at a very reasonable $57,195, compared to the Blazer EV’s starting MSRP of $48,800, before a freight charge of roughly $1,200 for both models.
Keep in mind that both of these BEVs use the same GM Ultium platform, the same batteries in top-spec Blazer EVs, and offer similar cargo and passenger room inside, thanks to near-identical wheelbases and widths. The Blazer is about an inch taller, and the Lyriq is about 4.5 inches longer overall – giving the Caddy a few extra cubic feet of cargo space. All that space is in the rear, as there is no frunk in either of these GM corporate cousins.
Cadillac Lyriq Styling Impresses
Both of these test vehicles came in the same Radiant Red, which seemed to have a more upscale lustre or polish to it. Style is forever in the eye of the beholder, and I’d vote for the more avant-garde Lyriq over the Blazer EV’s more traditional lines – though both hold a fair amount of visual appeal.
Adding some empirical data to the mix, the Lyriq was also the clear favorite based on how many onlookers (neighbors and fellow drivers) commented on how much they liked the Cadillac versus the Chevy. Ironically, the Lyriq’s colour came in for the most admiration.
The Cadillac is built at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, while the Blazer EV comes out of GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico, along with the Equinox EV and its upcoming Cadillac Optiq counterpart as well.
The Value Proposition: Current Deals Favor Cadillac
Lease and finance offers change often, but it’s fair to say that the Lyriq’s much earlier launch than the Blazer EV (and the Chevy’s re-launch earlier in 2024 after a stop-sale to address software issues) means that deals for the Cadillac will continue to bring the Lyriq’s monthly payment offers much closer to the Blazer EVs for the near and foreseeable future.
Looking at current lease offerings, both Cadillac and Chevrolet are offering very similar two-year lease deals right around the $350 per month mark, with about $1,500 more up front for the Cadillac (national offers show $4,789 due at signing versus $3,139 for the Blazer EV at time of writing). Cadillac has also been advertising zero percent financing over five years for the Lyriq on my social feeds recently – but I could find nothing similar for the Blazer EV.
The Lyriq outsold the less-expensive Blazer EV in the second quarter of 2024, the latter’s first full quarter of sales this year, so it seems fair to conclude that Cadillac has been and continues to be more aggressive on Lyriq deals so far in 2024.
Both EVs Eligible for $7,500 Federal Rebate
Of course, these deals could vary widely depending on down payments, interest rate changes or whether any state or utility incentives apply in your area. And, unlike many BEV market rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Nissan Ariya, both GM electric SUVs are currently eligible for the federal government’s $7,500 rebate for purchase and finance buyers, subject to buyer income limits and vehicle price caps.
Both of our testers were fully loaded all-wheel drive 2024 models, the Lyriq Sport 3 and the Blazer EV RS AWD. So, the as tested price for the Chevrolet that added only the Radiant Red paint came to $55,090 after freight, while the Lyriq Sport (which lands above the Tech trim but is fairly similar to the Luxury), landed at an MSRP of $83,880.
This included a host of separate options, like the Nappa leather and wood package, the onboard upgrade to charge at up to 19.2 kW on a high-power Level 2 charger, 22-inch rims, and all-wheel drive that also bumps power to 500 hp total, a significant increase from the rear-drive version’s 340 ponies.
Both Have Space and Style, Cadillac Wins on Luxury
Inside, the Blazer EV is a comfortable but largely functional place to spend time, though the RS model’s red accents around the steering wheel, doors and vents add a welcome splash of colour and artistry to the digital instrument cluster and infotainment screens.
The flat-bottom steering wheel adds some visual sportiness that the AWD Blazer EV’s 288 hp from its two electric motors may not deliver in pure acceleration.
Of course, the Lyriq is by far the more luxurious interior, as it should be for such a major price bump. But there were really only four items that I truly missed from the Lyriq, which I drove first, in the Blazer EV: the panoramic sunroof (optional on the Chevy), the lovely front seat massage function, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Blazer EV Lacks CarPlay and Android Auto
That lack of CarPlay/Android Auto is one of the biggest negatives to the Blazer EV, and most new GM EVs going forward. Yes, there are native Spotify and Alexa apps to allow you to play music and podcasts, and you can play Apple podcasts using the Bluetooth function. But for regular CarPlay podcast listeners, the functionality is very basic. If, for instance, you want to forward through commercials, you’ll likely have to touch your phone, which is less safe. A GM contact says you may want to try holding the Seek button down a couple seconds to forward 15 or 30 seconds for that function – even if it works, I’d still rather have CarPlay.
I kept a close eye out for any software bugs or issues with the Blazer EV, due to its checkered software history, but all seemed smooth, normal and relatively snappy. On the Lyriq’s list of updates for 2025 models, which just went into production in early summer, Cadillac’s doesn’t say it’s removing the wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, but I’d confirm its continued availability, just in case.
Cadillac Lyriq vs. Chevrolet Blazer EV Driving Experience
Once out on the road, there’s no question that the Lyriq’s extra 212 ponies make themselves known, even in what feels like a larger, heavier and more plush machine. The Blazer EV AWD offers 333 lb-ft of torque compared to the heavier Lyriq AWD’s 450 lb-ft of low-end juice.
Both are super-quiet, as is the EV way, but the Lyriq provides a supple ride and hushed wind and road noise that are commensurate with its higher station in GM’s brand pecking order.
The Blazer and Lyriq also offer a one-pedal drive mode, which will just about bring you to a stop, as well as a heavy regeneration paddle behind the steering wheel in both models, which definitely will bring you to a halt, even if not as smoothly as careful braking.
Blazer EV and Lyriq: Range and Charging
Traveling long distances in either vehicle is easy, as both feature rather large batteries with a healthy amount of driving range. The Blazer EV AWD is listed at 279 miles of range (449 km) by the EPA, compared to the 307 miles (494 km) in the Lyriq AWD. Opt for rear-drive, and the Lyriq’s official range bumps up to a bladder-stretching 314 miles (505 km) from its identical 102-kWh lithium-ion battery, compared to the Blazer RWD’s 324 miles (521 km), using that same larger battery pack.
Once your road trip starts to extend beyond these ranges, that’s when both of these electric SUVs lag the leaders in their class. GM doesn’t like to publish maximum charging speeds possible at a DC charger, but says both can charge at up to 190 kW. Chevy says the Blazer EV AWD can add up to 68 miles of range in 10 minutes, while the Cadillac can do 77 miles in those 10 minutes – in ideal conditions of course.
Even in warm weather testing, with roughly 30 minutes of recommended battery preconditioning, the Lyriq never quite broke past 95 kW. The Blazer EV reached over 119 kW charging speeds.
To help minimize time at these roadside public chargers, both Chevrolet and Cadillac offer a pre-conditioning function for the battery to warm it up so it can charge as quick as possible. This is usually activated when you search and then select a DC quick charger in the GPS system to navigate towards. But if you know where your DC charger is and just want to start warming up to the battery to charge quicker, there’s a manual way to select your next charge point.
Conclusion: Blazer EV Is Good Value at MSRP, but Lyriq Is Even Better
A ~$25,000 price difference doesn’t make this comparison seem fair, as the Cadillac Lyric cleans up with a much more sophisticated interior, more luxury niceties like heated seats and a full-length panoramic roof – as well as more simple but appreciated features like CarPlay/AA.
There’s also that extra plush ride that says you’re in a new-age luxury Cadillac instead of a futuristic Chevrolet family hauler. Plus, all that extra power over the bow-tie brand’s more meat-and-potatoes motive force gives the Cadillac Lyriq a clear edge in desirability.
Especially if you can find a Lyriq for the same payment or less than an advertised Blazer EV.
