One of my all-time favorite test cars was the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, an unholy devil wagon that wrapped be-finned luxury around the Corvette’s supercharged V8 and adaptive suspension. It ripped 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds on the way to a 185-mph top speed. It even took my grandma and her walker to Easter dinner. What a lovely little fiend.
Tempting the devil again, we summon the 2026 LYRIQ-V, the fastest accelerating Cadillac of all time. Unlike the old CTS-V, this bougie spawn is electric.
Under full throttle, the CTS-V’s supercharger howled like Satan inhaling souls. The LYRIQ’s voracious sounds are piped in.
This Caddy’s menace is more private jet than NASCAR stocker anyway. There’s no juvenile revving of anything as all 615 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque land instantly. Engage “Velocity Max” mode, then press and hold to see 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The CTS-V reached 185 mph, but to preserve range, the LYRIQ-V taps out at a more polite 130 mph.
And like the CTS-V, the LYRIQ-V goes deliciously easy with daily life. Its 285 miles range is a bit light, but can be fast charged 10-80% in under 30 minutes. Think closer to 8 hours on a 240v home charger. The same dual-mode all-wheel-drive system that destroys dragstrips easily slayed snow and ice on the way to work.
Cadillac took big risks with the LYRIQ’s styling, but it works. The brand’s EV facia, flanked by vertical lighting, scares critters while the long hood and fastback roofline give it an angry stance – especially with the V’s dark trim and 22-inch wheels. There’s a hint of traditional Cadillac formality in the vertical rear windowline, but those hockey-stick side lamps read as tailfins – as do the separated vertical lights in the lower facia. Nice.
As with the CTS-V, you can drop your family at the front portico before sneaking away for some backroad shenanigans. The Amen Pew won’t hear you sneaking away, and the pastor may never miss you, but you’ll hear holy spirits through the 23-speaker AKG audio system. My daughter rocked the entire middle-school drop zone when she danced out to class.
Drivers are greeted by Cadillac’s 33-inch curved display for gauges and infotainment. Connect wirelessly through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; charge wirelessly in the upper console pod. Then, notice all the details. Nappa leather and open pore wood are pretty posh, as are the heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats. Rear riders get their own heater and climate controls. The thick leather-wrapped steering wheel warms winter hands.
I just wish GM would include proper headlight controls and a starter button to reaffirm everything is on or off. Automation is convenient but not especially reassuring when you walk away.
Still, if sanctuaries were this comfortable, you might be inside getting saved instead of attacking the next corner.
The CTS-V drove like a long Camaro, but the LYRIQ-V feels heftier toting big batteries atop its adaptive suspension. It’s a little harsh over rough city streets, but wafts serenely down the Interstate. Press the “V” steering wheel button to configure steering, suspension, throttle, and engine music. Find open highway to go hands-off with GM’s Super Cruise system.
If the Cadillac LYRIQ-V was a cartoon character it would have a nasty little devil on one shoulder and a sweet angel over the other. Given the $101,000 inflation-adjusted sticker for the last CTS-V Wagon I drove, the LYRIQ is devilishly economical. Base models start at $59,200. LYRIQ-V rises from $78,595 to our bad wagon’s $87,210. Competitors include the BMW iX M70, Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, and Mercedes-AMG EQE.
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.