2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo Car Review

The all new 2010 SRX is Cadillac second take on their original Crossover. One which critics loved but consumers largely ignored during its five year run. This one has been designed on a new front drive platform heels the third row seat and no longer offers a V8. So other than the name, nothing has been carried over. There are two engine choices, a 3-liter V6 which I tested for my first week, the review of which you can watch right here and 2.8 liter V6 turbo the engine moving this SRX.

By dissatisfaction with my first SRX test drive basically centered on the lackluster power and course engine. So I was pleased when the turbo proved that it could provide the SRX with some hustle. The turbo also comes hand in hand with Cadillac’s new all wheel drive system. $53,480.00 is the as tested price of this SRX turbo, all wheel drive premium option with the excellent rear seat dual screen DVD.

This sub-derived engine races the ante on horse power for 265 to 300 and more impressively delivers 295-pound feet of off the line torque, an increase of 72 over the base engine. Throttle response is much livelier and the turbo will knock a full second off the zero to 60 time doing it here in 7.5 seconds. There are some draw backs to this other wise lively engine, for one it likes premium gas and that’s only 15 MPG in around the town driving. That’s two to three MPG worst than in the 87 octane happy 3-liter engine and seeing is how the turbo comes standard with all wheel drive, it’s priced almost $4,000.00 more than a comparable SRX driven by the naturally aspirated V6.

That being said I wouldn’t get the SRX without the turbo and the included all wheel drive system is an intelligent unit that can aid the driver in dry or snowy conditions so it’s a nice performance addition as well. The turbo takes the SRX from ho-hum to interesting. Still as I drive the SRX turbo in a joyous more energetic maneuver, my mind still wonders back to the less expensive CTS sport wagon and its superior right hand handling with only a small trade off in cargo room. Only a fewer station wagons would direct me to the SRX on the Cadillac lot. For Drive Time on Yahoo Autos, I'm Steve Hammes.