Cadillac SRX: Jalopnik's Buyer's Guide
The Cadillac SRX offers a good blend of style, refinement and agility. Still, it's become a bit dated since its debut in 2010. Good news: It's due for a replacement very soon. What do you need to know before you buy a Cadillac SRX? Don't worry, we'll tell you everything right here in our Buyer's Guide.
The Cadillac SRX has been selling like White Castle at 2 a.m. on a Friday night, sitting firmly atop Cadillac's sales charts. That's impressive, considering how few changes Cadillac has made to their money-making luxury CUV over the years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
But fear not, Cadillac lovers, for GM will be showing the world the new Cadillac XT5 sometime before the end of 2015. We'll have to see a few more pics before we pass judgement on the styling, but seeing as how Cadillac has been on a tear with their CTS and ATS, we're hoping this XT5 will be similarly awesome.
What’s New About The 2016 Cadillac SRX
The second generation Cadillac SRX launched for the 2010 model year as a replacement to its wagon-y looking predecessor, which reined from 2004 to 2009. The new second gen got an all new design inside and out, a front-wheel drive-based platform (the first SRX was built on the rear-drive Sigma platform), a 265 horsepower 3.0-liter V6 and a Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic.
That 2010 car also brought new gadgetry to the mix, including a pop-up navigation screen with three-dimensional imaging, adaptive forward lighting a power liftgate with programmable height, an integrated hard drive for audio files and a dual-screen rear entertainment system. A 300 horsepower 2.8-liter turbo V6 mated to an Aisin six-speed auto was also available, as were all-wheel drive and variable damping.
In 2011, Cadillac made the rearview camera standard and in 2012, Cadillac threw both engines out the window in favor of a 308 horsepower 3.6-liter V6. The Aisin six-speed also got canned, as the Hydra-Matic became the only available transmission. Bluetooth also became standard in 2012, but 2013 brought the real changes to infotainment.
In 2013, Cadillac introduced their "Cadillac User Experience" (CUE) infotainment system with its eight-inch touchscreen. The SRX's interior also saw a few changes, especially to the center stack, which now housed a new screen. Additional changes for '13 include new driver awareness and driver assist tech, active noise canceling, revised upper and lower grilles and new wheels.
Not much has changed between 2013 and 2016, but 2016 appears to be the final model year for the SRX, as the 2017 XT5 will soon be stepping in as a replacement.
Which One We’d Buy
The Cadillac SRX comes in four trims: Standard, Luxury, Performance and Premium, all of which can be had in two or four-wheel drive.
All SRXs come with old-school hydraulic power steering, a "linked H-arm" rear suspension design and strut-type setup in the front. Brakes are 13.6-inch vented rotors in the front and 12.4-inch vented discs out back.
Standard features include a 3.6-liter V6, six-speed automatic, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bose eight-speaker audio system, satellite radio, 18-inch alloy wheels, leatherette front seats, power driver's seat, CUE infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen and remote keyless entry.
Which SRX trim would we buy? We'd probably wait for the 2017 XT5, if we're honest. But if we could snag a killer deal on a Luxury-trimmed SRX, that might also be worth a look.
On top of the standard features, the Luxury trim would get us a sunroof, rear vision camera, leather seating surfaces, power liftgate with memory height, Park Assist, Blind-Zone and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and unique 18-inch wheels and wood interior trim.
Would we pay the full $44,635 for that front-wheel drive SRX Luxury when we could have a better-equipped, more efficient all-wheel drive Q5 for the same money? No. Not a chance.
Important Facts At A Glance:
MSRP: $38,600-$49,915 Top Speed: 130 MPH (estimate)
Acceleration: ~7s to 60 (estimate)
MPG: 17 city/ 24 hwy / 19 combined
Engines: 3.6L V6
Max Horsepower/Torque: 308 hp/265 lb-ft
Max Advertised Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
Curb Weight: 4,277-4,442 pounds IIHS Rating: Not Fully Tested ('15MY)
Transmissions: 6-speed automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front engine, FWD/AWD
Photo credit: Cadillac