2014 Cadillac SRX Luxury Crossover Review

Every segment of the auto industry has a secret champion, and the 2014 Cadillac SRX can lay claim to that title when looking at mid-size luxury crossovers.  Since the current generation debuted in 2010 the Cadillac SRX has quietly moved well over 50,000 units every single year, holding a slight lead over luminaries like the Acura MDX and absolutely eclipsing rivals like the BMW X5. 

And yet the SRX goes largely uncelebrated as it continues to fill middle class driveways and crowd carpool lanes across the country, which is a shame given what this well-priced and practical crossover brings to the table.  Although it's due for a refresh in a year or two, the Cadillac SRX is still worth investigating should you be in the market for a comfortable family ride.

The 2014 Cadillac SRX base model features an MSRP of $37,605 when found with front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive is available as an option with all other trim levels).  This entry-level edition offers a fair amount of standard equipment, including parking assistance, keyless entry, imitation leather seats, a power driver's seat, cruise control, the CUE vehicle interface, the OnStar telematics system, dual automatic climate control, a CD player, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a reclining rear seat.  Moving up to the front-wheel drive SRX Luxury trim (MSRP $43,640) adds a number of active safety features, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, a rearview camera, rain-sensitive wipers, a power passenger's seat, genuine leather hides throughout the cabin, a heated steering wheel and seat heaters up front, and adjustable pedals. 

The SRX Performance edition (MSRP $46,030) installs a stiffer suspension system (with adaptive dampers for all-wheel drive equipped models), 20-inch rims, a navigation system, a surround sound audio system, quicker steering, and adaptive HID headlights, while the SRX Premium (MSRP $48,920) includes all of the above plus even more safety equipment, cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and three zones of automatic climate control.

The vehicle I drove was a 2014 Cadillac SRX Premium with all-wheel drive and the Drive Assist package (automatic collision mitigation front and rear, adaptive cruise control).  The total price for my test vehicle listed at $54,125.

What’s New:

• The 2014 Cadillac SRX does not introduce any new design cues.

The 2014 Cadillac SRX pulls off a muted imitation of the brashness associated with the brand's other people mover, the Escalade.  You get the large tail lights, jutting chrome grille, and chromed 'side vents' that serve as a link between the two models, but the rest of the SRX serves as a more conservative backdrop for these elements, reducing their in-your-face impact and creating a welcoming visage for the crossover.  The Cadillac still stands out in a crowd, but not as the result of any gimmickry - rather, its tall-wagon stance and strong angles do most of the talking.

The interior palette of the Cadillac SRX offers a mix of the traditional and the cutting edge, with the chrome-accented obsidian center stack associated with the CUE interface's touch panels framed by twin arches of light-toned leather underneath a darker-hued leather dash.  Door panels feature a similarly pleasing combination of hues, and the vehicle's steering wheel includes CUE-related buttons alongside the twin joysticks used when navigating the gauge panel's configurable LCD screen.  A straightforward shifter sticking up out of the center console completes the SRX's cockpit package.

What’s New:

• The 2014 Cadillac SRX does not introduce any new comfort or cargo features.

The 2014 Cadillac SRX Premium is definitely skewed towards absorbing rough pavement rather than providing the kind of taut suspension reflexes that would bounce it from one pothole to another.  This is a pleasing state of affairs for all riding within the SRX's confines, as few Cadillac crossover customers are pining for high performance handling and will be perfectly content with what the SRX brings to the table. 

Throw in the ability to recline the rear seat for additional passenger room, comfortable thrones up front, and a cargo area that can expand to 61 cubic feet, and the Cadillac stands firm as an all-around useful vehicle.  It's also worth mentioning the configurable cargo gate that can be used to keep your groceries upright at the rear of the SRX, as well as the noise-canceling system that transparently works through the stereo in order to render the cabin as quiet as possible.

What’s New:

• The 2014 Cadillac SRX does not introduce any new features or controls.

The Cadillac User Experience system (CUE) has been targeted again and again by reviewers and customers who are dissatisfied with its lack of responsiveness as well as its reliance on touch surfaces on the center stack rather than buttons or dials.  It's irritating to have to slide a finger left or right to raise or lower the volume of the stereo, especially if you aren’t sure whether you're pressing hard enough to get CUE to notice.  There are other aspects of CUE that I liked, however, including the way the system reacts to the presence of your hand, pre-touch on the LCD screen, to display additional icons and menu items.  With some more tweaking - via the addition of back-up buttons on the stack - I think CUE could gain greater acceptance.

What’s New:

• The 2014 Cadillac SRX does not introduce any new safety equipment.

One area where the 2014 Cadillac SRX stands tall is active safety.  There's a significant amount of protective gear that can be stuffed into the SRX, whether as part of an options package or bundled in with a specific trim level.  The SRX Premium model that I drove featured lane departure warning and forward collision warning standard, with their various vibrations being transmitted through GM's excellent Safety Alert Seat that lets you know spatially exactly where a potential threat is located.

You can get these features with other models of the SRX by ordering the Driver Awareness package.  In addition there's the Driver Assist package, which was outfitted on my tester and which incorporates automatic braking front and rear to prevent collisions.  Luxury trim and above crossovers get a blind spot monitoring system, while all Cadillac SRXs feature a full complement of airbags along with electronic traction control and stability control.

2014 Cadillac SRX Crash-Test Ratings: The Cadillac SRX enjoys an IIHS rating of 'Good' or 'Superior' in every important crash test category, while the NHTSA rates the SRX five out five stars in overall crash test safety.

What’s New:

• The 2014 Cadillac SRX maintains the previous year's drivetrain options.
• All-wheel drive is no longer available with the base model crossover.

All versions of the 2014 Cadillac SRX are motivated by the same 3.6-liter, 306 horsepower V-6 engine.  Also capable of producing 265 lb-ft of torque, this unit is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission and can be had with all-wheel drive as an option for all but the entry-level edition of the crossover.  Fuel mileage for the front-wheel drive edition of the SRX is listed at 17-mpg in stop and go driving and 24-mpg on the highway, while the all-wheel drive model lops off a single mile per gallon for each respective measure.

The 2014 Cadillac SRX offers a pleasant and relaxed driving experience, with much credit going to the model's V-6 engine.  In a world where turbocharged four-cylinders are steadily taking over at the entry-level, the 3.6-liter unit in the SRX provides responsive torque delivery minus the frenzied build of a forced-induction mill.  It would be a stretch to call the SRX peppy, as the vehicle's SUV-like curb weight keeps it from leaping forward with the requisite authority, but it's by no means a slow performer and holds its own in traffic.  You'll notice from the previous section that the Cadillac's weight also informs its fuel mileage - the SRX is far from the most frugal option one could select at its price point, and while it won't cripple you at the pump, it will definitely put more of a dent in your monthly budget than a smaller, lighter crossover.

Of course, opting for a smaller SUV wouldn't afford the same level of stability and confident cruising imparted by the Cadillac SRX's wheelbase, either, which make it a great partner on long highway treks.  And despite its heftier stats on the scales, the SRX doesn't impart all that much of a handling penalty, as the vehicle's cornering capabilities are well within the class average.  Suspension tuning, as mentioned earlier, is on the softer side, but in the luxury segment this is an unexpected bonus for those tired of having their bones rattled by performance-oriented haulers.  For the vast majority of buyers, the ability to skim through a slalom with the grace of an Olympic athlete is trumped by a smooth ride and the presence of traction-adding all-wheel drive that will get you through the winter months without drama, and that's exactly what's offered by the Cadillac SRX.

The 2014 Cadillac SRX provides luxury shoppers with a winning formula composed of equal parts adequate power, a roomy interior with a reasonable exterior footprint, and a strong safety quotient.  The fact that even four years after its most recent redesign this crossover is still consistently flying off of dealer lots speaks volumes about how happy SRX customers are with this stylish yet unpretentious automobile.  The Cadillac's ability to satisfy the needs of daily driving and provide class without bluster speaks to a significant portion of premium crossover buyers, and if you're looking for an attractive family ride, you need to add it to your test drive list.

Pros:

• Excellent complement of advanced safety features
• Attractive styling that's not over the top
• Adequate V-6 power
• Available all-wheel drive
• Reasonably affordable
• Comfortable ride

Cons:

• Acceleration is average
• Fuel mileage impacted by heavy curb weight
• CUE system can be frustrating to use
• No all-wheel drive option for base models

GM Canada supplied the vehicle for this review.