Better ride without brakes...
The upside to the SRX's driving experience is the ride. The key factor here is the vehicle's optional sport suspension with computer-controlled, continuously-variable real-time damping. Able to maintain composure at all times, this setup keeps an “eye” on where and how you're driving. At any given point, regardless of the road surface condition, the SRX was regal. The vehicle's variable-assist power steering, also an option, kept up with ever changing driver inputs.
Unfortunately, not all was rosy when tackling tarmac with the SRX. The brakes felt like a throwback to older GMs. Here's what I mean: brake pedal feel was more like stomping on a 2x4 connected to a rubber band that then yanked on a plastic pivot to slowly wedge the callipers shut than your typical responsive firm pedal. When I first tried to come to a stop from 60 km/h, I nearly well soiled myself having not applied anywhere near enough pressure...
But somehow...
I really like the SRX. It did scare the peppermint patty out of me and I was cursing the transmission but on my more sedate jaunts to the grocery store or the office, I was actually proud to be at the wheel of a Cadillac. Could it be that my North American pride is taking over my psyche? That may be, but at a price of $44,875 for a base 3.0L AWD ($62,445 as tested), I'd rather be saddled in the Caddy than in a $45,900 BMW X3 (that may change when the new one arrives) or a $39,990 Acura RDX.
Somehow, the SRX comes off as such a monumental effort from GM and Cadillac that it deserves more than the usual consideration.
The upside to the SRX's driving experience is the ride. The key factor here is the vehicle's optional sport suspension with computer-controlled, continuously-variable real-time damping. Able to maintain composure at all times, this setup keeps an “eye” on where and how you're driving. At any given point, regardless of the road surface condition, the SRX was regal. The vehicle's variable-assist power steering, also an option, kept up with ever changing driver inputs.
Unfortunately, not all was rosy when tackling tarmac with the SRX. The brakes felt like a throwback to older GMs. Here's what I mean: brake pedal feel was more like stomping on a 2x4 connected to a rubber band that then yanked on a plastic pivot to slowly wedge the callipers shut than your typical responsive firm pedal. When I first tried to come to a stop from 60 km/h, I nearly well soiled myself having not applied anywhere near enough pressure...
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| The SRX comes off as such a monumental effort from GM and Cadillac that it deserves more than the usual consideration. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
But somehow...
I really like the SRX. It did scare the peppermint patty out of me and I was cursing the transmission but on my more sedate jaunts to the grocery store or the office, I was actually proud to be at the wheel of a Cadillac. Could it be that my North American pride is taking over my psyche? That may be, but at a price of $44,875 for a base 3.0L AWD ($62,445 as tested), I'd rather be saddled in the Caddy than in a $45,900 BMW X3 (that may change when the new one arrives) or a $39,990 Acura RDX.
Somehow, the SRX comes off as such a monumental effort from GM and Cadillac that it deserves more than the usual consideration.
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