Cadillac SRX.(Product/Service Evaluation)

Highs | Ride, handling, acceleration, second-seat comfort, insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) offset-crash result. Lows | Small third-row seat, seat-mounted shoulder belts, some controls and switches.

The new Cadillac SRX, which achieved the highest overall score in this group, is quick, roomy, agile, and comfortable. The third-row seat, while small, folds flat into the cargo floor to maximize versatility and has a power option.

The interior fit and finish, however, aren't up to what we expect for a $50,000 vehicle. The seat-mounted front safety belts were uncomfortable for some of out drivers. Lack of lumbar adjustment and omission of a telescoping steering wheel are glaring oversights in this price range. We don't yet have reliability information on this new model.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The SRX provides a firm, comfortable ride. Impacts are muted and well-absorbed, and ride motions are steady and controlled. Wind and road noise are well suppressed.

The SRX corners with agility. Body lean is restrained, and the well-weighted steering is responsive. In our emergency handling tests, the SRX proved stable and easy to control. The brake lights go on when the stability-control system is activated, something we believe should be standard.

The smooth, strong 320-hp, 4.6-liter V8 was easily the quickest of the group. The responsive five-speed automatic transmission usually shifted smoothly Unlike the other vehicles in this group, the SRX has no low-range gearing for serious off-road driving. Its 16 mpg overall is ...