DALLAS, January 2, 2012 – It’s a Cadillac. That puts it automatically in the category of a luxury vehicle and a “must drive.” Jump in the driver’s seat to get a feel for the 2012 Cadillac SRX. It’s a snazzy crossover, comparable to the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK350, and Volvo XC60.
The Cadillac SRX is all about luxury.
Comfort is what one expects from the Cadillac moniker, and comfort is what the SRX delivers. And that comfort even comes with an eco mode.
For 2012, the folks at Cadillac made some important changes to the SRX, with the luxury aspect coming in big. It combines a quieter ride with a bigger engine and more horsepower.
Trim levels are base, luxury, performance and premium. The base model offers 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, roof rails, keyless entry, remote engine start, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, an eight-way power driver seat, a reclining and 60/40 split-folding rear seat, and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.
The luxury trim adds front and rear parking sensors, power-folding outside mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming, automatic wipers, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate with adjustable height, leather upholstery, driver seat adjustable thigh support, an eight-way power passenger seat, power-adjustable pedals, and both an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a rearview camera to the base package. Options for the luxury trim include a voice-activated navigation system and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.
For the performance trim, 20-inch alloy wheels are standard, as well as a sport-tuned suspension and adaptive dampers, xenon headlights, foglamps, and the option of digital music storage.
If you just have to have the top-of-the-line, then the premium trim has tri-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and rear seat audio controls.
Under the hood, the SRX comes with standard front wheel drive, but all wheel drive is also available. It has a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 265 pound feet of torque. Only a six-speed automatic is available in 2012.
Safety features include the standard antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side and side curtain airbags, and the popular OnStar system.
Folks who want comfort and style on the inside will love the 2012 Cadillac SRX, since the materials used inside are high-end, taking this car from the norm to overt luxury.
Of course, all the knobs and screens are positioned in just the right places too, but there are a number of adjustments to master. Once you have figured them out, though, everything is easy from there. In fact, you won’t know what to do with so many choices.
Fun behind the wheel, the SRX offers good handling, and the steering adapts easily and quickly to the driver’s needs.
Should You Need to Know: For tall folks sitting in the back, there is limited head room, so it’s a little tight; just be aware. It also takes a minute to get used to the visibility while driving the SRX. More Cadillac features to love on all but the base trim are a heated steering wheel and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with dual seatback-mounted screens.
Miles Per Gallon: The 2012 Cadillac SRX does not score the highest marks here, with 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles per gallon on the highway.
Cost: The AWD Premium trim I drove came in at $51,055.
Rita Cook is a writer/editor with has over 1000 articles to her credit in the past 13-plus years. She is a frequent auto and travel contributor on a radio show in Los Angeles called Insider Mag Radio at KPRO 1570 am on from midnight to 12:30 a.m. Monday mornings. She also contributes travel and auto to the Anthony Duva show, which can be heard live from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST every Sunday at www.unregularradio.com.
Cook is a member of the Texas Auto Writer’s Association, writes for the Dallas Morning News Green Living Section as well as artist profiles and www.greensourceDFW and spends much of her time on the road traveling or working on books. Her latest book releases are both “Haunted Dallas” and “Haunted Fort Worth” from www.historypress.net. You can also follow Cook at Twitter at @ritacook13.
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
