Cadillac SRX test drive since 2005 SUV
We hit the "cadillac" on the off -road
Ten years ago it was impossible to imagine that all -wheel drive cars could appear in the Cadillac lineup. But the worldwide fashion for vehicles of high cross -country ability did not pass this brand. In 1998, sales of the first Cadillac in the history of the Escalade SUV began. However, Escalad is not a purebred Cadillac, but only a slightly modernized Chevrolet Tahoe. And in 2003, the long -awaited debut of the first all -wheel drive Cadillac of its own development took place. The new machine, called SRX, belongs to the category of crossovers of cars that occupy an intermediate position between all -wheel drive station wagons and real SUVs. The first machine of this class was the BMW X5, which debuted in 1999. The novelty was well accepted by customers, and soon many leading world manufacturers began to produce crossovers. Let's see if Cadillac SRX has any advantages compared to other machines of this class. The appearance of the SRX corresponds to the modern corporate identity Cadillac, which is called Art & Science. The founder of the new designer line was our compatriot Kip Vasenko. A distinctive feature of the Art & Science style is a combination of chopped shapes with the inclusion of elements that have sharp edges, which today is to a certain extent characteristic of aviation design.
As a result, SRX looks like a modern jet fighter. As you know, combat vehicles differ in classes. There are light fighters with a small radius of action, and there are heavy aircraft that can work at a considerable distance from the airfield. So, if we draw analogies with aviation, Cadillac SRX can be compared with a distant all -weather fighter.
SRX design is quite unusual. If you look in front, then an aggressive appearance is undergoing no doubt about us a real SUV. While at the sight of the side of the SRX more resembles a passenger station wagon. The back of the body looks elegant: the rear door and side windows are perceived as a whole. Spectacular rear lights with LEDs complement the picture.
It seems that when developing SRX design, artists sought to please all potential customers: those who like the off -road style more and those who like elegant cars. Moreover, the new Cadillac cannot be confused with cars of other brands. Its design is distinguished by a bright personality rare quality in our time, when many cars are similar to each other as twins.
The SRX salon is extremely spacious, able to accommodate seven people. Which is not surprising, because it has the longest wheelbase among 2957 mm crossovers. However, only four will be able to sit here. The average passenger in the back seat is interfered with a high central tunnel, and the third row pillow is too close to the floor of the body. However, it should be taken into account that only five passengers can accept the salons of most competitors of Cadillac. The seats of the third row of SRX are equipped with an electric drive, in a few seconds they can be removed flush with the floor floor. In addition, the cargo capabilities of the machine will increase if you completely or partially fold the armchairs of the middle row. Sitting behind the wheel of SRX, you immediately understand that this is a car for the driver. To moderately, hard front seats have good side support. It goes without saying that in a car of a similar class, the chairs are equipped with all kinds of adjustments. In addition, here, as in elite sports cars, the position of pedals can also be changed. The central console, following the example of BMW cars, is slightly deployed to the driver. SRX salon spacious and light. For an additional fee, you can install the UltraView company glass hatch with an electric drive, which occupies a fair part of the roof in area. If you move it completely back, then passengers of the first and second row will be able to enjoy fresh air.
Of course, it’s good when the car interior is spacious and convenient. However, a more significant characteristic of the SUV is the contents of the hood. A mighty motor of 4.6 l Northstar V8 with a capacity of 315 liters is installed on all SRX, focused on the European market. p., developing torque 418.5 nm. I must say that the design of this engine is very interesting. The first generation of Northstar engines was developed back in the mid-1970s, in the midst of the energy crisis. Their significant difference from other power plants was the possibility of turning off 2 or 4 cylinders at low loads, which made it possible to save fuel. In the latest generation of Northstar V8 VVT engines with variable phases of gas distribution, the cylinder shutdown function is saved, but it is intended for another purpose. Remember, at the beginning of the article we compared Cadillac SRX with a long -range fighter? And what quality is of paramount importance for military vehicles? That's right, combat vitality. Since SUVs are often exploited away from civilization, the ability to return them to the base with serious damage acquires no small importance. So, the disconnected cylinders on the latest Northstar engines are used to protect the power unit from overheating. In case of malfunction of the cooling system, electronics turn off 2 cylinders first, then, then, if the temperature continues to grow, if it does not help, then the remaining 4 working cylinders are cooled by the injection of gasoline. As a result, for some time the engine can operate without a coolant at all.
No less interesting is the technical solution of the design of the chassis of the SRX. An independent suspension is on the car, in front of double front levers, multi -link. A unique shock -absorbing system Magnetic Ride Control is used on the crossover. The principle of its work is as follows. Instead of oil, a special liquid with magnetic properties is used in shock absorbers. Depending on the nature of the road surface at the command of the on -board computer, its resistance changes, as a result of which an instant change in the rigidity of the suspension occurs.
Now the time has come to check how the newest technologies described above are in practice. First of all, the SRX acceleration dynamics are impressive: it accelerates to 100 km/h in less than 7 s. The maximum speed of the crossover is 228 km/h. A five -speed automatic gearbox with manual control function works almost perfectly, small delay, switching occur smoothly. When passing the turns of the SRX resembles sports sedans: the rolls are insignificant, the car holds a given path well. The brakes also work well. Just do not forget that the machine weighs nearly 2 tons, respectively, it will be slightly large than that of light cars.
In general, SRX can go very quickly, like a real sports car, but at the same time, in a calm driving mode, he behaves like a classic Cadillac. At a speed of 120 km/h, the crossover seems to swim over the road. Small irregularities are not transmitted to the body, in the cabin you can almost hear how the engine works, and fuel consumption in this mode does not exceed 1112 liters per 100 km.
SRX off -road capabilities in practice could not be evaluated, but by carefully studying the design of the machine, you can draw certain conclusions about its patency. The crossover has a traditional scheme of all -wheel drive, including a single -stage handout and a free center differential. There is no lowering gear, when slipping the wheel, electronics slows down. The geometric parameters of cross -country ability are medium, the front bumper is located quite low, the road clearance is 210 mm. The bottom of the car is smooth. It is difficult to tear anything off when overcoming obstacles. The SRX has a load -bearing body, and the pendant levers are made of light alloys. In general, we can conclude that the crossover is not designed for long -term work in conditions of serious off -road, and this is not required for cars of a similar class. It is unlikely that anyone will come to the head of buying Cadillac in order to use it in off-road raids. Nevertheless, with most obstacles that can meet in practice, the crossover will cope. Passing along Snezhnoye virgin lands or defeating several kilometers of a country road for him is not a problem. In general, SRX seems to be an ideal machine for everyday operation in Russian directions. How much does such a masterpiece of the American auto industry cost? The standard SRX configuration is estimated at 69 thousand dollars. As befits a real Cadillac, already in the base the crossover is very well equipped. Here are installed: front seats with electroregies in 8 directions, two-zone climate control, cruise control, parking, xenon headlights, a stereo system with a CD changer built into the CD-changer and Bose acoustics with 8 speakers.
For an additional fee, you can set the third -row seats with an electric drive ($ 1.3 thousand), a branded hatch in the roof of Ultra View (2.3 thousand dollars), an entertainment center for passengers of the back row of seats, which includes a DVD player, Liquid crystal screen, wireless headphones and control panel. With all possible options, the cost of SRX will be about 75 thousand dollars. As for all Cadillac cars, a branded warranty (3 years) is applied to SRX with a run of up to 100 thousand km.
Recently, quite a few new crossovers have appeared on the market. However, upon closer examination, it turns out that SRX has almost no competitors. The fact is that many companies do not produce crossovers with V8 engines, and BMW and Mercedes with such motors cost about 1.5 times more.
The SRX is closest to the price and technical characteristics of the Volkswagen Touareg V8. But this car is slightly smaller than Cadillac, its salon is able to accommodate only 5 people, and the accelerated dynamics is slightly worse (acceleration to 100 km/h takes 8.1 s, and the maximum speed is 218 km/h). In the basic version, Touareg V8 costs $ 77 thousand, which is about two thousand more expensive than Cadillac SRX in the most expensive configuration. Moreover, Volkswagen is significantly inferior to Cadillac in equipment: there are no electric drives and heating seats, there is no hatch in the roof, there is no cruise control, there is no DVD player. The only Touareg trump card is a significantly larger road clearance that is 245 mm, and in the option with a 300 mm air suspension.
