Two luxury badges, two very different answers to the same question. The 2025 Cadillac Lyriq Sport is GM's quiet assassin in the premium electric SUV class: a big, handsome, genuinely quick crossover that starts under sixty thousand dollars and out-ranges almost everything near its price. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is the established German counterpunch, a smaller, more intimate SUV that trades on cabin theater, the three-pointed star, and a ride quality that still sets the class benchmark in its higher trims.
On paper, this should not be close. The Cadillac costs roughly nineteen thousand dollars less than the cheapest EQE SUV, makes far more power in all-wheel-drive form, goes farther on a charge, and swallows twice as much cargo behind its second row. And yet the Mercedes keeps selling, because luxury buyers do not shop on spreadsheets alone. The early verdict: for most Ohio buyers, the Lyriq Sport is the smarter purchase — but the EQE 500 4Matic is the one you buy when the cabin matters more than the calculator.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
| Performance | Cadillac Lyriq Sport | 515 hp AWD, 0–60 in about 4.8 seconds; the base EQE needs 6.4 |
| Range | Cadillac Lyriq Sport | Up to 326 miles EPA vs 302 for the best EQE |
| Charging | Cadillac Lyriq Sport | 190 kW peak vs 170 kW; roughly 76 miles in 10 minutes |
| Comfort & cabin | Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV | Quieter, more finely finished; Hyperscreen on the 500 |
| Cargo & practicality | Cadillac Lyriq Sport | 28 vs 14 cu ft behind the second row |
| Value | Cadillac Lyriq Sport | Starts about $19,000 below the cheapest EQE SUV |
| Best for families | Cadillac Lyriq Sport | More rear legroom, more cargo, lower price |
At a Glance
| Spec | 2025 Cadillac Lyriq Sport | 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV |
| Powertrain | Single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD | Single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD |
| Power | 365 hp (RWD) / 515 hp (AWD) | 288 hp (350) / 402 hp (500) / up to 677 hp (AMG) |
| Torque | 325 lb-ft (RWD) / 450 lb-ft (AWD) | 417 lb-ft (350+) / 564 lb-ft (350 4Matic) / 633 lb-ft (500) |
| Transmission | Single-speed automatic | Single-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD or AWD | RWD or 4Matic AWD |
| Battery | 102 kWh | 90.6 kWh |
| EPA range | Up to 326 mi (RWD) / 319 mi (AWD) | Up to 302 mi (350+) / 253 mi (350 4Matic) / 264 mi (500) |
| DC fast charging | Up to 190 kW; ~76 miles in 10 min | Up to 170 kW; 10–80% in ~32 min |
| 0–60 mph | ~4.8 sec (AWD) / ~5.7 sec (RWD) | 6.4 sec (350+) / 6.2 sec (350 4Matic) / 4.7 sec (500) |
| Cargo | 28 cu ft / 60.8 cu ft folded | 14.0 cu ft / 55.0 cu ft folded |
| Towing | Up to 3,500 lb (AWD) | Up to 3,500 lb (4Matic) |
| Starting price | $59,095 (Sport 1, before destination) | $77,900 (EQE 350+ / 350 4Matic, before destination) |
Design & Exterior
The Lyriq is the bolder-looking machine, and it is not a close contest. Cadillac gave it a long, low stance — 196.7 inches end to end on a 121.8-inch wheelbase — with a black crystal grille panel, vertical LED light blades, and a choreographed welcome sequence that turns a parking lot arrival into a small event. The Sport theme swaps the Luxury model's bright Galvano chrome for dark Obsidian chrome and body-color door handles, which suits the car better; the Lyriq looks its best in dark colors, where the bodywork reads as one continuous sculpture. In a Columbus driveway, it has real presence.
The EQE SUV takes the opposite approach. At roughly 191 inches long, it is about five inches shorter than the Cadillac, and its cab-forward, one-bow silhouette is deliberately slippery rather than dramatic — the drag coefficient is just 0.25. Flush door handles, a sealed-off grille, and a smooth underbody all serve the wind tunnel. It is handsome in the way a well-tailored suit is handsome: nothing shouts, everything fits. Some buyers will prefer exactly that restraint; others will find it anonymous next to the Lyriq's light show. Neither car offers a front trunk, a small packaging disappointment in both cases.
Interior, Comfort & Technology
Step inside and the balance of power flips. The EQE SUV's cabin is the finest in this comparison and one of the best at any price below six figures. The materials are genuinely premium — soft Nappa leather, open-pore wood, metal switchgear that feels machined rather than molded — and the available 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen turns the dashboard into a single sweep of glass housing three displays: a 12.3-inch cluster, a 17.7-inch center screen, and a 12.3-inch passenger display. It is theater, and it works. The standard setup is more modest — a 12.3-inch cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen — but still quick and crisp, with voice control that understands natural requests. Rear-axle steering on the EQE 500 shrinks the turning circle in tight parking garages, and the optional multicontour seats are among the most comfortable in the class on a long drive down I-71.
The Lyriq's cabin is a different kind of impressive. Its centerpiece is a single 33-inch curved LED display that runs across two-thirds of the dashboard, and it is one of the best screens in any car at any price — bright, fast, and running Google Built-In, which means native Google Maps with charging stops and a voice assistant that does not make you repeat yourself. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the cabin is genuinely roomy, with 39.6 inches of rear legroom and a flat floor that makes the middle rear seat usable for an adult.
Where the Cadillac pulls ahead in daily use is space. Behind the second row it offers 28 cubic feet of cargo; the Mercedes manages just 14 cubic feet by the same measurement, one of the smallest figures in the midsize luxury class. Fold the seats and the gap narrows — 60.8 versus 55.0 cubic feet — but the Lyriq's advantage is obvious the first time you load a stroller, a set of golf clubs, or a week's groceries. The EQE compensates with clever small-item storage, including a deep bin under its floating center console, but it cannot fix the shallow trunk. If you regularly carry bulky things, this single number may decide the comparison for you.
Performance & Driving Feel
The performance gap is the most lopsided part of this comparison, and it favors the Cadillac by a wide margin. The dual-motor Lyriq Sport makes 515 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0–60 mph run of about 4.8 seconds — proper sports-sedan pace from a 5,800-pound SUV, delivered as the effortless, silent shove that only an electric motor provides. Even the single-motor rear-drive Lyriq, at 365 horsepower, is quicker than the base EQE. Around town the Cadillac feels alert and eager; on the highway it gathers speed with a calm authority that makes passing effortless.
The EQE 350+ and 350 4Matic, both at 288 horsepower, are the slowest cars here by a clear margin: 6.4 and 6.2 seconds to 60 mph. That is adequate — about the same as a four-cylinder GLE — but it never feels special, and for a car that starts at $77,900, adequate is a hard sell. The EQE 500 4Matic fixes the problem with 402 horsepower and a 4.7-second sprint, but it costs $89,500, within reach of a well-optioned Lyriq Sport 3 with all-wheel drive and money left over. The AMG EQE, at up to 677 horsepower, is a different animal entirely, but at roughly $110,000 it is playing a different game.
On the road, the Mercedes claws back ground. Its steering is more precise, its body control is tighter, and the available air suspension gives it a ride quality the Lyriq cannot quite match — the Cadillac is comfortable and quiet, but it leans more in corners and thumps over sharp-edged bumps, especially on the 22-inch wheels. The EQE is also the quieter car at highway speed. If your daily drive is a winding two-lane road rather than a straight interstate, the Mercedes is the more satisfying car to drive. The Lyriq wins the drag race; the EQE wins the back road.
Range & Charging
Range is another clear Cadillac win. The rear-drive Lyriq is EPA-rated at up to 326 miles from its 102 kWh battery, and the all-wheel-drive version at up to 319 miles — both comfortably ahead of the best EQE, the 350+, at 302 miles. The all-wheel-drive EQE 350 4Matic drops to 253 miles, and the 500 4Matic manages 264. In Ohio winter conditions, expect both cars to lose roughly a fifth of their rated range; the Lyriq's bigger buffer means it still covers a Cleveland-to-Columbus round trip with margin to spare. Independent testing has flattered the Mercedes — one Edmunds test car traveled 345 miles on a charge — but the EPA numbers and the battery sizes tell the same story: the Cadillac goes farther.
Charging favors the Cadillac as well, though the gap is smaller. The Lyriq peaks at 190 kW on a DC fast charger and can add roughly 76 miles of range in about 10 minutes. The EQE peaks at 170 kW and takes about 32 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent. At home, the Lyriq's available 19.2 kW onboard charger is a genuine advantage, adding up to 51 miles of range per hour; the EQE's 11 kW onboard charger is standard fare. One practical note: the Lyriq now works with Tesla Superchargers through GM's NACS adapter, which materially widens the fast-charging map across Ohio's interstates.
Safety & Driver Assistance
Both SUVs come comprehensively equipped. The Lyriq includes automatic emergency braking, blind-zone steering assist, rear cross-traffic braking, lane-keep assist, and a surround-view camera as standard, with Super Cruise available from the Level 2 trims upward. Super Cruise remains one of the best hands-free systems you can buy: it works on more than 400,000 miles of mapped North American highways, changes lanes on its own when you signal, and behaves with a smoothness that makes long interstate drives genuinely less tiring. For an Ohio buyer who regularly runs I-70 or I-75, it is the single most valuable option on the car.
The EQE counters with Mercedes' own deep bench — active brake assist, blind-spot assist, active steering assist, and a driver attention monitor — plus an optional Driver Assistance package that adds active lane change, evasive steering assist, and route-based speed adaptation. The systems are polished and unobtrusive, and the EQE's surround-view and augmented-reality navigation overlay make parking and navigating unfamiliar downtown streets easier than in the Cadillac. On balance, the Cadillac's Super Cruise is the more impressive party trick, while the Mercedes' everyday assistance suite is the more seamlessly integrated one.
Pricing, Trims & Value
This is where the comparison turns into a rout. The Lyriq range opens at $58,595 for the Luxury 1, and the Sport 1 starts at $59,095 before destination. Step up to the Sport 2 and you add Super Cruise and the 19-speaker AKG sound system; the Sport 3 tops the range at $67,495 in rear-drive form, and all-wheel drive adds about $3,500 to any trim. Even a fully loaded Lyriq Sport 3 with all-wheel drive lands around $71,000 — still roughly $7,000 below the cheapest EQE SUV.
The EQE SUV starts at $77,900 for both the 350+ and the 350 4Matic, which at least gives buyers a clean choice between maximum range and all-wheel drive at the same price. The 500 4Matic, the one we would actually recommend, starts at $89,500, and the AMG EQE opens around $109,600. Options add up quickly: the Hyperscreen, Burmester audio, air suspension, and driver-assistance package can push a 500 4Matic well past $100,000. Depreciation is another factor — EQE SUVs have lost value quickly on the used market, while the Lyriq has held up better relative to its lower starting price.
The honest accounting is this: you can buy a Lyriq Sport 2 with all-wheel drive, Super Cruise, and the AKG stereo for roughly the price of a base EQE 350+ — and the Cadillac will be quicker, go farther, charge faster, and carry more. The Mercedes justifies its premium only if you value the badge, the cabin, and the ride quality more than the numbers. Plenty of buyers do, and that is a legitimate choice. But it is a choice you make with your heart, not your calculator.
Pros and Cons
2025 Cadillac Lyriq Sport
Pros: Much lower price; quicker in every configuration; longer EPA range; faster DC charging; far more cargo space; Super Cruise is best-in-class; big, airy cabin with generous rear legroom; striking design.
Cons: Interior materials trail the Mercedes; no front trunk; ride can thump on 22-inch wheels; Super Cruise requires Level 2 trim or higher; charging curve falls off quickly after the peak.
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
Pros: Superb cabin materials and build quality; Hyperscreen is genuine theater; quieter at highway speed; better handling and ride on air suspension; rear-axle steering on the 500; strong brand cachet.
Cons: Much more expensive; base models are slow; shortest range in the class for AWD versions; tiny 14 cu ft trunk; steep depreciation; Hyperscreen and key options cost extra.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Cadillac Lyriq Sport if you want the rational answer. It is the pick for families who need cargo space, commuters who want maximum range per dollar, and anyone who does the math before signing. The Sport 2 with all-wheel drive is the sweet spot: Super Cruise, the AKG audio, and 515 horsepower for roughly $66,000 before destination. Ohio winters make the all-wheel-drive version the right call for most buyers in the state.
Buy the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV if the cabin is where you live. If you spend two hours a day in the car, value silence and seat comfort above all else, and want the car that impresses passengers the moment they open the door, the EQE 500 4Matic is worth the premium — just budget for the Hyperscreen and the air suspension, because the base 350 models do not deliver the full Mercedes experience. And if you are buying used, the EQE becomes far more interesting: early examples have depreciated hard, and a two-year-old 500 4Matic can now cost less than a new Lyriq Sport 2.
Final Verdict
The 2025 Cadillac Lyriq Sport is the better luxury electric SUV for most buyers, and it is not particularly close. It is quicker, goes farther, charges faster, carries more, and costs about nineteen thousand dollars less than the cheapest Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. The EQE fights back with a cabin that is genuinely special, a ride that sets the standard, and a badge that still opens doors — and the 500 4Matic is a lovely car in its own right. But lovely is not enough when the rival beats you on nearly every objective measure while costing far less. The one we would take home is the Lyriq Sport 2 AWD: Super Cruise, 515 horsepower, and 319 miles of range for roughly the price of the slowest EQE. The Mercedes is the car you admire; the Cadillac is the car you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more range, the Lyriq Sport or the EQE SUV?
The Cadillac. The rear-drive Lyriq is EPA-rated at up to 326 miles and the all-wheel-drive version at up to 319 miles, while the longest-range EQE, the 350+, is rated at 302 miles. The all-wheel-drive EQE 350 4Matic drops to 253 miles.
Is the Cadillac Lyriq Sport faster than the Mercedes EQE SUV?
Yes, by a wide margin. The dual-motor Lyriq makes 515 horsepower and reaches 60 mph in about 4.8 seconds. The base EQE 350 models make 288 horsepower and need 6.2 to 6.4 seconds. Only the EQE 500 4Matic (402 hp, 4.7 seconds) is competitive, and it costs about $30,000 more than a Lyriq Sport 1.
How much does the 2025 Cadillac Lyriq Sport cost?
The Sport 1 starts at $59,095 before destination, and the range-topping Sport 3 starts at $67,495 in rear-drive form. All-wheel drive adds about $3,500 to any trim. The Lyriq range opens at $58,595 for the Luxury 1.
Does the EQE SUV have more cargo space than the Lyriq?
No — the opposite. The Lyriq offers 28 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, while the EQE SUV offers 14.0 cubic feet and 55.0 cubic feet. The Mercedes' trunk is one of the smallest in the class.
Which is better for Ohio winters, the Lyriq or the EQE SUV?
Both offer all-wheel drive, but the Lyriq AWD has the edge: more power for slippery on-ramps, more range to absorb winter losses, and the 19.2 kW home-charging option for fast overnight top-ups. Either way, fit proper winter tires — all-wheel drive helps you go, but only good tires help you stop.
For more electric SUV comparisons, see our 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL guide, our 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ vs Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV comparison, and our Ford Maverick Tremor vs Subaru Outback Wilderness adventure guide.
Which one would you choose — the value-packed Cadillac or the cabin-first Mercedes? Tell us in the comments, and let us know what you want us to compare next.
By Stefany Aurora, ABBOhio editorial team.
