Review: 2010 Cadillac SRX

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The 2010 SRX doesn't yet have government crash test ratings but earned the top "good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in front offset crashes. Standard features include OnStar, stability and traction control, front and rear head curtain airbags, and front seat-mounted torso airbags.

Behind the Wheel

When it comes to performance, there are two different SRXs. With the base engine, the SRX is far from sporty, accelerating from zero to 60 in a relatively slow 8.5 seconds. That's a full second slower than the lighter Lexus RX 350.

In the all-wheel-drive SRX with the less powerful engine that I test-drove, the steering and brakes were quite responsive, but the ride was boaty—a bit like a traditional Cadillac sedan only with a higher center of gravity. There was a significant throttle lag after I punched the gas and the transmission ran way out in each gear when I kept the pedal on the floor. In short, the less expensive versions of the SRX are mainly for shoppers who put a priority on price and comfortable day-to-day driving.

If performance is your priority, you have to pay up for the turbocharged engine, which pushes the SRX into the $50,000-plus price range. With that engine, the SRX matches the Lexus' 7.5-second zero-to-60 performance, though rivals such as Daimler's (DAI) Mercedes GLK350 are significantly quicker. In addition to a sportier transmission, the top-of-the-line Premium and Performance SRXs with the more powerful engine come with a sport-tuned suspension with a continuously variable damping system. The AWD system also automatically shifts power to the outside wheels during hard cornering, which improves handling.

A big selling point of the new SRX is its classy interior. The dash is attractive, and in higher trim levels there's lots of leather, as well as brushed aluminum trim and wood inlays that curve around to integrate with the door trim. The center console is similar to the one in the CTS, with a pop-up navigation screen and controls bunched in a central panel. A nice touch is the way the shift lever is nestled in a pouch of high-quality, stitched soft leather. Another nice touch: The Cadillac logo is etched in script into the doorsills and lights up in the dark.

The comfortable, power-adjustable front seats are well-cushioned and seem more like RV seats than car seats. Head and leg-room are adequate for average-size adults, both in front and back. I love the enormous panoramic sunroof that comes standard on the fancier SRXs. Open its cover at night and, even with the sunroof closed, you feel like you're riding under the stars in an open sleigh.

The SRX has 29.2 cu. ft. of space behind the rear seats and 61.2 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded down, which is adequate but lags the Lexus RX 350 and Ford's (F) Lincoln MKX. The rear seats fold down in a 60/40 pattern and there's a small pass-through for stowing long objects when the rear seats are up. There's a handy tie-down system in the cargo area.

Buy It or Bag It?

At just over 34 grand, the base SRX is a real bargain, but you have to be willing to settle for front-wheel drive and no options. Fancier versions of the SRX are less competitive. All-wheel drive raises the price to 40 grand or more, and the more powerful engine to the 50 grand-plus range.

The luxury crossover market is crowded with attractive new models near or below those price points. Models to check out include the Lexus RX 350, which sells for 43 grand on average, according to the Power Information Network (PIN) and the new but somewhat smaller Audi Q5 (44 grand on average, according to PIN). If price is your main concern, the SRX's closest rivals are the Lincoln MKX ($40,556) and Mercedes GLK350 ($40,445). With all-wheel drive the Lexus, in particular, is as quick and more fuel-efficient than the turbocharged SRX, and it's less expensive.

Click here to see more of the 2010 Cadillac SRX.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.

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