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:

    Roadside Service (U.S. and Canada)
    U.S.: 1-800-224-1400 Canada: 1-800-882-1112. Text Telephone (TTY) Users (U.S. Only): 1-888-889-2438. Service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calling for Service When callin ...

    Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
    Metric English This gauge measures the temperature of the vehicle's engine. If the indicator needle moves into the shaded area, the engine is too hot. While driving under normal op ...

    Cruise Control Messages
    CRUISE SET TO XXX MPH (KM/H) This message displays whenever the cruise control is set. See Cruise Control for more information. ...