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Don't be afraid of the title of this article. It's just that the Cadillac SRX, with which I spent several test days, is a product of almost "conversion" technologies. Therefore, apparently, its appearance evokes an ambiguous reaction. And the name of the valiant American brand, which has faded somewhat over the past couple of decades, does not fit in with the "form and content" of the SRX.
Such a car would be good for going on new crusades. An army equipped with white Caddy SRXs would look very convincing. When looking at the rear, one single word comes to mind: "tuning." And immediately after it, the question: where have the original, "native" SRX taillights gone? But it's quite possible that some people will like them, since, as you know, there's no accounting for taste.
However, the lack of integrity in the exterior can easily be blamed on... political correctness! Especially since everything inside also seems to be tied to this wonderful invention of the American people – when you can do whatever you want, while covering yourself with fig leaves of fighting for the rights of those who are in the minority. And it doesn't matter which minorities – religious, political, racial – the main thing is to call IT political correctness, and any problem is solved. Judge for yourself: the SRX strives to be formidable so that it won't be suspected of weakness, and at the same time respects everyone and everything. Here you have analog clocks like on a Jaguar, if you are a New York "intellectual"; here you have "signature" American plastic, if you are a Democrat (what if you love Korean "import" with all your heart, but are embarrassed to drive it). Here you have wood on the steering wheel, if you, like George Bush, are a Republican and a conservative. Here you have adjustment of everything and anything: the pedal assembly adjusts over a very wide range and will suit both basketball players and housewives. And the range of vertical movement of the steering column is indecently large. In the lowest position, the steering wheel hub can be placed on your legs, and if desired, lowered even lower. The rear door wiper activation button was placed by Cadillac engineers not on the steering column switch, but on the ceiling, next to the interior light controls and the knob for turning on and adjusting the rear air conditioner. The driver's seat adjustment range of the Caddy also tries to please everyone – both the plump and the thin; there is a memory mode for settings for any physique. In general, the electronic filling of the SRX is excessive – that is, it has everything, including what is not particularly needed. From xenon to the ability to switch the on-board computer readings from mph to km/h and from liters to gallons per 100 km of travel – who knows, maybe you'll decide to travel in your own car from Russia to America or Great Britain.
By the way, during the test, fuel consumption ranged from 16.8 to 21 liters per 100 km – well, a large and powerful engine requires a considerable amount of "food," but it also works it off perfectly.
The SRX has a large sunroof and separate three-zone climate control; for an additional charge, you can order a DVD for rear passengers. The computer itself monitors the engine oil life, evaluating not only mileage, but also idle time with the engine running and driving under high loads. There is even a function for quickly focusing the Bose audio system in favor of the driver or rear passengers! And the system itself, contrary to expectations, sounds very good. All this is great and, as press release writers would say, "impressive," but it doesn't impress. Looking ahead, I can say that something completely different impresses in the SRX. After all, the essence of any car is not in optional tinsel, but still in the engine, transmission, and suspension. Just like 100 years ago.
To say that the 4.6-liter North Star engine is good is to say nothing. Paired with the 5-speed "automatic," it is magnificent! To the juicy baritone of the V-shaped "eight," the car, slightly rocking back, begins a smooth, even, and elastic acceleration. Oh yes, if you love fast driving, the 320-horsepower engine will certainly charm you. In confident acceleration, say, to 200 km/h, you feel the integrity that the car's design lacks. The gearbox and engine are "happy together." As soon as you take your foot off the gas pedal, the subjective, felt connection with the engine does not disappear, as on most American cars, but on the contrary, the engine switches to active braking, and although the gearbox shifts down with noticeable delays, the feeling of control over all 320 "horses" does not leave you. With such a combination, whether accelerating, overtaking, or braking – it's pure pleasure. The clever Magnetic Ride suspension struts change stiffness depending on speed and road surface – the ride turns out to be almost European in its composure and firmness. By the way, similar shock absorbers from the same manufacturer are used on the Audi TT sports car, only the SRX got them two years earlier. It seems that if you close your eyes, it will be impossible to convince yourself that you are driving an "American." Of course, there are nuances in handling too. As speed increases, the steering fills with reactive force too slowly. When braking, the SRX noticeably dives. And when entering a corner, the car demonstrates insufficient maneuverability; on uneven surfaces, diagonal body rocking appears. But the impression of integrity and composure is there, and that's the main thing.
Driving fast in the SRX is very pleasant. And not only in a straight line. The car clearly follows the steering wheel, quickly responding to the driver's actions. Perhaps for the first time in all my dealings with overseas cars behind the wheel of the SRX, I felt excitement. If you make a mistake with the trajectory when entering a turn, ESP will come to the rescue, which does not wait for a skid or drift to develop, but rather roughly, as if grabbing the car by the tail, with the squeal of tires, stabilizes the car. Sound insulation is good: even on soft studded Nokian tires at a decent speed, you can talk without raising your voice. But in the huge cabin, something in the back rattles slightly somewhere. Well, never mind, the fate of test cars is not easy.
Having gotten a mountain of pleasure from the manners of the big "American" on the highway, let's get off the road and see how much the heavy SRX justifies its light off-road image? If you go off-road – although the SRX does not claim off-road laurels – permanent all-wheel drive with an asymmetric center differential with priority torque distribution to the rear axle and increased ground clearance allow you to feel more confident than behind the wheel of an ordinary passenger car. However, here the "magnetic" shock absorbers no longer cope with the task so well – too soft springs, huge wheels, and a large rebound travel at low speed cause the car to rock and start "catching" obstacles with its bumpers, so it's easy to leave the beautiful plastic body kit on one of the hills. And as for "engine-transmission off-road capability," if you don't overdo it with the gas, then in the SRX you can crawl to a place from which you can only get back with the help of a tractor – after all, torque is constantly delivered to all wheels, so it's better not to experiment, otherwise you'll have to run far for a tractor... But still, the element of this Cadillac is the American highway, or even better, the German autobahn, where you can fly at speeds over 200 km/h without the slightest strain and feel completely in your element.
I won't try to convince myself that the Cadillac SRX is good. It really is a very decent car that gave me several days of "driver's happiness." I also don't have to convince myself that the SRX is a profitable purchase, because with the excellent 4.6-liter "eight," it costs just over $70,000: the same as competitors with more modest 3.5-liter "sixes." At the same time, the Cadillac also has a very spacious cabin and a huge trunk, which most competitors lack. All that remains is to convince yourself that a real SUV from America can be a worthy car for a European.
Leonid Pavlov