A Model Y owner asked if he’d regret switching to a Cadillac Lyriq. Owners who made the move say the ride and comfort won them over, but two Tesla features are hard to give up. The good news is that GM is now fixing one of them.
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Tesla Model Y owners who switched to the Cadillac Lyriq say its smooth, quiet ride and luxury comfort won them over, but two Tesla features are hard to give up: using your phone as a key and seeing how much battery you will have when you reach your destination. That is the answer a 2026 Model Y owner got when he asked a Lyriq owners group whether anyone regretted switching. The good news for shoppers comparing the Tesla Model Y vs Cadillac Lyriq is that both gaps are narrowing. GM began rolling out phone digital keys for 2025 to 2027 Lyriq models in September 2026, and Cadillac says Google Maps in its EVs estimates how much charge will remain at the end of your route. The owners shared their experiences in a discussion in the Cadillac Lyriq Owners Group on Facebook, and their advice comes down to one step: take a long test drive, and check the features on the exact model year you plan to buy.
The Question: Will He Miss His Tesla?
Graham Miranda from California started the discussion with a question many Tesla owners are asking:
“Has anyone gotten rid of their Tesla for a Lyriq? Heavily considering getting rid of my 2026 Tesla Model Y for a 26/27 Lyriq. I know the tech in the Lyriq is extremely underwhelming as opposed to the Tesla but I don’t care about FSD at all. I haven’t test driven a Lyriq yet but they look a lot more refined and comfortable. Just trying to gauge whether you miss your Tesla or prefer the Lyriq. I have level 2 charging at home as well for convenience.”
His situation is a common one
His situation is a common one. He has home charging, he does not care about Full Self-Driving and he wants a more refined, comfortable EV. The owners who answered had been in his position.
The most consistent theme was comfort. Dennis Kay owned a Model Y for six years before switching. “I had a Tesla Model Y for 6 yrs. Loved it, but decided I wanted luxury and got a 24 Lyriq sport 3 and love the comfort. Great decision,” he wrote.
Chris Sudler came to the Lyriq after a Model Y test drive. “I did a test drive in a Tesla Model Y and my immediate thought was ‘electric may be for me… Tesla is not.’ I have a 24 Lyriq now. Much more comfortable, and more normal looking/feeling for my transition into EV. Everything is where you expect it to be coming from an ICE car. I felt like I was driving a toy car in the Model Y. The Lyriq feels more like a car,” he wrote.
Larry Loen offered the simplest advice of all:
“Just test drive it. If the smooth ride and the quiet impresses you, it’s your car. Cadillac has always had this fine ride, but doesn’t know how to market it. It’s kind of intangible, and yet most people who have experienced it, will know immediately what I’m talking about. It makes a long drive bearable. If you like that ride (not everyone does), then it is your car, otherwise stick with what you have.”
Comfort is personal, though
Comfort is personal, though. One new Lyriq owner told Torque News that after 3 weeks and 600 miles, his biggest gripe was the seats. That is why Larry’s advice matters: drive it yourself.
The 2 Tesla Features That Are Hard to Give Up
Keisa Monique, who owns a 2024 Lyriq, named exactly what she misses:
“I miss using my phone as the key (I have a 2024). I am not used to carrying a Fob around. I also miss my Tesla informing me of how much battery percentage I will have when I get to my destination. Other than that, I love my Lyriq, and I get more miles to a charge so I don’t have to charge that often. I say go for it.”
Those two features are part of what makes a Tesla easy to live with: walk up and drive without a fob, and know exactly how much charge you will have when you arrive. For Tesla owners considering a Lyriq, they are the most likely to be missed.
The Good News: Both Gaps Are Closing
Graham is considering a 2026 or 2027 Lyriq, and that matters. In September 2026, GM began rolling out digital keys for 2025 to 2027 Lyriq models, along with the 2026 to 2027 Optiq and 2027 Vistiq Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet. GM says “your vehicle automatically unlocks as you approach and locks when you walk away,” and owners can share the key with up to seven additional devices. Keisa’s 2024 Lyriq is not on that initial list
For arrival battery estimates, Cadillac says
For arrival battery estimates, Cadillac says that with Google built-in, “Type in your destination and Google Maps estimates how much battery charge will remain at the end of your route,” It requires a compatible data plan, and features can vary by model year, so confirm what the exact Lyriq you are considering offers
Range: How the Lyriq Compares With the Model Y
Keisa says she gets more miles per charge in her Lyriq. On paper, the two are close. GM lists the 2026 Lyriq at up to 326 miles of EPA-estimated range. The 2026 Model Y ranges from 294 to 357 miles depending on trim and wheels, with the Premium AWD rated at 327 miles
Real-world efficiency depends on driving style, weather and wheels. One Lyriq owner hand-calculated 3.3 miles per kWh over 1,448 miles to Crater Lake and the Oregon Coast, a strong result for a luxury SUV.
Charging: The Debate in the Group
Not everyone agreed the Lyriq is the better
Not everyone agreed the Lyriq is the better choice. Erik Stephens raised public charging: “reliability in public charging is not as present for GM as Tesla, why do you think Gm contracted to use tesla superchargers? Yes i already said the car isn’t as good suspension wise, I am talking about software, charging, long term use. Tesla’s are true and tried bro, caddy EV’s aren’t.”
Lyriq owners can now use Tesla Superchargers. The 2026 Lyriq uses a CCS port and needs an adapter at Superchargers, while every 2027 GM EV, including the Lyriq, is moving to a native NACS port as one owner found when Electrify America chargers were out of service and he detoured to Tesla chargers. With Level 2 charging at home like Graham, most daily charging happens in the garage anyway
Reliability: Both Sides of the Argument
Connor Macomber summed up one view: “Lyriq is more luxurious and smoother ride, less reliable with less tech. Im doing the same soon, but only for business or id keep the Y.”
Another member pushed back, saying the Lyriq had
Another member pushed back, saying the Lyriq had “some early teething issues,” but that in his local EV group, Tesla owners complain about suspension and rattles while Lyriq owners “seem to have few issues and many have piled on huge mileage.” His conclusion: “Tesla knows how to build computers, GM knows how to build cars.”
Both views reflect real owner experiences. The best approach is to research the specific model year, check recalls by VIN and read owner reports before you buy.
Graham said he does not care about Full Self-Driving, and Chris said FSD “didn’t act the way I thought it would so I ruled it out.” The Lyriq offers GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance on compatible highways, and some owners value it on long trips, including one who said Super Cruise made extra charging time worth every minute on a 1,200-mile round trip. Check whether Super Cruise is included or requires a subscription on the trim you choose.
Before You Switch From a Model Y to a Lyriq
If you are weighing the same move, use this checklist:
- Take a long test drive: Include highway and rough roads, and pay attention to ride, noise and seat comfort.
- Check the digital key: Confirm the model year supports GM’s phone key, and that your phone is compatible.
- Try the navigation: Ask the dealer to show Google Maps’ arrival battery estimate in the car.
- Plan your charging: Check whether the Lyriq you are buying needs a NACS adapter for Superchargers.
- Compare range for your trim: Wheel size and drivetrain change the numbers on both vehicles.
- Get trade-in quotes: Compare offers for your Model Y from more than one buyer.
- Check insurance: Get a quote before you sign.
For Tesla Model Y owners who value ride
For Tesla Model Y owners who value ride quality, quiet and a more traditional luxury feel, the owners in this discussion say the Lyriq delivers. Their biggest regrets were the phone key and arrival battery estimates, and newer Lyriqs now offer solutions for both. As Keisa put it, “I say go for it.” Just drive one first.
Have you switched from a Tesla to a Cadillac Lyriq, or the other way around? What do you miss most? Let us know in the comments below.
Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor in Chief of Torque News, where he has covered the automotive industry for over 15 years. Now based in the Charlotte region (Indian Land, SC, he founded Torque News in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. Armen holds three Masters Degrees, including an MBA, and has become one of the known voices in the industry, specializing in the landscape of electric vehicles and real-world stories of actual car owners. Armen focuses on providing readers with transparent, data-backed analysis bridging the gap of complex engineering and car buyer practicality. Armen regularly attends automotive drive events organized by major car brands throughout the United States, national and local car reveals and personally test-drives new vehicles every week. Armen has also been published as an automotive expert in industry magazines, discussing how will autonomous vehicles reshape the supply chain, and emerging technologies in vehicle maintenance.
Read more of Armen’s work on his author profile page.
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Images by Graham Miranda from his Facebook group post, Cadillac Newsroom and Torque News enhancements.
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