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REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

It was freakin' great!

Editors at TheCarConnection.com agree that the look of 2010 Cadillac SRX is a huge improvement over the outgoing model, a vehicle that looked too tall and long for its narrow width.

The dramatic side sections outdo Lexus's popular RX in terms of style.

Inside the 2010 SRX, hand-cut-and-sewn coverings on the instrument panel and ambient lighting make for a rich environment that continues Cadillac's commitment to doing top-flight interiors.

Our test drive happened on a snowy, cold spring day in Michigan, and the SRX plowed through it as if the roads were dry.

The SRX's ride, even with 20-inch wheels was smooth. Better yet, steering response was more akin to a sport sedan than what you'd experience in many other crossovers, including the Lexus RX350.

For 2010, Cadillac is going in the right direction with its new SRX. This time, the Lexus RX likely has a genuine competitor to worry about. Compared to the 2010 Cadillac SRX, the styling of the Lexus is restrained—some would call it dull.

Priced as aggressively as it is, the 2010 Cadillac SRX should undercut all of these crossovers and offer more value.

The Bottom Line: The boldly styled 2010 Cadillac SRX is richly appointed, with more enthusiast appeal than other crossovers.

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COMPLETE TEXT OF REVIEW

1st Drive: Cadillac SRX

By Rex Roy

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019982_first-drive-2010-cadillac-srx

So how weird is this; part of the limited press introduction of the 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover included an autocross course set up at GM's Milford Proving Grounds. What doesn't add up here? Traditionally, one wouldn't expect GM's PR department to put a Cadillac, especially a two-ton luxury crossover, on an autocross course better suited to a Pontiac Solstice GXP.

Regardless of what some might consider a lapse of logic, there we were. And on the spring day when we were behind the wheel of the all-new SRX, Mother Nature added snow and ice to course, just to make things even more interesting.

Bending through one low-speed corner in an SRX equipped with the standard 3.0-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive, the rear end of the five-passenger crossover smoothly swung out when I was heavy on the throttle. Yes, the truck oversteered in a predictable, controlled fashion. It was freakin' great! And yes, the Stabilitrak electronic stability control was fully operational. I grabbed an engineer and repeated the maneuver several times just to be sure I had felt what I thought I had felt.

His response was, "It's supposed to do that. The system knows that when a driver is in these conditions and calls for lots of throttle, they want the rear end to come out a bit, so we let it…within reason of course. It makes it feel more natural."

If you don't regularly drive in snow like we Michiganians do, then you're probably thinking, "Sliding around; that's a bad thing. Why would I want an all-wheel-drive crossover that slides around?" Well, sliding around isn't exactly what was happening; racers and test drivers call it "rotation." Cadillac engineers designed the SRX to handle more like a sports sedan (think CTS) than a crossover (think Lexus RX). The bit of oversteer they designed into the chassis, Haldex-supplied all-wheel-drive system, and Stabilitrak makes the SRX feel more nimble, but never puts the driver in any danger.

In higher-speed corners (anything much faster than 20 mph), there was just neutral handling, but no oversteer and definitely no dreaded understeer (that pushing sensation that kills all sensations of driving fun). Additionally, on slippery surfaces (snow and ice), the all-wheel-drive system smoothly pulled the SRX along with no drama or wheelspin.

Atop this surprisingly fun and capable chassis, the 2010 Cadillac SRX is truly an all-new vehicle. Catch all the details in our just-completed Bottom Line. There you'll learn more about the shorter but wider body, the improvements in fuel economy, and the continuation of Cadillac's styling transformation.

2010 Cadillac SRX Bottom Line

http://www.thecarconnection.com/bottomline/cadillac_srx_2010

TheCarConnection.com team presents this comprehensive take on the all-new 2010 Cadillac SRX. TheCarConnection.com has also compiled competitive write-ups on the five-passenger crossover, arranged in a Full Review, while here the editors provide a thoughtful synopsis of this stylish utility vehicle to help you make a smart purchase decision.

LIKES

·        Bold style
·        Rich, stylish interior
·        Powerful base engine
·        Excellent brakes

DISLIKES

·        Rear styling a little heavy
·        Engine noisy under full throttle

BUYING TIPS

If you want 20-inch wheels for their style, make sure to get the adjustable suspension to keep the ride smooth.

Available in August, the 2010 SRX is a five-passenger mid-size crossover. The design forgoes the rear-wheel-drive architecture of the old SRX in favor of a transverse-engine, front- and all-wheel-drive capable chassis that is about the same size as the popular Lexus RX350.

Editors at TheCarConnection.com agree that the look of 2010 Cadillac SRX is a huge improvement over the outgoing model, a vehicle that looked too tall and long for its narrow width. The new SRX is more than six inches shorter and two inches wider than the outgoing model. Importantly, there's less front and rear overhang. This combination helps tighten up the crossover's proportions.

Vertically stacked headlights and trapezoidal chrome grille give the SRX a Cadillac family look without it looking cookie cutter. The dramatic side sections outdo Lexus's popular RX in terms of style. A powerful character line beginning at the trailing edge of the front wheel well culminates at the taillight lens. These lens looks to be vestigial tailfins, but unlike the fins of the 1950s, this design actually helps aerodynamically by breaking the airflow from the body. An integrated spoiler on the rearward edge of the roof extends the sleek lines and improves aerodynamics. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels are offered. One design miss includes the too-heavy looking rear hatch, and the opportunity they had to hide the rear wiper up under the rear spoiler…the look is less clean than it could be.

Inside the 2010 SRX, hand-cut-and-sewn coverings on the instrument panel and ambient lighting make for a rich environment that continues Cadillac's commitment to doing top-flight interiors. An integrated center stack houses controls for climate and audio systems, while the optional NAV system rises from the center of the instrument panel just like it does on the Cadillac CTS. The Cadillac's extra width (compared to some other new mid-size crossovers such as the Volvo XC60) helps the rear seats feel more spacious. As is becoming a required bling feature, an illuminated logo glows through the front door sill plates when the doors open (but like lights in refrigerators, how do we know that they turn off?).

Following the trend TheCarConnection.com sees happening from many manufacturers, the 2010 SRX is doing more with less in the performance department. The outgoing 2009 SRX offered a 3.6-liter V-6 and a 4.6-liter V-8. The 2010 SRX comes standard with a new, 265-horsepower 3.0-liter direct injected V-6 engine that Cadillac expects to deliver 25 mpg on the highway (certified figures weren't available for this post) and about 18 mpg city. In the SRX, the new 3.0-liter produces more horsepower while getting better fuel economy than the 3.6-liter in the outgoing model. GM's 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6 is optional for 2010. Horsepower for the single-turbo 2.8-liter is expected to be 300 even. The engine performs beautifully in Saab applications, and should provide plenty of thrust for the SRX when it becomes available late in 2009. The powertrain provides a useful maximum tow rating of 3,500 pounds.

Both engines utilize a six-speed automatic that powers the front wheels. All-wheel drive by Haldex is optional, and includes an electronic limited-slip rear differential that delivers excellent poor-weather grip. Our test drive happened on a snowy, cold spring day in Michigan, and the SRX plowed through it as if the roads were dry. Some drivers may miss the availability of paddle shifters on the steering wheel. We didn't.

During our enthusiastic drive over twisting roads in southern Michigan, we learned that the chassis of the 2010 Cadillac SRX is stiff, which means the shock absorbers and springs can be tuned more softly, delivering a ride that is comfortable while still being responsive. Two suspensions are offered; the standard tune and the optional "FE3" that features Continuous Damping Control, aka an active suspension that reads and adjusts every two milliseconds. The SRX's ride, even with 20-inch wheels was smooth. Better yet, steering response was more akin to a sport sedan than what you'd experience in many other crossovers, including the Lexus RX350. Our only dynamic complaint was that at high engine speeds (over 6,000 rpm) the engine is too loud for this level of luxury vehicle. At all other engine speeds, the engine is appropriately quiet and plenty powerful.

The 2010 SRX features numerous electronic gadgets and systems. Highlights include adaptive forward lighting that swivels the headlamps in synch with vehicle steering; power liftgate with adjustable height setting (so it doesn't hit your garage door if opened while parked inside); integrated hard disc drive for audio storage and a dual-screen video system for rear entertainment. Bluetooth compatibility is standard, as is OnStar’s turn-by-turn navigation service for buyers who do not opt the car’s navigation system option.

The 2010 Cadillac SRX carries all of the safety equipment one expects in a premium crossover; standard head-curtain side air bags, front seat-mounted side air bags, safety belts with dual pretensioners and load limiters, and OnStar. The SRX also introduces the use of Martensitic steel, one of the strongest available. Its use in the rockers helps protect against intrusion during a side-impact, while also maintaining the structure during front and rear crashes. The SRX hasn't been tested by the government or the IIHS, but we'll keep you posted on results as these tests are completed.

The Bottom Line: The boldly styled 2010 Cadillac SRX is richly appointed, with more enthusiast appeal than other crossovers.

OTHER CHOICES

Lexus more or less invented the luxury crossover segment with their RX. The Lexus RX is new for 2010, and offers gasoline and hybrid versions (the RX350 and RX450h). For 2010, Cadillac is going in the right direction with its new SRX. This time, the Lexus RX likely has a genuine competitor to worry about. Compared to the 2010 Cadillac SRX, the styling of the Lexus is restrained—some would call it dull. Other new entries include the Volvo XC60, that is slightly smaller than the SRX, but offers additional safety features such as the City Safety system, which might help avoid accidents in low-speed city driving. The Audi Q5 another stylish rival, but it’s also smaller than the SRX, especially in back. The new Mercedes-Benz GLK provides some off-road capabilities and has an excellent combination of on-road ride and rugged trail capability, while the more aged BMW X5 has good performance but feels conservative. Priced as aggressively as it is, the 2010 Cadillac SRX should undercut all of these crossovers and offer more value.