Cadillac SRX4: Style and substance

There was a report recently in The New York Times about a discussion in the US Congress concerning ‘Cadillac health plans'. It was not referring to health plans for Cadillac workers, but rather to taxing the most expensive health insurance plans in the US. This just goes to show how ingrained the image of ‘Cadillac' has become.

I've often wondered at the expression, ‘the Cadillac of cars'. Not being an American citizen, it always flummoxed me. Shouldn't it be ‘the Rolls Royce of cars', I pondered - after all, Cadillacs may be luxury cars in the US of A, but precious little is known about them in other parts of the world. This was before I got to know the automotive line a little better in the UAE. Now I have to admit that Cadillacs, no matter what their design value, certainly give something more than other brands within that model and price range.

 What's in it?

Take the new Cadillac SRX4 for instance. The Cadillac badge (based on the Cadillac family's coat-of-arms, I am told) which bisects a very prominent chrome grille sets the tone. The vertically angled headlamps feature light pipe technology and adaptive forward lighting. The LED rear lights are equally huge but do not look out of place on the sharply angled proportions of its tailgate. An integrated spoiler on the rear end of the roof is designed so well that it doesn't stick out; it tapers down to keep the profile intact.

In fact, the car is all sharp angles. But the designers have managed to make it look very pleasing and even quite unique, as shapes go.

It certainly is a head-turner, as became evident when I drove it around town. Quite a few men (with some prompted by their wives) came up to discuss its relative virtues.

So much for its exterior. What about inside? That's where Cadillac lives up to its reputation for luxury. The dashboard and door-liningsare soft hand-stitched leather. Soft trims and polished wood abound.The accent is on wood and leather. Old money.

The dashboard itself is a design gem, again with angled vents. The masterpiece here is the pop-up sat-nav screen with 3-D imaging, adaptive forward lighting and voice recognition. The Bluetooth can be activated by a button on the steering wheel. When you don't require the full screen, it slides down with only the necessary information on display - a neat trick that will win you points with your kids.

An iPod connectivity-enabled ten-speaker Bose DVD surround sound system with a 30GB hard drive saturates the senses. The twin screens (the front seat-backs have flip-up DVD screens behind) will keep the kids happy. The instrument panel is legible and can be viewed from anywhere, with black on white markings that are illuminated day and night - a plus point for drivers likeme with ageing vision. An information display is located on the centre of the speedometer.

The cabin is luxurious without being over the top. Green-lighted indicators set in the back-lit gauge cluster set the mood in the cabin. Ambient lighting adds to the impression. Small details, although they don't make any material difference, add a touch of finesse. For example, the illuminating Cadillac script logos on the front door sills that are activated when the doors are opened. Class.

A rear-view camera system provides a panoramic rear view while backing up, with guidelines including the car's projected path displayed. There are also rear A/C vents with separate controls.

An ultra large sunroof, said to be the largest in its segment, offers plenty of light if required. The powered liftgate on the boot comes with programmable height setting.

The memory-adjustable driver's seat comes with thigh extenders. The front leather seats are also powered and ventilated. However, rear legroom is just about adequate. Only the very tall or long-legged would have problems fitting in.

Cargo space is 1,727 litres with the rear seat folded down flat - fairly decent for a crossover. Storage places are plenty in the cabin withcup-holders that can be height-adjusted for all sizes. The pull-down centre armrest also houses cup-holders and storage space.

Road feel

The SRX passed the visual and features test. So, how about the driving? The SRX4 is powered by a 3-litre V6 engine that outputs 283hp and develops 420Nm of torque at 5,100rpm.

The car doesn't exactly take off. What it did was deliver a comfortable ride in almost eerie silence, with little intrusion of wind, mechanical or road noise. The fully independent suspension system does its job well. It is smooth and responsive. A sport suspension setting is also available, ostensibly for a sportier ride.

The seats up front have the support for long-distance cruising, with lumbar adjustments to ease the lower back. The rear-seat passengers fare almost as well. But the unfortunate one who gets stuck in the centre will not be as impressed.

 Smooth and easy

The power is just about adequate, though you can feel the six-speed automatic transmission hunting for the right gear when you press hard going up a steep climb.

A driver shift control featurethat replaces paddle shifts helps you to hold the gear in place if you feelthe need to.

Handling is competent, though you wouldn't want to race around in the SRX. However, the speed-sensitive steering and all-wheel drive system work well in tandem. It took the bends and curves of Jebel Hafeet without breaking into a sweat. The ride was smooth, and it handled well.

A computer-controlled electronic stability system with rollover mitigation and ABS (anti-lock brake system) keeps you safe.

The SRX feels very surely planted, even at high speeds, due to itsall-wheel drive system that includes an advanced electronic limited-slip differential. It distributes torqueas required from side to side alongthe rear axle.

Safety considerations are addressed by six standard airbags, which include advanced frontal dual-stage and seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the driver and front passenger, as wellas front and outboard second-row head-curtain airbags.

What then should we make ofthe SRX4? It is neither a station wagon, nor an SUV, although it certainly is more than a crossover. I was able to drive it around somedirt tracks and even navigated myway through fairly sandy stretches. But after paying Dh195,000 for the top-of-the-range SRX, it seems doubtful that you would feel like taking it off-road regularly.

Obviously for loyal Cadillacfans, the new SRX4 representsa reinstatement of their faith in the brand. For sceptics, it may serve to convince them that the brand stillhas what it takes to survive intoday's automotive world.