Noise, Ride & Handling

Cadillac SRX / Reviews / 2011 Cadillac SRX Review / Noise, Ride & Handling

Road and wind noise are low, but you'll hear more adjacent traffic than I'd expect in a luxury crossover. The Lincoln MKX and GLK, to name a couple competitors, are superior in this regard.

With the 20-inch wheels on Performance and Premium trim levels, the SRX rides on the firmer side. All-wheel-drive Performance and Premium trims, including our test car, get a sport-tuned adaptive suspension. It soaks up stretches of uneven pavement well enough, but major disruptions — expansion joints, potholes — make for a lot of noise and movement. The RDX has similar characteristics, and the X3 and EX35 are firmer still. Other competitors, particularly the LR2 and MKX, ride smoother.

The front-wheel-drive SRX adopts softer suspension tuning — albeit with a fixed rather than adaptive setup. The base and Luxury SRX could be cushier still, thanks to their normal suspension tuning and 18-inch wheels with higher-series tires. If ride comfort is paramount, be sure to sample all three setups.

The steering wheel turns with light effort, but its sloppy turn-in precision doesn't encourage spirited cornering. Body roll, at least, seems contained. No matter the configuration, though, the SRX's 40.3-foot turning circle will have you making a lot of three- and four-point turns. It's one of the widest in this group.

    See also:

    Driving on Snow or Ice
    Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice can occur at about 0°C (32°F) when freezing rain begins to fall, resulting in ...

    STABILITRAK OFF
    This message displays when you turn off StabiliTrak, or when the stability control system has been automatically disabled. The TCS/StabiliTrak warning light on the instrument panel cluster al ...

    Underbody Maintenance
    Use plain water to flush dirt and debris from the vehicle's underbody. Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can do this. If not removed, rust and corrosion can develop. ...