2006 Cadillac SRX Model Update

Spirited Sport Utility

Cadillac's car-based SRX is fun on the twisties (for an SUV) and decidedly not rugged.

Introduced for the 2004 model year, the midsize SRX is Cadillac's first and only car-based SUV. It employs the same rear-drive platform as the CTS and STS sport sedans, which gives the SRX a livelier feel than most front-wheel-drive car-based SUVs (also called crossovers).

It's noteworthy that to create its own midsize SUV, Cadillac didn't just tweak and repackage General Motors' familiar Chevrolet Trailblazer/GMC Envoy platform, which seems to be multiplying like rabbits lately, with Isuzu, Buick and Saab versions having been spun off.

+ enlarge image  |  view gallery >

Crisp, creased styling and stacked headlights follow Cadillac's current design theme and give the SRX a racier look than most SUVs. The interior is roomy, attractive and functional. A power-folding third-row seat is available, expanding seating capacity to seven.

For 2006, the SRX receives a standard power rear liftgate and an enhanced, optional wood-trim interior package. Restyled 17-inch and 18-inch wheels feature a more aggressive design with six exposed lugs. Also new is a Cashmere interior scheme and fresh exterior colors that include Stealth Gray, Radiant Bronze, Blackberry and Infrared.

The base engine remains a lightweight, aluminum 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 255 horsepower — more than adequate for most buyers. The power-hungry can opt for a 320-hp, 4.6-liter Northstar V8. While this engine does add low-end muscle for quicker starts from a standstill and comes with larger 18-inch wheels and tires, it weighs more. The added heft over the front wheels not only negates some of the horsepower gain over the base V-6 but also slows steering response. The V6 gets 16 miles per gallon in city driving and 23 mpg on the highway. The V8 gets 15 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway.

Both engines are controlled by a smooth five-speed automatic transmission (different versions for the V6 and V8) with a manual shift function. The SRX has myriad standard chassis control systems like Stabilitrak and brake-assist programs to help maintain grip in varying conditions and situations. A sophisticated all-wheel-drive system is optional and probably a good choice for those living in harsher winter climates.

+ enlarge image  |  view gallery >

The SRX has the longest wheelbase in its class. Its fully independent suspension contributes to the sporty handling. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard. An optional Magnetic Ride Control system improves handling by sensing road conditions and continually adjusting the suspension via metal-infused fluid in each of the car's shock absorbers, the stiffness of which is governed by a magnetic current.

The sporty SRX is neither a hearty off-roader nor a burly tow vehicle. It's rated to pull a maximum of only 2,000 pounds via an optional trailer hitch, which is meager for a truck — only sufficient enough to tow a small camper trailer or fishing boat, for example. An optional tow package can boost this rating to 3,500 pounds, which is still far less than larger truck-based SUVs like Cadillac's Escalade.

A navigation system is standard on the V8 version and is optional with the V6. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system, high-intensity headlamps with headlamp washers, power-adjustable brake/accelerator pedals and heated seats are among the available options. The Ultra-View Plus Power Glass Sunroof ($2,250) is a notable amenity. It creates the closest thing to a convertible SUV as possible, with a power-sliding glass panel over the first and second rows of seats and a fixed window over the cargo area. Other SUVs like BMW's X5 have a similar sunroof option.