Cadillac SRX test drive since 2009 SUV
Cadillac SRX test: hang over the ocean
In order to evaluate the new Cadillac SRX as objectively as possible, Kolesa.ru offered to ride an employee of the editorial office who had traveled only to Americans all his life. The second driver of Caddy was the deputy head of Kolesa.ru, in the garage of which there was not a single car due to the ocean Igor Zinkovsky, loves American cars:
Cadillac is a cherished word for an amateur of American cars, which I have been firmly related to for a long time. Finally, the SRX test day came, which I waited a whole week.
The appearance of the SRX is in the corporate style of CADDY of the present, a sort of angular high -tech. Angle - for Americans, Haytek - for Europe. So SRX on the one hand is replete with corners and even a hint of branded Cadillakovo wings, imitated by rear lights, and on the other ass, the car was flattened by making a large European hatch from an American catafalk.
Inside there is a leather steering wheel, adjustable in inclination and departure, and a shifted torpedo, and microlyffs on both front seats, and a separate climate (in minimal configuration, however, 2-hazing). But the main thing in SRX is American spacious to all passengers, regardless of where they are sitting and who is in front of them.
There are few complaints about the cabin. In essence, this is the absence of an eyelet, not a very successful location of the hood handle (it is exactly above the catwalk for the rest of the left leg) - there is a chance to hurt, the absence of a large niche under the trunk floor (at least there are small ones), a non -fixed longitudinal movement of the armrest, a glove compartment, which opens not otherwise Like a passenger on his knees. Read readability of all devices and the fact that the steering wheel and seat are easily tuned.
Hurray, lateral support appeared in the Americans! This, of course, is not racing buckets, but I sit tight, I won’t eat anywhere. The front American sofa is great, but times are changing, the speeds and manner of driving are changing, so such Europeanization is even happy.
So, sat comfortably, I look into the rear view mirrors. There is plenty of prospecting there, even in dead areas. And when revealing the mirrors, they begin to show where the rear wheels go. Very relevant for configuration without a rear view camera ... The computer did not find the function of blocking the doors at speed or after turning on Drive. It is unlikely that anyone wants to go out at speed, but for the sake of maintaining things (and we’ll look into the eyes of reality) during a stop at the intersections, it would be better if the doors still clung.
Surprises begin from the first meters of movement. To begin with, the brake pedal is too lifted by the gas pedal. Only the entire pedal node is adjusted, so you have to get used to lifting your leg when braking.
Acceleration does not occur immediately, and for sharp maneuvers you will have to learn to stomp on the trigger. For the time I pressed the pedal, and the box realized that it was given a low start, then under the powerful roar of the motor it was necessary to hold on to the wheel more tightly - SRX can accelerate. By the way, even sports does not save the machine from a second hitch before active actions. The question here is whether the situation requires sharp actions on the road while you press the pedal or whether you will constantly keep the car in the sports transmission algorithm
I had to pay for the brutal look with a review. Wide arches and flattened feed nullify all attempts to look at what is happening from behind a little further than the rear -view mirrors can show.
As soon as Cadillac is on a wide even road and you can safely burn on the accelerator, all doubts about what this machine is done for. The suspension for the American was surprisingly tough, no rolls with sharp restructures and turns, goes exactly where it is steering. True, the fee for this is a kick under the back of a lying policeman at the supermarket that will have to endure, there are no suspension settings in this machine. The conditional driver of Tahoe, moving to SRX, would be surprised to learn that in our city there are holes
For driving around the city, I would not take SRX, but the track is his element, there he is justified. Moreover, now it is the only Luxury Crossover, represented in our market by American manufacturers. And neither Linkoln Mkt nor Buick Enclave are expected with us.
Meanwhile, a feeling of disappointment remains in the soul. Technical flaws can be forgiven, the response of the pedals can be corrected or used to get used to it. The problem is different: I wanted the new Caddy to surprise something so that there was something like that in it, which is related to it with the legendary dinosaurs. But SRX is clearly aimed at European sales markets and is made so that the Europeans are not afraid of it. Excess evidence is that the V8 will not be on this car ...
Alexander Korobchenko, does not like American cars: I have never been a potential client for Americans in general and for Cadillac in particular. I am not pleased that these cars can drive only in a straight line and spend half a bacon of fuel on the way to the nearest gas station
But I like the new SSERICS. If the previous model was like a low, universal version of Escalade, then the new one is made based on the brand sedans, and rather resembles a large hatchback than the station wagon.
The SRX salon is also not bad. True, dark finishes with silver plastic do not complicate with wooden inserts on the steering wheel in the checkpoint selector. But the salon is finished with the skin pleasant to the touch, and the front panel is soft (it would not have been like that). The seat is adjustable in all possible directions, even the pedals can be pulled-pushed. There are plenty of spaces for the rear passengers: three adults will be able to get comfortable, and without the risk of touching their heads the ceiling (and this despite the slim roof than in the last generation).
My trip on the previous SRX was remembered by the fact that after one sharp braking (I wanted to see the ability of the car urgently stopping) SRX pecked so much with my nose that it seemed to me that the rear wheels were about to break and we would stand on the front bumper, polishing the license plate of asphalt . If you just don't catch the roof
The new Cadillac does not resemble that catafal. Even in the version for the home region. He is still assimilating assertive (if you press the gas and wait a second). But he no longer avoids turns; Yes, the reactions to the turn of the steering wheel are still leisurely, but at least the car no longer cries on the right side, when the steering wheel is already tilted to the left, and the longitudinal storage during acceleration and stop is not at all alarming as on the previous model .
Caddy presented another surprise on a lying policeman, which I moved, deliberately without stopping (why, is it an American?!). But instead of quietly overwhelming unevenness, SRX sprinkled nervously, in turn, throwing the front or rear axle. And all due to the fact that there are 20-inch wheels and ordinary shock absorbers in the test car, while in Russian SRX there will be Magnetic Ride Control racks with variable rigidity. It turns out that our cadillacs are more comfortable than American?! Under the gray hood of the SRX is a new 3.0-liter V6, available in the standard version. It is possible that later a more powerful 2.8-liter turbo engine will appear, but so far the orders are not accepted for them. The 265-horsepower atmospheric is faithful to the principles of Cadillac: to harness for a long time and quickly go. Everything is as before: the selector in the drive, pressed the pedal, waited, went. Need to accelerate? Pressed, waited again, rushed ...
And the sound of the motor is good! It sounds thoroughly, but higher than, say, Porsche Cayenne, although with an equally pleasant timbre.
I did not change my mind; SRX car is still not for me. Although Cadillac moves in the right direction: the angular facets are gradually rounded, handling is honed, the body is increasingly stood on turns and braking. Only positioning in the premium segment obliges to compete with very strong rivals, and before them it seems to me, Cadillac still needs to grow. Both equipment and technical component
We liked it in Cadillac SRX
Good handling and stability on the road for an American; assertive, powerful acceleration; Excellent sound exhaust
We didn't like Cadillac SRX
Suspension rigidity when overcoming irregularities, automatic thoughtfulness, price
Competitors of Cadillac SRX in the Russian market
Infiniti FX45
Lexus RX350
The car was provided by Atlant-M Lakhta, an official Cadillac dealer.
Photo: Roman Ostanin
Source: Wheel magazine [October 2010]
