Since its launch for the 2010 model year, the Cadillac SRX has taken the midsize luxury crossover market by storm. GM boasts that the SRX outsold the Audi Q7, Mercedes M-Class, BMW X5, and Acura MDX during the first half of this year and that its projected 36-month resale value now sits 17 points higher than last year’s model.
With its chiseled good looks and abundance of hi-tech features, it’s easy to see why Cadillac has a hit on their hands.
The SRX takes after Cadillac’s striking second-generation CTS sedan, with crisp lines and a powerful stance that makes it look eager to pounce. The design is taut and muscular and dynamic. Catch a glimpse of the SRX lit up across a deserted parking lot at night and your pulse will quicken with anticipation. When’s the last time a luxury crossover did that for you?
For better or for worse, Cadillac’s direction for the SRX is 180 degrees from the segment’s perennial sales champion, the Lexus RX. Where the SRX looks hard-edged and aggressive, the RX is soft-spoken and delicate.
The difference continue inside, as well. The SRX again draws inspiration from its CTS sibling with an angular center stack that’s framed by metallic trim. The dash is covered in synthetic leather and held together with upscale French stitching that can also be found on the door pulls, seats, and steering wheel. It’s a nice touch that adds a feeling of craftsmanship, even if it is a bit overdone in places.
Fit and finish in the car I drove was very good but still not quite in the same league as the Lexus. Some of the plastics felt tinny and not all of the seams along the dash were perfectly uniform. Still, these are nitpicks on an otherwise excellent design.
Adding a bit of theater is an optional navigation system with a crisp LCD screen that motors into view only when needed. When not in use for directions or the optional rearview camera, it slides back down halfway and becomes a conventional readout for audio and HVAC.
Parked in the center of the speedometer is a beautiful LCD display that displays trip computer functions like fuel economy, tire pressure, and even the speed limit of the road you’re traveling on. Set a destination on the navigation system and the display will show the next turn on your route so that your eyes don’t have to wander far. It’s a gorgeous piece of kit that’s well integrated and very handy.
Crossover vehicles are hugely popular as family cars and Cadillac wisely added a few family-friendly features. The optional rear seat entertainment system, for example, features two screens that can run independent video sources in case Johnny wants to watch a movie while Susie plugs in a video game console.
Your kids won’t mind the back seat but taller adults may. Headroom is tight due to the sporty roofline and space-stealing UltraView panoramic sunroof. That sunroof affords a lovely view for everyone, but because it comes standard on all but the base model SRX, shoppers should consider how often they’ll be transporting tall adults in the rear seat.
Speaking of height, Moms and Dads will no doubt love the power rear cargo door, which makes loading and unloading a one-touch affair and can be programmed to open part-way. This selectable height setting can really come in handy if your garage has low-hanging pipes or storage racks that might otherwise wreck a nice paint job.
As you’d expect of a Cadillac, the SRX comes loaded to the gills with safety features. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and electronic stability control are all standard – as are front, side, and side-curtain air bags. The SRX was also named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an award that requires top scores in four different types of crashes.
Out on the road, the Cadillac’s standard 3.0-liter V6 engine produces a competitive 265-horsepower but only 223 lb-ft of torque, meaning that you have to rev the engine a bit to really get moving. The 6-speed automatic transmission proves an unwilling partner, though, stubbornly refusing to downshift as it tries to preserve fuel economy. Acceleration is fine for most situations but I found the sluggish transmission frustrating when trying to slice my way through heavy LA traffic.
The conservative transmission tuning is a shame because the SRX rides on an athletic chassis that really comes alive when you pick up the pace. If anything, this playful spirit is what sets the edgy Cadillac most apart from the soft and isolated Lexus.
There’s an optional turbocharged V6 engine that boosts horsepower to 300 and torque to 295 but it requires a substantial amount of optional equipment and results in a sticker price that’s about $15,000 over the base SRX. Fuel economy also drops to an abysmal 15 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. Considering that most other competitors can meet or exceed the turbocharged Cadillac’s performance with their base engines, the upgrade hardly seems worth it.
Standard on the turbo models and optional with the standard V6 is a new all-wheel drive system that is among the most sophisticated in the segment. It collects 200 readings per second from twenty sensors and routes power among the wheels with surgical precision. A fancy electronic limited-slip differential on the rear axle shuffles power side-to-side as you corner.
The net effect is an almost surreal feeling of agility and control. This Caddy loves to dance and the all-wheel drive system’s boost to roadholding and traction makes it well worth the $2,500 that it adds to the bottom line.
Even with options like the all-wheel drive system, rearview camera, navigation, and UltraView sunroof; the Cadillac SRX is priced competitively for the segment. Base models with the standard V6 and front-wheel drive start at $33,830 though most buyers will find themselves in the low-$40k range, right in the heart of Lexus RX territory.
By standing so close to the Lexus in terms of price, Cadillac is inviting comparisons. You’ll need to decide if you want soft and civilized or edgy and fun. And though you’ll have to sacrifice some speed and refinement to get it, the Cadillac SRX is a compelling choice for buyers who want an edgier alternative to the luxury crossover status quo.
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Photos courtesy GM
