'07 Cadillac SRX 4000 mile report

[gwwyjjliu]

I've had a brand-new 2007 SRX for about two months now, and the odo just passed the 4000 mile mark, so I thought I'd post a long-term review for those of you interested.

My car is a V6, AWD with the optional ultraview sunroof, luxury package which includes the Bose 5.1 surround sound, DVD Nav, heated seats, and other goodies.

Interior: The SRX interior was redone for '07, and it is a 100% improvement. The instrument panel is topped with richly grained leather and beautifully stitched together. The polished wood and satin-nickel finish look rich and upscale. Everyone who I've given rides to in this car comments on how nice the interior is. I've been in the Chinese Cadillac SLS and the new SRX interior compares well with it. After 4000 miles, I can say that I'm still suitably impressed.

Comfort: My car had the optional 8-way heated leather seats, and they are quite comfortable for long trips. The headrests can adjust and tilt so you can rest your head against them for relaxing. The power lumbar is great for long trips. The back seat is also roomy and comfortable, with high theater seating and good legroom. The ride is surprisingly firm and sporty, and on broken pavement can be almost harsh. However, credit the SRX's stiff body structure, because it feels really solid over bumps. On the highway, noise levels are about average, not Lexus-like quiet but not too noisy either.

Lots of features: Like I previously mentioned, this SRX is stuffed full of electronic goodies, starting with the touch-screen XM radio/DVD Nav/Bose 5.1 surround system with voice recognition. The controls are pretty easy to use after spending some time to learn the various menus. I like the split-screen mode in which you can view both the Nav and radio information simultaneously. The Nav system generally works well but some of the information is dated. Also, entering points of interest like "Home Depot" will usually turn up multiple listings with similar names like "Home Depot," "Home Depot Inc.," and "Home Depot stores," etc., and you have to tediously select each of them to find the one you're looking for. One feature that is understandable but maddening is that the system is disabled for all but the simplest functions if the car is moving. So if your wife wants to select a new destination while you're driving, you still have to stop. One would think that with the passenger airbag sensing, Cadillac could enable those features when there is someone in the front seat.

Beyond the Nav system, the Bose 5.1 sound system in tandem with XM radio has very good sound. In general, classical music sounds better than pop or rock on the system. It seems lacking in the mid-bass range where most pop and rock music has content, so those genres sounded a little lifeless. However, Saint Saens Organ Symphony really came alive with deep, bone-rattling pipe organ bass, so clearly the capability is there. Sadly, the tone controls on the Bose sound system are quite limited.

The climate control is really excellent. It was redesigned with the new interior, and is very intuitive. Dual front temp controls with digital display and a simple twin-dial layout make it very easy to use. But most impressive is the performance. I just leave it in "Auto" mode and it pretty much does all the thinking for you. The A/C really cools down the car quickly and maintains an accurate temperature regardless of weather.

Other features worth mentioning are the power liftgate, which is handy but sometimes doesn't respond to the first push on the key fob. The power windows have both auto up/down, and anything but the slightest push will run them all the way up or down; the switches are too sensitive in my opinion. The power recline feature takes its own sweet time to do its thing. Other little quibbles include an awkwardly located rear wiper switch (on the overhead console).

Driving: The SRX's strong suit is it's sport-sedan like demeanor, and this was put to the test unexpectedly one morning on a high-speed, heart-stopping emergency brake/swerve maneuver on a highway ramp. To avoid a serious collision with a car who had darted into my lane, I slammed hard on the brakes and simulateously yanked the wheel. Doing this in a normal high-sided SUV would bring to mind visions of Ford Explorers cartwheeling over the asphalt, but the SRX reacted very calmly, without drama. There was a hint of brake pedal feedback to let you know that the Stabilitrak and ABS were working hard to keep the car stable, and the steering was very sharp and accurate, allowing one to make accurate corrections. The brakes were really excellent, with a firm but confident pedal feel and able to really haul down the speed when you needed them to.

In normal driving, I cannot say enough about how well the SRX drives. On winding roads it feels like a well-honed precision tool, attacking corners eagerly and providing lots of confidence-inspiring feedback.

The 3.6L VVT V6 is a good match for the SRX. It's not a rocketship by any means, but has decent torque for around-town driving. Mashing the pedal to the floor, great sounds rip from the V6 at high rpm's. Finally, there's a GM V6 that actually enjoys life on the other side of 4000 rpm! Unfortuately, because of the car's weight and aerodynamics, it doesn't accelerate as well as it sounds, but my right foot frequently gets itchy to hear that delicious snarl. That's probably why I get only about 17.5 mpg in mostly highway driving.

The 5 speed automatic has normal and sport modes, as well as driver-selectable manual shifting. I don't bother with any of that, as the sport mode is way too busy (even normal mode is fussy sometimes) and the manual upshifts and downshifts happen too slowly for any fun to be had. No, this is not a substitute for a real manual transmission.

Quality: I've had no problems with this car so far, just a few quality slips. Foremost is the knob that adjusts one of the A/C vents on the dash has fallen off; it mars an interior that otherwise approaches perfection. Also, the satin trim around the side A/C vents reflect a lot of glare into the rear view mirrors. One piece of trim on the hood is peeling off, something fixable with a spot of glue but inexcusable on a $47,000 car.

Overall: I love this car. I am not an SUV fan, as my previous SUV purchase (a GMC Jimmy) got me a gas-guzzling, underpowered, shaky, sloppy-handling pig. The SRX is everything a traditional SUV isn't (except for the gas-guzzling part), a crisp handling, no-compromise sports wagon that happens to look like an SUV.

[Chaz_23]

Thanks, great review. I find the SRX to the most attractive car of its kind around. It should really sell much better.

[Buick61]

Man, we got to drive ours more. I got it in, what was that, March? The odometer has several hundred miles to go before it rolls over to 4 large.

Originally Posted by gwwyjjliu

I've had a brand-new 2007 SRX for about two months now, and the odo just passed the 4000 mile mark, so I thought I'd post a long-term review for those of you interested.
The ride is surprisingly firm and sporty, and on broken pavement can be almost harsh. However, credit the SRX's stiff body structure, because it feels really solid over bumps. On the highway, noise levels are about average, not Lexus-like quiet but not too noisy either.

That's been my exact impression.

Other features worth mentioning are the power liftgate, which is handy but sometimes doesn't respond to the first push on the key fob.

Ok, good. We're not alone with that frustration, then.

The power windows have both auto up/down, and anything but the slightest push will run them all the way up or down; the switches are too sensitive in my opinion.

Same here.

Other little quibbles include an awkwardly located rear wiper switch (on the overhead console).

I never find it on the first try.

In normal driving, I cannot say enough about how well the SRX drives. On winding roads it feels like a well-honed precision tool, attacking corners eagerly and providing lots of confidence-inspiring feedback.

I drove the SRX on a test track months before hand (a RX350 was on hand for comparison purposes). The handling was THE reason why the SRX made my list. The track experience translates very well to real world driving (off-ramps especially).

The 3.6L VVT V6 is a good match for the SRX. It's not a rocketship by any means, but has decent torque for around-town driving. Mashing the pedal to the floor, great sounds rip from the V6 at high rpm's. Finally, there's a GM V6 that actually enjoys life on the other side of 4000 rpm! Unfortuately, because of the car's weight and aerodynamics, it doesn't accelerate as well as it sounds, but my right foot frequently gets itchy to hear that delicious snarl. That's probably why I get only about 17.5 mpg in mostly highway driving.

Mileage has been dismal on our end, too. But it'll creep up into the very low 20s in pure highway travel. Maybe with more miles it'll improve.

Also, the satin trim around the side A/C vents reflect a lot of glare into the rear view mirrors.

This is the single most annoying thing about the SUV. Everytime I look over to check the mirrors, all I see is the pretty vents staring back at me from the window reflection.

Overall: I love this car. I am not an SUV fan, as my previous SUV purchase (a GMC Jimmy) got me a gas-guzzling, underpowered, shaky, sloppy-handling pig. The SRX is everything a traditional SUV isn't (except for the gas-guzzling part), a crisp handling, no-compromise sports wagon that happens to look like an SUV.

LOL. Coincidence--the car that this SRX replaced was a Chevrolet Blazer. Favorable comparisons are easy.

[Tomko]

Thanks for this.

[Buick61]

Oh, and now that fancy, beautiful trick hidden glove compartment (behind the wood veneer) is inoperable.

Can I get a "Woooooooooooooooooooooo Cadillac quality!"?