To say the 2010 Cadillac SRX is among the nation’s most satisfying luxury crossovers just might be the automotive understatement of the year. The dynamic SRX roared to an incredible 783 percent sales gain in July, while sales through the first seven months of the year have increased by more than 530 percent. It’s clear evidence that the vehicle’s stellar combination of comfort, performance and efficiency is hitting the mark with today’s buyers. And now, potential customers have yet another important reason for choosing the SRX: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named it a 2010 “Top Safety Pick.”
The SRX had previously received top scores from the IIHS for front, side and rear crash protection, and was recently put through the organization’s new, more rigorous rollover-protection test—which it passed with flying colors. This is especially significant when you consider that the IIHS requires a vehicle’s roof to support more than four times the vehicle’s overall weight to earn a top rating.
Of course, safety isn’t this Cadillac’s only strong suit. When the SRX was completely redesigned for the 2010 model year, Cadillac engineers worked overtime to deliver a crossover that brought a new influx of emotion to the midsize luxury crossover segment. Thus, the SRX showcases a bold design, inside and out, and delivers a highly dynamic driving experience, courtesy of two impressive powertrain choices and an available, advanced all-wheel drive system.
The standard engine is a 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 that’s based on the same award-winning 3.6-liter V6 from the Cadillac CTS sport sedan. Delivering a robust 265 horsepower, this powerplant also features further advanced technology, like variable valve timing, to optimize both performance and fuel efficiency. Drivers who demand more power, but without sacrificing fuel economy, can opt for a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 with a peak output of 300 horsepower. As impressive as that is, the engine, derived from the refined powerplants found in GM’s European luxury vehicles, still achieves notable EPA numbers during everyday driving.
Further enhancing the SRX’s athletic driving capabilities is a cutting edge all-wheel-drive setup boasting an electronic limited-slip differential. The system can vary torque to all four wheels to ensure the one with the most traction gets the most torque.
“The all-new SRX injects emotion into a segment previously devoid of it,” said Steve Shannon, executive director of Cadillac marketing. “With new technologies for increased efficiency and safety, the redesigned 2010 SRX crossover aims at the heart of one of the industry’s strongest categories—the luxury crossover segment.”
And needless to say, it hits the bull’s-eye.
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