With the first-generation Cadillac SRX struggling to make gains in the luxury crossover segment since its debut in 2004, General Motors decided to give the 2010 Cadillac SRX a complete makeover right down to the very layout of the vehicle. Sharp, well-proportioned body work rides on a new platform, leading the new SRX to share very little with its previous incarnation.The first-gen SRX's rear-drive layout was ditched for a more compact, crossover style front-drive setup with available all-wheel drive. Now 4.8-inches shorter in length, this transformation dropped cargo space by 8.3 cubic-feet and eliminated the third row seats as well as significant amounts of rear-seat legroom.
The V-8 engine option is also gone, replaced by two V-6 engines, one of them turbocharged for higher performance.Despite its smaller size, the 2011 SRX sheds only a token amount of weight. That weight is a liability for the smaller V-6 powertrains as well as in the handling department, making the SRX feel slower than it really is. Though stylish, the new vehicle still lags slightly behind the competition in quality and fit and finish. Despite this, it resides on the pricier end of the segment especially as options are added.
