Overview Mid-sized upscale SUV
Pros Stylish, comfortable, well-priced
Cons Tight rear-seat legroom; complicated CUE infotainment system
Value for money Fair
What would I change? Increase rear-seat legroom; simplify CUE
How I would spec it? SRX Luxury Collection
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to the Cadillac brand and SUVs, the SRX isn’t what immediately springs to my mind. Maybe it’s all the videos I used to see on MTV or, more likely, their increased use as limos, but it’s blinged-out Escalades that seem to define GM’s luxury arm. Yet, despite the seeming lack of recognition for the SRX, I found it interesting that, so far this year, it outsells the Escalade six to one in Canada, and rather bemused that it’s only two to one in the U.S. Put it down to having less discretionary funds to buy the biggest Caddy, higher gasoline prices, our egos (or our butts) not being as big or whatever, but the mid-sized SRX is definitely more in tune with our Canadian psyche. Not as in tune as rivals such as Audi’s Q5, the Lexus RX or Mercedes M-Class, however, though much better than the Lincoln MKX.
2015 Cadillac SRX Luxury Collection AWD
Brian Harper, Driving
Maybe this is because Cadillac has been rather quiet with the SRX. Since the second-generation version debuted for the 2010 model year, the sharply styled SUV has received only one major update — that was in 2012, when GM ditched the base 3.0-litre V6 and optional 2.8L turbo V6 in favour of a direct-injection 3.6L V6, one with more muscle (308 horsepower) to better motivate the 2,015-kilogram AWD sport-ute. (Personally, I think the 3.6, which also resides in the ATS sedan and Coupe, CTS and XTS, is one of the best powerplants ever to find its way into a Cadillac.)
However, the current SRX, as with a number of SUVs of its type and size, is not exactly quick on its feet. Oh, it answers with enough zoom if the gas pedal is given a healthy shove, such as merging onto the highway. But it’s a little lethargic under part-throttle application, like normal traffic conditions. The hydraulic power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering — standard on the base and Luxury Collection trim levels — is also artificially heavy, which exacerbates the sluggish feeling around town, although whatever ponderousness there is disappears at cruising speeds. There is a variable-effort speed-sensitive setup available on higher (Performance and Premium) trims, with tuning, says GM, biased for “sport sedan-style driving and strong on-centre feel.” I’d suggest GM make this standard across all trim levels.
2015 Cadillac SRX Luxury Collection AWD
Brian Harper, Driving
One can utilize the six-speed automatic’s console-mounted gear lever to jack the engine revs before upshifting, if one is prepared to pay the piper at the fuel pumps. Conversely, there’s also the driver-selectable Eco feature that alters the shift points for improved fuel economy in normal driving conditions. Personally, I didn’t feel the need to employ either end of the driving spectrum, with the 13.6 litres per 100 kilometres I averaged for a week of mixed highway and suburban use reflecting that.
Two-wheel-drive is standard on base and Luxury model SRXs, though that’s more for American consumption. Optional on the Limited and standard on the Performance and Premium trims is an all-wheel-drive system incorporating an electronic limited-slip rear differential. This, says GM, not only improves traction in slippery road conditions, but also provides side-to-side torque transfer along the rear axle to boost control during hard cornering. The amount of snow that trickled down post-Halloween wasn’t much of a test for the AWD system; grip was never in doubt in the wet conditions. Helping to keep the SUV pointed in the proper direction is standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, which works in concert with the Cadillac’s ABS system. Traction control is also standard.
Cabin-wise, the five-seater SRX could offer a reasonably roomy interior, depending on the size of those occupying the seats. Taller passengers take note: After setting the front seat for my 6-foot-2 frame, I squeezed into the rear only to find my knees jammed into the front seatback. Too bad, having more legroom would allow a better appreciation of the cabin, which features rich-looking trim materials and a full measure of modern and techy conveniences. The lighting for the gauge cluster is among the very best I’ve seen — crisp, clear and easy to read. The biggest news for 2015 is the much-hyped OnStar with 4G LTE and a standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, which is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.
2015 Cadillac SRX Luxury Collection AWD
Brian Harper, Driving
I’m not as impressed with certain aspects of the Cadillac User Experience (CUE), which pairs entertainment and information data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players with the infotainment system; said system supposedly reducing complexity through customized information, voice commands and fewer buttons and larger icons. This is because I’m a Neanderthal when it comes to the latest in-vehicle experiences, invariably turning off my phone (though I do listen to satellite radio) and concentrating on avoiding all the distracted drivers creating havoc on the increasingly congested streets. Actually, my beef with CUE is not with the eight-inch touchscreen graphics or its home page, which resembles a smartphone screen, but with the unnecessary complication of “proximity sensing”, “haptic feedback” and “capacitive technology”. This last one enables consumers to use the same swipe, pinch and spread gestures on the screen and faceplate as they would when using smartphones and tablets. Here’s a suggestion: Try buttons or knobs! They’re much simpler and they work better.
Old dude rant out of the way, there’s still much to the SRX that keeps it competitive in the mid-sized luxe SUV segment — this despite its maturity. With its wide stance, the Cadillac feels stable and well planted. The four-wheel independent suspension setup delivers a very cosseting ride without being overly floaty. It’s quiet, it’s comfortable and it has all the requisite safety features. More importantly, the pricing of the tester — just under $53,000 — is quite reasonable for what you receive in return. But, industry insiders report there will be a new model for 2016, probably larger and possibly with third-row seating availability (like the first-generation SRX). So, if you like what you see now, get it while you can.
2015 Cadillac SRX Luxury Collection AWD
Handout, Cadillac
The Specs
Type of vehicle All-wheel-drive mid-sized luxury crossover
Engine 3.6L DOHC V6
Power 308 hp @ 6,800 rpm; 265 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2,400 rpm
Transmission Six-speed manumatic
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires P235/65R18
Price (base/as tested) $50,830/$52,905
Destination charge $1,800
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy (L/100 km) 14.8 city, 10.4 highway
Standard features (Luxury Collection) Dual-zone automatic climate control with air filtration, Bose premium audio system, push-button start, power windows with express up and down, remote keyless entry, power door locks, power-folding heated outside mirrors, cruise control, power and heated front seats, 60/40-split and folding rear seat, tilt and telescopic steering column, driver information centre, leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel, power sunroof, power liftgate with programmable opening height, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking assist, backup camera, power-adjustable pedals, remote start, heated steering wheel, rain-sense automatic wipers, sapele wood trim on doors, centre console, steering wheel and shift knob
Options CUE infortainment system with navigation and Bose surround-sound speaker system ($1,450); Driver Awareness package ($525), includes forward collision alert, lane departure warning, Intellibeam auto high beam control, driver safety alert seat
2015 Cadillac SRX Luxury Collection AWD
Brian Harper, Driving
