2010 Cadillac SRX

2010 Cadillac SRX

Episode 2912 , Episode 2928
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

With all the success Cadillac has had in transforming itself into a world-class rival to European and Asian luxury marques, one notable exception has been the SRX Crossover utility. Now the first gen 2004 SRX just never caught the attention of upper income households. Now, SRX has been totally rethought. And the result is a smaller, sharper, more standout design. So let’s see if the second time is a charm.
 
The new generation 2010 Cadillac SRX luxury crossover utility cuts a significantly different swath than the original. For one thing, it’s smaller, losing a little more than five inches in wheelbase, and a little less than five inches in length. That makes the new SRX much closer to its targeted rival, the Lexus RX.

But, thanks to Cadillac’s edgy styling, the new SRX comes off bolder and more muscular than the Lexus. Up front is a shield grille, flanked by Cadillac’s signature vertical headlamps with available adaptive swivel lighting.

The SRX’s profile is dynamic, accentuated by short windows, side vents, and a fast-moving upward-swept accent line.

Out back, the raring-to-go look is extended by a roof spoiler and dual chrome exhaust tips.

Wheels are pushed to the corners, in either 18-inch or 20-inch.

Something else that has changed on the new SRX is cabin capacity. From seven it has dropped to five, again the same as the Lexus RX. But what a cabin they will ride in. The SRX interior styling mixes elegance with energy, with a hand-crafted look and fit and finish that is the best ever from a domestic brand.

Gauges and controls are displayed in a logical yet sophisticated manner.  The wide center stack is home to an available 3D navigation system that rises from the top of the panel.

Other goodies include an available back-up camera, a Bose 10-speaker stereo system, and an integrated hard disk drive for audio storage.

Seats are fitted with soft leather. They are plush and very supportive with standard 8-way power for the driver and optional heat.

There is ambient lighting by night, and—if you choose—sunlight by day through Cadillac’s latest panoramic sunroof.

The rear seating area is ample space for three adults, with a welcomed two extra inches of legroom over its Lexus rival. The split bench has a center armrest and it also reclines, though the control is hard to reach.

The angled rear of the SRX cuts cargo room compared to its rival. Still, 29 cubic feet seats up, and 61 cubic feet seats down is within class specs. Plus, a flexible “U-rail” adjustable tie-down system and under-floor storage make it very versatile—all reached by an adjustable height power tailgate that is standard on all but the base model.

Under the hood, more big changes for the SRX. The previous V6 and V8 powertrains have been replaced by smaller more efficient designs. Standard is a new direct-injected 3.0-liter V6 with 265 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque. Optional is a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6, good for 300 horses and 296 pound-feet of torque.

Each ties to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode. The turbo adds an “eco mode” which alters shift points to optimize fuel economy.

While the 3.0 has adequate response for a 4500-pound crossover, our 2.8T tester delivered a strong launch, with a fast power build.  Shifts are well-spaced and solid all the way up the ladder. We find a 7.6-second 0 to 60 very respectable.

Power is relegated to the front or to all four wheels through a sophisticated Haldex transfer case that is standard with the 2.8T. For optimal traction and balance, it can transfer up to 100% of torque front to back, and up to 85% side-to-side at the rear.

The SRX rides on an all-new chassis that is not shared with other GM crossovers. All-wheel-drive integrates with an available real-time damping system for a high degree of cornering prowess. We found the SRX to be very agile and quick-footed on both city streets and fast country sweepers, feeling more drivers’ car than crossover.

Ditto the brakes, with ABS, vented disc, and two-piston front calipers.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the SRX 2.8 Turbo are estimated at a modest 16 city/21 highway on premium gas.  We saw only 16.8 miles per gallon in real-world driving. 

SRX pricing begins over six grand less than last year, and lower than rival RX. Base is $34,155, with the 2.8T expected to sticker at just under fifty thousand.

The 2010 Cadillac SRX is a huge improvement, and now more clearly targeted towards its luxury-crossover rivals. It has the potential of doing for Cadillac crossovers what the CTS did for their sedans. But, quantum leap or not, it’s now a real charmer.

Specifications

  • Engine: 2.8-Liter Turbocharged V6
  • Horsepower: 300
  • Torque: 296 Lb Feet
  • 0-60 MPH: 7.6 Seconds
  • EPA: 16 MPG City/ 21 MPG Highway
  • Mixed Loop: 16.8 MPG
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance 1

2024 Audi RS 7 Performance

Up For Grand Touring Around A Racetrack

Episode 4329
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

In recent years, Audi has done an increasingly better job at merging luxury, high tech and sportiness equally into all of their vehicles, but that doesn’t mean they all have the same priorities. So, if you’re wondering what this car is all about… well, it’s right there in the name, the Audi RS 7 Performance!

First and foremost, the 2024 Audi RS 7 Performance is absolutely fantastic looking. A gorgeous car from all angles. But this posh performer is a lot more than just a visual treat. Under its silky skin lies a menacing sounding V8 that delivers insane amounts of power and, as we discovered, a gloriously intoxicating driving experience.

RS elements added to Audi’s S7 five-door coupe include new aero treatments with a matte gray finish and silver 21-inch Audi Sport wheels. Those silver wheels are wrapped with 275 Continental summer performance tires and allow for seeing plenty of the enormous brake rotors with black-painted calipers. Up front, there’s a wide grille inhaling all kinds of air and headlights with uniqueness that’s pure Audi. This five-door coupe with frameless door windows speaks a true hardtop design.

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Now that we’ve gotten that out of our system, time to hit the corners of Savannah’s Roebling Road Raceway, and it’s been quite some time since we’ve had anything here or on any road course that exhibited this much body roll. It didn’t matter what drive mode we had dialed in, it just liked to roll. You could sense that soft suspension in our acceleration runs too. Bystanders got a clear view of a lot of its hardware, thanks to major rear-end squatting as it exploded off the line. Those explosions resulted in a quick 3.7-second trip to 60 miles-per-hour and full quarter-mile runs of 11.9 seconds at 118 miles-per-hour. Fast indeed, though we’re sure both times would improve in warmer temps than our 40-degree test day.

Drive modes have been recalibrated and shifts by the eight-speed Tiptronic in Dynamic Mode are quick. Indeed, noticeably quicker and firmer than in the RS6 wagon we tested just a few months ago without the “performance” treatment. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard.

We’ve never experienced a car that can feel this soft yet was absolutely point-and-shoot through corners.

The driving force for that acceleration is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 cranking out an additional 30 horsepower from the standard RS 7 thanks to installing bigger turbos. That makes for a 621-horsepower rating, with an even more impressive boost in torque from 590 to 627 lb-ft. And Audi was kind enough to remove a little sound deadening material so we can appreciate it even more through the optional RS sport exhaust system.

For what is really a Grand Tourer built for blasting you away on luxurious adventures, the RS 7 performance is amazingly track capable. Steering is very direct with great feel, and all four wheels are engaged in the process. They’re connected to a new mechanical self-locking center differential that is not only capable of handling the additional power but is lighter and quicker to respond. Chassis software has been recalibrated to make it all work together seamlessly. There must be some serious engineering wizardry happening in the RS-tuned air suspension as we’ve never experienced a car that can feel this soft yet was absolutely point-and-shoot through corners. Brakes were truly phenomenal too; there was some significant nosedive happening, but no wandering or fading no matter how hard we worked them.

And yes, it’s hard to call this actual work, considering this work environment is far from hostile. Absolutely nothing has been compromised when it comes to delivering the luxury car experience you expect from a six-figure Audi. Whether it’s the fabulous real metal, leather, and detailed woven carbon-fiber materials or the fine stitch-work and the always impressive comprehensive digital gauge display, the RS 7 performance feels truly special inside.

2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Dash
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Shifter
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Seat
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Trunk
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Engine
2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Dash2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Shifter2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Seat2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Trunk2024 Audi RS 7 Performance Engine

The front seats were supremely comfortable and were only mildly bolstered yet held us in place just fine out on the track. Plenty of room for rear seat passengers too, and there’s even a great 24.6 cubic-feet of cargo space with hatchback versatility. Less practical is all touchscreen all the time for just about every cockpit control.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 14 City, 22 Highway, and 17 Combined. That’s a below average Energy Impact Score of 17.5 barrels of yearly oil use with 8.8 tons of CO2 emissions.

Pricing starts at $129,490, and Audi knows they have a good thing going with the RS 7 performance; so much so, it’s now the only RS 7.

So, could they have just made the RS 7 better instead of tacking “performance” onto the name? Sure, but there’s just something about adding performance to a car name that draws people in. And when it backs it up by delivering more actual performance, well, that’s what we call a win-win. We’d be happy to run some victory laps in the 2024 Audi RS 7 Performance anytime.

Specifications

  • Engine: 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8
  • Horsepower: 621
  • 0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds
  • EPA: 14 City | 22 Highway | 17 Combined
  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic
  • Torque: 627 lb-ft.
  • 1/4 Mile: 11.9 seconds at 118 mph
  • Starting Price: $129,490