I just took a pleasant road trip in our Cadillac SRX. Nothing extreme, just a jaunt from our Santa Monica office down to San Diego and back. It's about a 125 mile run each way and honestly I was hoping to take our Audi Q7. It's become my default choice for long highway runs...
But the Audi was already taking Lead Senior Editor Ed Hellwig to a golf vacation in Colorado, so I looked into grabbing the keys to our Altima SE. No luck there either. Senior Road Test Editor Josh Jacquot already had the keys in his pocket and wasn't even entertaining offers.
So I chose the Cadillac. And I enjoyed the drive. The Caddy has now covered over 17,000 miles and it still feels solid. The truck is aging well, especially it's new for 2007 interior. The light carpets have taken a beating, but otherwise the interior remains cherry, as they used to say in the old car world. Plus the truck rides well and its navigation system was easy to program and operated as promised.
My only gripe is with the Cad's engine. The 3.6-liter V6 makes 255-hp but it feels taxed by the SUV's mass--and our SRX is the lighter two-wheel drive version. Looking back at our test numbers, the SRX hit 60 mph in 8.2 seconds and completed the quarter mile in 16.1 seconds at 86 mph. In other words a V6 Toyota RAV4 will smoke it like a Winston. I also find the V6 on the rough and riotous side north of 4,000 rpm, which is well shy of its 6,500 rpm redline. Mileage was pleasing, however. The Caddy averaged 21 mpg.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor-in-Chief @ 17,010 miles
alpha01 says:
12:52 PM, 07/13/07
Interesting points, love the "smoke it like a Winston" comment, too funny.
hondacura4 says:
01:07 PM, 07/15/07
Ive never driven one of these Caddys but I find that it doesnt come off as upscale. Maybe "premium" but not upscale. Certain design details in this class are a must and the Caddy just wasnt executed well enough.
For example, take a look at the picture of the gauges above. Do they look like they are in a $40K+ vehicle?
gmguy111 says:
07:37 PM, 07/15/07
I agree these particular set of gauges would be more appropriate for a 30k maybe 35 k vehicle. However there are some NON GM vehicles that are 40 k and have gauges like this or similar and lets be glad that unlike the 80's and early 90's back when bland economy cars and big time manufacturing shortcuts were common I'm glad that in the 2000's GM has made cars that are actually fun and stylish to drive
jsmilesrmhs says:
03:33 AM, 07/16/07
Honda Acura4.
For example, take a look at the picture of the gauges above. Do they look like they are in a $40K+ vehicle?
What are S40,000 Guages look like? I have seen guages in cars over 40,000 Dollars look a lot worse.
They are simple, clean, and easy to read. That is the most important thing about guages.
stingray454 says:
09:05 AM, 07/16/07
I've driven the 2007 SRX several times, and I feel the new interior is "upscale". It's a nice interior and definitely competitive with Lexus and Mercedes for the price class, and better than BMW or Infiniti interiors for this price class. Perhaps the picture isn't doing the gauges justice - they are very nice gauges, easy to read, look good, and have electroluminescence light-up at night, similar to Lexus gauges.
I guess those of you critizing the SRX interior based on pictures will just have to go sit in one to see for youself. I haven't heard anyone disappointed in the new SRX interior once they experienced it first hand.
I'm surprised not much has been mentioned about the SRX's steering feel and handling, both of which I think are excellent, and probably one of the vehicle's strong suits. I think I may like the steering feel better in the SRX than my '02 Corvette's.
rick8365 says:
04:31 PM, 07/16/07
Alpha, I second you on the "smoke it like a Winston" comment....funny indeed.