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2013 Cadillac SRX
Power: 308 hp, 265 lb-ft.
Engine: 3.6L SIDI DOHC V6 VVT
Fuel Consumption: 17 city/24 highway
Price Driven: $50,730
There's a quiet roar coming from the Michigan. While rabid gearheads follow Ralph Gilles' tweets about SRT developments and search for latest news of the all-new Corvette C7, practical buyers are navigating an increasingly crowded crossover market (the new catch-all car that mixes minivan, SUV, and wagon). Distinctions are made in amenity, and defining luxury is the key to unlocking buyers hearts.
Here's where Detroit whispers in consumers ears, giving traditions of smooth comfort new form. Cadillac's more-than-capable entry to the crossover segment is the SRX. Far more manageable than the now iconic Escalade, the SRX debuted in 2009, slimmed down from three rows to two in 2010, and hit 2013 with new tech and a refreshed grille.
If the new Buick Encore is built for a) entry level luxury and b) aging gracefully, the SRX exists for hitting full adult stride. These are the reasons why...
1. Comfort
Cadillac is a badge built on tradition. While the SRX fits a new(ish) category and presents an aggressive new Cadillac look, don't forget what built the brand: COMFORT.
The SRX offers all the nice little luxuries you want—heated seats, ventilated seats, etc.—and something more important, quiet. GM's upper-echelon vehicles were celebrated by your grandfather for this very thing. Don't turn your nose up, embrace it. The SRX succeeds in granting a quiet ride through innovation. Utilizing a the same Bose Active Noise Cancellation system as the famous headphones, three microphones monitor sound in the cabin and reduce unwanted low frequencies. Serenity, never forget, is the first step to sanity (and thus, avoiding road rage).
2. Intuitive Technology
Yes, Cadillac's CUE system doesn't answer all the world's problems. However, the linking of car to your devices won't require a struggle and after a few miles on the road becomes incredibly easy to use. One complaint: The touch screen could be more responsive. One positive: The wheel controls are incredibly responsive. Once mastered, driver control of the entertainment is seamless meaning you can do what's most important—shift songs while keeping eyes on the road.
3. Driver Experience
First thing first: The 308 HP 3.6L direct-injection V6 gives the All-Wheel Drive just what it needs to accelerate with confidence. While a lot of crossovers babysit (with aggressive beeps every time they perceive any minor danger), the SRX has confidence in you. Sure, the seat will rumble if your blind spot is really filled, but it won't yell at you for swerving out if avoiding a dead animal is required.
4. Flexibility
5 seats and 29 cu. ft. of cargo space. Hell yeah! That keg you bought to hold the team through the first rounds of the tournament is safe in the back. Your bitch of a friend isn't bitching after being relegated to the bitch seat. And best of all, the massive UltraView sunroof eliminates any claustrophobia. Is your girlfriend moving? No fucking problem. Put the seat down and you've got 60 cubic feat to play with, and a few hidden storage spots under the floor too.
5. Standout Style
Hate it or love it, the Cadillac SRX has personality. Standing out in the crossover market takes, dare we say, some balls. The tweaks from the previous model year are small, but deliberate. Bringing the SRX in tune with the ATS and XTS sedans the grille and front fascia are new—pushing an aggressive stance. This ain't your average soccer mom kid-hauler.
