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Off-road
Don't laugh, because the 2004 Cadillac SRX is equipped with a sophisticated aluminum independent suspension employing Magnetic Ride Control (MRC), a system of shock absorbers filled with magnetically charged fluid that varies in viscosity depending on road conditions. Cadillac says that MRC damping levels are adjusted up to 1,000 times per second for optimum wheel control, ride quality and handling.
Helping the Cadillac SRX stick to the pavement are 17-inch wheels and tires on the V6 models and 18-inch rubber for V8 versions. And, just in case things do get a bit out of control, the latest version of StabiliTrak traction and stability control is standard.
Four-wheel-vented-disc ABS with Dynamic Rear Proportioning (DRP) is included on every Cadillac SRX, and speed-sensitive variable assist power steering guides the way.
Just because it's meant to be driven primarily on the pavement, don't assume that the SRX can't manage light off-roading. The all-wheel-drive system splits power in half between the front and rear axles during normal driving, apportioning more or less oomph fore and aft as wheel slippage dictates. Wheel travel measures a generous eight inches up front and ten inches in back, while a turning radius measuring less than 40 feet makes for relatively easy maneuvering.
Driving
Our test vehicle, equipped with the 4.6-liter V8 engine, was plenty of fun to drive, behaving just like a Cadillac CTS loaded down with passengers and cargo. From a dynamic standpoint, the 2004 SRX is clearly among the better performing SUVs on the market.
However, Cadillac still has some sorting to do when it comes to the hardware. While the engine supplies plenty of power, the transmission shifts smoothly at all times, and the exhaust note is delightfully throaty, we noticed that our test vehicle suffered an odd whining noise during part-throttle acceleration and that when making full-lock turns, such as when parking, the all-wheel-drive system exhibited a slight bit of binding and grinding. Don't expect great fuel economy if you choose the V8 - we averaged barely more than 12 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving, significantly lower than the EPA's 15 city and 20 highway rating.
It's too bad about the dismal fuel economy, because the 2004 Cadillac SRX inspires spirited driving. The brakes offer excellent pedal feel, and it's easy to squeeze just the right amount of pressure required for conditions. We experienced a hint of brake fade on the downhill portion of our mountainous twisty road.
Understeer
Not surprisingly, given that this is an SUV with a taller center of gravity than a sport sedan, the Cadillac SRX tends to understeer heavily when entering a turn too hot, and the body leans more than a typical passenger car. Quick steering inputs, such as when threading tight S-curves, results in significant and unnatural stiffening of the wheel just off-center. Drive the SRX with talent, getting into turns more slowly and smoothly, and you're rewarded with linear steering response and just the right amount of required effort. Furthermore, nicely balanced weight transitions allow the SRX to handle with surprising grace. Notably, the P255/55R18 Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 tires on our test vehicle uttered not a hint of howl or squeal no matter how ham-fisted we were at the helm.
Ride quality could use some work. Though we've found Cadillac's Magnetic Ride Control to be brilliant in some applications, here it struggles to manage the SRX's 4,500-pound weight. It doesn't soak up larger bumps so much as crash over them, and the SRX gets unsettled over longer stretches of broken pavement. Plus, on dips and whoop-de-doos, the suspension stiffens suddenly and unnaturally. This technologically advanced setup can't compete with the conventional yet brilliant, Nurburgring-tuned suspension on the Cadillac CTS sedan, which is too bad, because on smoother pavement the SRX's wheel and body control is exemplary for this kind of vehicle.
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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