2012 Cadillac SRX FWD Premium: A refined ride, with great handling

Written by Steven Macoy
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 11:24

The luxury compact SUV is a staple in virtually every automaker’s fleet; even the most modest nameplates can be dressed up extravagantly enough to qualify for the designation, if only superficially. But there remains something special about Cadillac’s right-sized SUV, the SRX.

Downsized in its first major redesign two years ago, the SRX may have benefited from a less vigorous reduction. The first SRX we drove, in 2004, was an impressive car in every respect except fuel economy. Today’s SRX, equipped with a 308-horsepower V-6 that uses regular unleaded gasoline, is less thirsty. But it’s also less roomy, and like the Nissan Rogue we drove a few months ago, it doesn’t give rear-seat passengers much room to stretch.

The SRX excels in two major respects: refinement and handling. If you want a luxury midsize SUV you can fling through the turns, you probably need to visit just four dealerships: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac. Among Japanese and Korean models, only the Mitsubishi Outlander — by no means a luxury car — has comparably smile-inducing road manners.

As for refinement — well, it’s a Cadillac. Whatever the brand’s brain trust may have forgotten during the forgettable 1980s and 1980s, it has recovered what once was foremost in Cadillac’s corporate culture. The SRX manages to pamper drivers and passengers while keeping things comfortable with familiar General Motors switchgear and personality traits.

We used our 2012 SRX Premium mainly for commuting in western Connecticut but also used it to transport a sizable entertainment center several miles without incident. The front-wheel drive SUV carried a sticker price of $48,740.

All Cadillacs are loaded by definition, but our SRX brought the term to a whole new level. Its standard features included navigation, adjustable pedals, heated seats front and rear, reclining rear seats, remote start, sapele wood-trim interior, ultraview power sunroof, power liftgate, XM satellite radio, and front and rear parking assist.

The base SRX starts at $35,185 and is a little less sumptuous, but it’s luxurious all the same. And all SRX models come equipped with the 308-horsepower V-6, an improvement over past engine offerings.

Front-wheel-drive versions of the SRX deliver 17 mpg city, 24 highway, not bad numbers for a car that weighs in excess of two tons. Moreover, the 2010 SRX we drove last year required premium gasoline.

All-wheel drive, a feature that can only enhance an SUV’s utility and resale value, reduces fuel economy by 1 mpg at each end.

The 2011 and ’12 SRX models have been rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Among Cadillacs, only the Mexican-built SRX and the venerable DTS full-sized sedan have run up average reliability scores in Consumer Reports magazine owner surveys.

Competition is brisk in the compact luxury SUV market; the European models are particularly compelling. But the SRX carries the Cadillac tradition and mystique ably enough to warrant consideration in this segment.

 

Steven Macoy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.

 

Price: $48,740

Engine: 3.6-liter V-6, 308 horsepower, 265 lb.-ft. torque

Transmission: 6-speed shiftable automatic

Drive: front-wheel

Weight: 4,277 lb.

Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear

Ground clearance: 7 inches

Wheels: 20-inch by 8-inch painted alloy

Tires: P235/55R20 94H all-season

Seating capacity: 5

Luggage capacity: 29.8 cu. ft.

Maximum cargo capacity: 61 cu. ft.

Towing capacity: 3,500 lb.

Fuel capacity: 21 gallons

Fuel economy: 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway

Fuel type: regular unleaded