CADILLAC SRX REVIEW PLUS
There are vehicles on the market that are more space-efficient than the 2014 Cadillac SRX-fitting three rows of seating into about the same footprint as the two-row SRX-but this Cadillac has a very comfortable, usable space for five plus excellent versatility. On the up side, the SRX doesn't ride roughly, even on 20-inch wheels, and even with the optional sport suspension, which comes with adaptive dampers that take the sting out of the worst road conditions. The height of the vehicle doesn't help, and the brakes feel spongy. The weight is the big issue: the SRX feels heavy when it leans into corners. The hydraulic steering unwinds from corners nicely, and feels predictable. The SRX lumbers along through most maneuvers, hampered by a 4,500-pound curb weight. It incorporates an electronic limited-slip differential that helps gather grip in wet-weather conditions, but it's not meant for any serious off-roading. All-wheel drive, supplied by Haldex, is an option. The SRX comes as a front-wheel-drive vehicle in base trim. It is capable of shuttling to 60 mph in 7 seconds, which puts it in the realm of the Lexus RX and the Acura MDX. It doesn't respond quickly enough when a quick zap of power is needed to overtake on the highway. It makes peak torque at a fairly high 2,400 rpm, and the 6-speed automatic is fairly quick to upshift, in the interest of saving fuel. Where's the urgency you'd expect with that power? The SRX has a transmission that's geared fairly tall, which means long spans between ratios. We'll call the 2014 Cadillac SRX confident, but not all that quick or inspiring-especially considering that it has a 308-horsepower engine under the hood. Upper trim levels get automatic climate control a power liftgate a twin-screen rear-seat entertainment system and adaptive headlights that swerve along with changes in the direction of the car.
CADILLAC SRX REVIEW BLUETOOTH
Behind the infotainment screen hides a storage bin the screen motors out of the way to expose it.Īll SRXs come with power features, cruise control, and Bluetooth with audio streaming. It's not as quick to respond as we'd like, and it gets hung up on occasion. Its touch-sensitive screen can accept tap, swipe, and pinch gestures and generates its own tactile feedback as a substitute for real buttons. The CUE infotainment interface is also cutting-edge, but not quite ready for prime time. Cadillac offers a roster of safety technology with features like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warnings, and automatic emergency braking. The NHTSA gives it five stars overall, and the IIHS gives it a Top Safety Pick nod.
Handling is less than nimble, and the transmission's tall gearing doesn't help much. The SRX may have superior traction with all-wheel drive, but it's also a hefty machine, with 4,500 pounds of curb weight blunting its strong V-6. A 6-speed automatic moves power to the front or to all four wheels. The cabin is quiet, thanks to active noise cancellation.Īll SRX crossovers draw power from a 3.6-liter V-6 with 308 hp. The two-row SUV has seats for five, nicely contoured chairs front and back, and a good driving position.
CADILLAC SRX REVIEW DRIVERS
Of all the vehicles in the Cadillac lineup, the SRX is the one most aimed at drivers who need space more than performance. This year there's a new trio of exterior colors-Graphite Metallic, Terra Mocha Metallic and Sapphire Blue Metallic-while there's a new Caramel interior with Ebony accents.
The Cadillac has some of the swept-back presence of its sedan cousins, and some of the panache and presence of the brawny Escalade.Cadillac has kept the interior contemporary with some fresh trim and material combinations each year, and 2014 is no exception. The SRX is a striking outlier in a class that includes vehicles like the conservative Lexus RX.
Yet as the more carlike crossover utility vehicle in the luxury brand's lineup, it's something quite different. The 2014 Cadillac SRX has a chiseled, gleaming exterior that fits right in with that of the Escalade SUV, and its daring interior style follows closely in the footsteps of the GM luxury brand's contemporary sedans.