The sobering fact is that my SRX test vehicle was priced at $77,120 - a fully optioned SRX totals $78,715. That's about $10,000 more than a better equipped Infiniti FX45 and almost $500 more than a somewhat more prestigious
Porsche Cayenne. Yes it's one of the most heated categories in the auto business right now, so the need to stand apart from the crowd for design, quality and value is a must. With that in mind it must be stifling to GM when an economy car brand like Volkswagen comes out with its first SUV and completely trounces on Cadillac's attempt at high-end luxury - for less money again I must add.
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| With its 320-hp 4.6-L Northstar V8, the SRX, from a driver's perspective, is excellent. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
It's really too bad because the
SRX, from a driver's perspective, is excellent. Its 320-hp 4.6-L Northstar V8, the powertrain I tested, is both smooth at idle and stimulatingly quick to highway speeds. There's no thrashing under the hood either, but rather more of a mechanical aria of 32 whirring valves and 4 overhead cams. The drivetrain is up to the task too, sporting five forward gears and an effective manual mode actuated by notching the gearlever to the right and moving it backwards for downshifts and forwards to upshift as needed. I can't for the life of me figure out why GM didn't include Pontiac's TapShift steering wheel controls, or something of the like, a feature that would have separated the SRX from the majority of its competitors that don't offer such a performance-oriented feature.
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| The base SRX engine offers more power and torque, at 260-hp and 252 lb-ft respectively, than the BMW X5 3.0, Porsche's new V6 Cayenne, and VW's Touareg. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
I can't make comment on the base 3.6-L V6 engine, as none was provided to test. Just the same I found it superb in the CTS which should make it sufficient at least for the heavier SRX. To its credit, the base engine offers more power and torque, at 260-hp and 252 lb-ft respectively, than the BMW X5 3.0, Porsche's new V6 Cayenne, VW's Touareg and just about any other competitive V6 in this category other than Infiniti's 280-hp FX35.
