{"id":35347,"date":"2025-12-04T12:49:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T16:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=35347"},"modified":"2025-12-04T12:49:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T16:49:08","slug":"payne-hot-ev-match-up-cadillac-lyriq-v-vs-tesla-model-3-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/payne-hot-ev-match-up-cadillac-lyriq-v-vs-tesla-model-3-performance","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Hot EV match-up, Cadillac Lyriq-V vs. Tesla Model 3 Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gaylord<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 The midsize Cadillac Lyriq SUV and compact Tesla Model 3 sedan are brand icons. The Lyriq redefined Caddy as an EV maker, the Model 3 made Tesla a best-seller.<\/p>\n

Their performance trims \u2014 the 2026, $80K Lyriq-V and 2025, $56K Model 3 Performance \u2014 represent the state-of-the-art of two U.S. brands that are on the industry\u2019s bleeding edge of modern digital electric tech.<\/p>\n

You read that right: the bleeding edge.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V (left) and 2025 Tesla Model Performance are icons of their respective brands. The Lyriq is Caddy’s first EV; the Model 3, the market’s first EV best-seller. Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

After decades of playing catch-up to European luxury brands, America boasts two models at the forefront of the premium market\u2019s electric, autonomous trends. The Yanks come at the equation from different perspectives, but, as road trips from Oakland County to Charlevoix indicate, they arrive at the destination in a very similar manner. Here\u2019s how they compare.<\/p>\n

Hands-free driving<\/h2>\n

Tesla has been the lead stagecoach on the Wild West frontier of autonomous driving, and it continues to push the envelope. The Model 3 would have happily driven itself (its camera trained on me to make sure I was a good chaperone) from door to door on my 250-mile journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cNavigate to Charlevoix, Michigan,\u201d I barked, and we were off. The Tesla exited my cul-de-sac, navigated a Telegraph Road Michigan turn, then accelerated up to speed onto I-75 North.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance is the quickest trim of the market’s most popular EV sedan.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

Since Full Self-Driving (FSD) became widely available to Tesla customers in 2022, it\u2019s impressive how far the software has come in a short time. I used to put a \u201cSTUDENT DRIVER\u201d sticker on the back of my car, so inconsistent was its habits. Like a 16-year-old novice, it would ghost brake on four lanes, edge out into traffic at Michigan turns, sometimes miss a red light.<\/p>\n

No more. FSD has become more predictable. It has adapted sophisticated, human-like driving habits like: 1) slowing down in sight of slowed traffic rather than running up on it, and 2) executing right-on-red turns.<\/p>\n

Cadillac\u2019s Super Cruise actually beat Tesla to hands-free driving (both now go hands-free with camera surveillance) but has generally been more conservative, emphasizing passenger comfort. The Lyriq waited until I was on I-75 to go hands-free, then displayed a green light at the top of the steering wheel so I knew it was engaged. A blinking red light \u2014 complemented by a buzz to the seat \u2014 indicated when it was concerned my attention had wandered from the road (the Tesla\u2019s self-driving avatar is a small blue steering wheel in the screen).<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
\n
The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V goes hands-free on I-75, the green steering wheel light indicating all is well.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Both Caddy and Tesla changed lanes to pass cars \u2014 but Lyriq was much less likely to be a left-lane hog, courteously returning to the right lane after completing a pass. Off divided highways, \u00a0Super Cruise is increasingly available on secondary roads. On M-31 heading into Petoskey, for example, the Cadillac remained hands-free until giving up at intersections like the light at Bay Harbor resort.<\/p>\n

The Tesla, by contrast, continued confidently on its way.<\/p>\n

Driving dynamics<\/h2>\n

Hands-free driving is sci-fi stuff, but I still love to drive.<\/p>\n

Twisted, two-lane M-32 between I-75 and Charlevoix is one of the best driver\u2019s roads in Michigan, and I put the hammer down in both EVs. ZOT!<\/p>\n