2016 Cadillac SRX Premium Collection: Fancy Enough?
Guest Contributor
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Is the 2016 Cadillac SRX premium enough?
When my father drove a Cadillac, it was the best of the best. Before fancy imports hit the US, a Cadillac was what you drove to impress.
So I had a lot of expectations when I slid behind the wheel of the 2016 Cadillac SRX Premium Collection. The luxury midsize crossover has fabulous curb appeal: a crystal red tintcoat which is an optional paint job that added almost a grand to the price, but truly made it stand out. And the 20 inch polished wheels made the car sparkle even more.
Not as special inside
The heated steering wheel is one of the luxury touches. Credit: Kim Orlando for AGirlsGuidetoCars
I was not as taken with the interior of the SRX. This is the last year of the SRX, Cadillac’s top selling model (even though the brand is known for its sedans) will be replaced by the XT5 in 2017. So while the seats were comfortable, they weren’t $60,000 comfortable, and I didn’t get the extra frisson of being in a luxe vehicle.
Did the Miami Auto Show spoil me?
I was in Florida to visit my son and attend the Miami Auto Show, so perhaps the overabundance of luxury vehicles made the SRX stand out less. We are in the market for a new 5 passenger car so having a private tour of the show was a great way to see a lot of new vehicles at once.
Tri-climate zone for everyone’s comfort. Credit: Kim Orlando for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Some features of the Cadillac SRX were perfect for being in the south. A power sunroof let the sun stream in, and a cargo shade meant that whatever I stored in the roomy cargo area didn’t overheat. Rain sensing wipers were ideal for sudden rain storms; no searching for the wiper switch.
That doesn’t mean the vehicle isn’t designed for cold weather dwellers. The SRX has heated front and rear seats (and cooled front seats), heated steering wheel and heated, power folding side view mirrors. There is tri-climate zone control, so the driver, front passenger and rear passengers can all choose their settings.
All the latest tech
The navigation system was too confusing. Credit: Kim Orlando for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Standard equipment on the SRX includes: adaptive remote start, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, intelligent high beams that automatically dim when another car approaches, side and rear cross traffic alerts and front and rear parking assist. The crossover I drove also includes an optional driver assist package with adaptive cruise control and front and rear automatic braking.
Too loud for luxury
There’s lots of room in the Cadillac SRX. Credit: Kim Orlando for AGirlsGuidetoCars
One place where luxury vehicles stand out in their pampering is the cocoon of silence. Drivers – and passengers – in these expensive cars want to feel soothed and cosseted. But I thought the SRX was loud; it sounded more like a truck. The Cadillac comes standard with a Bose surround sound system and Sirius XM that could drowned out the ride noise but that is not what I expected from this brand.
Rear seat passengers didn’t have to listen to the same music; a separate rear seat entertainment system meant kids could watch movies or play games.
Plenty of space, easy to configure
The back seat comfortably holds three passengers; the rear entertainment system keeps them happy. Credit: Kim Orlando for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Five passengers fit comfortably in the Cadillac, and the 60/40 split folding seat and programmable power liftgate lets you carry oversize cargo easily.
Frustrated with the navigation system
The included navigation system is not intuitive and I had trouble adding addresses manually or with the voice control. What saved me was the OnStar system, where I could push a button and speak to someone who then sent directions directly to the nav system.
No matter where I parked, the car looked great. Credit: Kim Orlando for AGirlsGuidetoCars
What I loved
- Stunning exterior
- 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
- OnStar
- Power sunroof
- Programmable power liftgate
- Lots of the latest tech included
What you need to know
- Base price: $51,730; price for the model I drove, with rear seat entertainment system, driver assist package, special paint and tires, $58,305
- 15 mpg in the city, 23 on the highway; 18 mpg combined
- Takes regular fuel
- The SRX comes in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions; the model I drove had AWD
Note: Cadillac provided me with the 2016 Cadillac SRX for the purposes of this review; opinions expressed are my own.