2014 Cadillac SRX View and Review

2014 Cadillac SRX Review

The 2014 Cadillac SRX is the uniquely American pick among luxury crossovers; and its interior appointments and class-leading technology don’t disappoint.

• Interior / Exterior »

Like much of the Cadillac lineup, the 2014 SRX is chiseled and squared-off at the corners, with a look that’s distinctive, and really different than anything else on the market if you go by design details. Inside especially, the SRX is a striking outlier, with details and an overarching design that are uniquely Cadillac.



Even if it doesn’t carry the swept-back, long-hooded proportions of Cadillac’s sedans—or quite enough of the panache and presence of the brawny Escalade, in our opinion. It fits in just enough with other luxury crossovers on the outside.
Compared to the top seller in the class, the Lexus RX 350, the SRX looks less cookie-cutter, with strongly sculpted, dramatic sides to complement the sharp front and rear appearance. Although the proportions aren’t beautiful, there’s absolutely no boring angle.
Relatively short front and rear overhangs, vertically stacked headlights, and a trapezoidal chrome grille give the right level of detailing to match. Especially of note is the powerful character line that runs from the trailing edge of the front wheel well through to the taillight lens, while the tail lamps themselves extend—to aerodynamic advantage—like vestigal tailfins. An integrated spoiler on the rearward edge of the roof also extends the sleek lines and further improves aerodynamics; although we see the exposed rear wiper, which could have been tucked underneath, to be a design miss on a luxury vehicle. This year, the eighteen-inch wheels have been redesigned, and 20-inchers are offered; illuminated sill plates and piped lighting are among the touches of class.
Last year Cadillac revamped the interior, where all the models received the brand’s CUE interface; essentially, it replaced the old layout with an eight-inch capacitive touch screen front and center, with slick proximity sensing and slider controls for some features. Combine that with the hand-cut-and-sewn coverings on the instrument panel and ambient lighting and you have an environment that’s not only richly appointed but tech-forward.

• Performance »

We’ll call the 2014 Cadillac SRX confident, but not all that quick or inspiring—especially considering that it has a 308-horsepower engine under the hood.

Where does the fizz go? Part of the problem is that the SRX is geared quite tall, but the other issue is sheer weight; the 3.6-liter V-6 makes its peak torque at 2,400 rpm, so it’s a relaxed combination, but even with the responsive six-speed automatic transmission the SRX just isn’t that quick on its feet when a quick burst of power is needed. That said, in all-out acceleration, the SRX will make it to 60 mph in a respectable seven seconds—in the same ballpark as the Acura MDX, Lincoln MKX, or even Lexus RX 350.
You can get this vehicle with front- or all-wheel drive, and the all-wheel-drive models use a Haldex system with electronic limited-slip differential; the latter is a great choice for snowy climates and bad weather.

Sprightly and nimble are again not terms that really apply to the way the SRX handles either; it feels heavier than you might expect if you pitch it hard into a corner. It’s a bit disconcerting in that its center of mass feels higher (because of your seating height) even if it isn’t. But the hydraulic-assist power steering is weighted nicely, and unwinds as predictably as in most sport sedans, and the powertrain always feels refined–settling to an almost imperceptible purr at idle, while it revs with a silky tenor, and none of the intake gurgle and whoosh of GM V-6s of the not-so-distant past. One criticism is that the brakes tend to feel spongier than we’d like, and the impression is cemented with significant nosedive.

Larger wheels usually tend to make the ride worse, and they don’t always improve handling; but the 20-inch wheels are fine here. We recommend the optional FE3 suspension, with an active suspension and Continuous Damping Control, which reads the road and other inputs, adjusting every two milliseconds.
The 2014 Cadillac SRX has a chiseled, gleaming exterior that fits right in with that of the Escalade SUV, and its daring interior style follows closely in the footsteps of the GM luxury brand’s contemporary sedans. Yet as the more carlike crossover utility vehicle in the luxury brand’s lineup, it’s something quite different.
Compared to its top-selling rival, the Lexus RX 350, the SRX is a striking outlier, inside especially, even if it doesn’t carry the swept-back, long-hooded proportions of those sedans—or quite enough of the panache and presence of the brawny Escalade, in our opinion. It fits in with other luxury crossovers on the outside, while the details and the overarching design of its interior make it its uniquely Cadillac.
Cadillac has kept the interior contemporary with some fresh trim and material combinations each year, and 2014 is no exception. This year there’s a new trio of exterior colors—Graphite Metallic, Terra Mocha Metallic and Sapphire Blue Metallic—while there’s a new Caramel interior with Ebony accents.

Among Cadillac models, the SRX is perhaps the one most focused more toward space and versatility than performance. Although the interior has just two rows of seating, there’s ample space for five, with well-contoured seats front and back—plus extendable thigh bolsters in front and what most adults will find to be a great seating height. A new active noise cancellation system introduced last year uses a microphone to detect ambient noise and counteracts harshness; with it or not, the SRX cabin is a very quiet, comfortable place for the commute or a long road trip.
Power for all SRX models comes from a 308-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine, with a six-speed automatic transmission. You can get this vehicle with front- or all-wheel drive, and the all-wheel-drive models use a Haldex system with electronic limited-slip differential; the latter is a great choice for snowy climates and bad weather. Overall, though, the SRX isn’t as quick or nimble as you might guess for this size of a vehicle with more than 300 hp; that’s because of rather tall gearing and a hefty 4,500-pound curb weight. The engine makes its peak torque at 2,400 rpm, so the setup is relaxed enough, and the dash to 60 mph takes just seven seconds. It’s from a standing start, or in passing maneuvers where the SRX doesn’t feel as quick on its feet as the Acura MDX, Lincoln MKX, or even Lexus RX 350.

The 2014 SRX remains at the front of its class for safety, whether you judge that on occupant safety or active measures. It’s earned top five-star ratings from the federal government as well as Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS; and last year Cadillac added an array of radar-, camera-, and sensor-based safety systems, including adaptive cruise control, cross traffic alert, a safety alert seat, and automatic front and rear braking assist. For 2014 Cadillac has added its Intellibeam headlamps as part of the Driver Awareness Package.
The SRX has one of the most advanced instrument panels on the market, with the CUE infotainment system included across the model line; it includes enhanced steering-wheel and instrument-panel controls, plus an eight-inch capacitive screen interface with proximity sensing—giving you more options only as your hands approach. The touch-based controls feature both haptic feedback and proximity sensing technology to ensure consumers know when a command has been registered. And the touch-screen is motorized and can flip up to reveal a hidden storage cubby. CUE can pair up to ten Bluetooth devices, and incorporates all the latest technology including standard HD radio, Bluetooth audio streaming.
Luxury Collection, Performance Collection and Premium Collection models add many more features, including three-zone climate control; adaptive forward lighting that swivels the headlamps in sync with vehicle steering; a power liftgate with adjustable height setting; and a dual-screen video system for rear entertainment.
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