2010 Cadillac SRX: Road Test
2010 Cadillac SRX ▼
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- MSRP: $33,330 - $39,405
- Invoice: $31,330 - $37,041
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Our road test for the 2010 Cadillac SRX includes a full evaluation of the 2010 Cadillac SRX from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2010 Cadillac SRX, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2010 Cadillac SRX help you decide if a 2010 Cadillac SRX is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | 6.4 |
Only 3.0-liter versions of the SRX have been made available for testing so far. The front-drive model offers adequate acceleration, but the AWD model feels a bit slower, particularly from a stop. The transmission sometimes hesitates before downshifting for more power under full throttle.
FUEL ECONOMY
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 3.6 |
No opportunity yet to measure. EPA ratings are similar to those of the competing Lexus RX 350, which has averaged 18.8-21.9 mpg in our tests. Cadillac recommends regular-grade gas for the 3.0-liter engine, premium-grade gas for the 2.8-liter turbocharged engine.
RIDE QUALITY
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6.2 |
SRX rides more firmly than top premium-class competitors such as the Lexus RX. As such, even minor pavement imperfections are noticed, and larger bumps can produce a jolt. On the positive side, the SRX feels planted and well-controlled over pavement dips and swells. There is little difference in ride quality between a front-drive model with 18-inch tires and an AWD model with 20s.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 5.9 |
What the firm suspension takes away in ride quality it gives back in handling. Body lean is moderate in fast turns and the SRX feels quite responsive to quick steering inputs. Brake action is smooth and linear.
QUIETNESS
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6.9 |
The 3.0-liter engine makes a hushed, turbine-like whine under full throttle. Wind and road noise are well controlled, but bumps produce a noticeable thud.
CONTROLS
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6.1 |
Gauges are brightly backlit and easily seen. Audio controls are mounted at mid-dash and easily reached. Models tested were equipped with the optional navigation system, which absorbs radio preset buttons into the pop-up touch screen; that complicates their use somewhat but they're still easily accessible. Climate controls are mounted low on the dash but are also easy to reach, though adjustments are made with pushbuttons rather than more convenient rotary knobs.
DETAILS
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7.2 |
Tested models featured a tasteful blend of wood and metal-look trim. Padding on the dash and doors is unusually thin, but all of the surfaces, even those made from hard plastic, seem appropriate for the class.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 7.5 |
Plenty of headroom and legroom for taller folks. Seats are firm but comfortable. Thick roof pillars obscure visibility to most angles, and the small rear window restricts the view straight aft. Heated and cooled front seats are a welcome feature, and shorter folks might appreciate the available power-adjustable pedals.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 6.1 |
Adequate room for adults unless the front seats are set far down and back, in which case legroom and foot space are severely restricted. Entry and exit are eased with large door openings and a low step-in height.
CARGO ROOM
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8.3 |
SRX shines for convenience and ingenuity if not outright space. Opening height of the available power liftgate can be adjusted so shorter folks can reach the lip and taller folks won't hit their heads, a neat feature. Even better is a cargo containment system with an adjustable-width gate that runs on a U-shaped floor-mounted track. It allows the gate to partition off small or large objects so they won't roll around, and the gate can be removed and stored under the lid of the large, under-floor bin. Split rear seatbacks can be folded forward and there's also a ski pass-through. Impressive cabin storage includes upper and lower gloveboxes, a two-tier console box, unusual two-tier map pockets in the doors, a couple of small dash bins, and two open console cupholders.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6.2 |
SRX is downsized in both dimensions and price for 2010, moving it into closer competition with the class-leading Lexus RX 350. With an aggressive look and rather firm suspension, the SRX is aimed at the sportier side of the "sport-utility" equation, though with the base engine, at least, doesn't quite fulfill its performance promise. A host of clever cargo-storage solutions is its greatest asset, along with prices that undercut those of the RX.
Total Score
| 2WD Base | AWD Luxury | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | 71 | 70.4 |
Total Score: 72
Scores for all Premium Midsize Sport-utility Vehicles
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