Car and Driver ranks Cadillac SRX

..Number one.

I wish it were a little better looking, but surely this is good news for the domestic auto industry.

1) Cadillac SRX
2) Porsche Cayenne
3) Infiniti FX
4) VW Toureg

If it were on looks alone, I'd vote for the Infiniti. Looks 'chopped' and has some cool colors and wheels. Overall though I can see why they chose the SRX - has a lot of utility and performance, and edgy distinctive styling to boot.

:thumb:


-Mike

The Infiniti still looks like an aborted greyhound bus fetus . . . or some wierd genetically engineered alien fish-shoe hybrid.

Good deal on the Cadillac!

Im not too much on the Porsche's looks.

Go Caddy :)

Good for the Caddy, but I'd still rather have the Infiniti FX45

If AMC still made cars the FX45 would be one of them.

I'd have to go with the caddy, even though it looks a little too station wagonish for me.

Porsche SUV? Hell no, I'll hold out for a Ferrari SUV;)

At the rate people are falling on themselves to purchase SUVs, I would say we'll have a Ferrari version by next week :rolleyes:

It was great to see the Caddy take first. When I opened the magazine up originally I assumed it would be third behind the Volkswagen and the FX 45 (with the ridiculous price of the Porsche making it 4th)...

Yet another feather in Cadillac's cap!

:thumb: :cool:

By my standards, all four of these luxury SUVs are severely flawed. However, the Caddy stands out as being the most like a stationwagon. Don't be fooled. This vehicle is more or less a CTS wagon - a near-luxury passenger car for the price of a luxury SUV.

However, the SRX is well designed to win track-oriented comparison tests. Unequal-sized tires are great for a sports car, but are a horrible idea for driving through snow or mud. It is also significant that this is the only vehicle of its type to be offered in a standard RWD configuration. After looking at it, the SRX feels like a vehicle meant for sun-belt condo dwellers.

The Mercedes topping price of the SRX is the final killer, though. As a brand that is still in the process of the "12 steps" back to prestige, Cadillac needs to do better. How about designing an actual luxury SUV?

:rolleyes:

Originally posted by redzed
By my standards, all four of these luxury SUVs are severely flawed. However, the Caddy stands out as being the most like a stationwagon. Don't be fooled. This vehicle is more or less a CTS wagon - a near-luxury passenger car for the price of a luxury SUV.

However, the SRX is well designed to win track-oriented comparison tests. Unequal-sized tires are great for a sports car, but are a horrible idea for driving through snow or mud. It is also significant that this is the only vehicle of its type to be offered in a standard RWD configuration. After looking at it, the SRX feels like a vehicle meant for sun-belt condo dwellers.

The Mercedes topping price of the SRX is the final killer, though. As a brand that is still in the process of the "12 steps" back to prestige, Cadillac needs to do better. How about designing an actual luxury SUV?

:rolleyes:


Just out of curiosity, has there ever been a car built that you have actually liked? :p :lol: ;)

That's great news for Cadillac. Just shows what GM can do. Now if they spread that to other divisions, it would be great.

BTW: Though Cadillac won, and IMHO has the best interior, I think the Infinity FX exterior is fantastic, looking more like a big concept car than an SUV. If they ever made a sedan version of that, it would redefine "imposing".

Cadillac's SRX looks good, but it looks too much like an SUV (I know....well duh! :p), but Infinity made what in effect is a big AWD wagon, sort of like an extreme Dodge Magnum.

Originally posted by Darth Xed
Just out of curiosity, has there ever been a car built that you have actually liked? :p :lol: ;)

Yeah, B-body, 4th Gen. F-body and G-body.;) Basically, I liked all of the cars that GM doesn't produce any more, and won't replace because of greed. I also liked W124 E-Class and W140 S-Class Mercedes - cars that were awesomely overpriced, but also amazingly durable. I like the G35 Sedan, and almost fell for a new 325i a couple of seasons ago. Interestingly, I also love everything Ford before the mid-70s.

However, I don't like anything in the current and upcoming GM line-up well enough to sign on the dotted line. Their retail pricing is way out of line with the industry and their designs are unattractive in novel and original ways. I keep hoping that sanity will prevail, and GM will offer something decent and desirable. That's why I'm waiting.

I'm also looking at Toyotas. I mean, seriously, how can anyone go wrong with a Toyota? ;)

Originally posted by redzed
Yeah, B-body, 4th Gen. F-body and G-body.;) Basically, I liked all of the cars that GM doesn't produce any more, and won't replace because of greed. I also liked W124 E-Class and W140 S-Class Mercedes - cars that were awesomely overpriced, but also amazingly durable. I like the G35 Sedan, and almost fell for a new 325i a couple of seasons ago. Interestingly, I also love everything Ford before the mid-70s.

However, I don't like anything in the current and upcoming GM line-up well enough to sign on the dotted line. Their retail pricing is way out of line with the industry and their designs are unattractive in novel and original ways. I keep hoping that sanity will prevail, and GM will offer something decent and desirable. That's why I'm waiting.

I'm also looking at Toyotas. I mean, seriously, how can anyone go wrong with a Toyota? ;)


I can appreciate that. I find myself in a bit of a 'holding pattern' as well for a new car... GTO might get a look from me....

I also took a look at a 3-series BMW 2 years ago (my first and only look at an import), but decided I got more for my money with the Monte Carlo SS, even though I had to go FWD.

I guess I know in my mind I am hoping for a Camaro around 2006/7...

Originally posted by redzed
How about designing an actual luxury SUV?

:rolleyes:

I think Caddy already makes the Escalade, and with EXT and ESV variants its seems like they have the Luxo SUV thing covered. The SRX wasn't made to be a RX330 or M-B M-class beater, it was made to cross the lines of a CTS, Seville, DeVille, sport wagon and the Escalade. Either way it has a niche that will garner it some sales that traditional SUV or Wagon customers may want.

Originally posted by 99SilverSS
I think Caddy already makes the Escalade, and with EXT and ESV variants its seems like they have the Luxo SUV thing covered. The SRX wasn't made to be a RX330 or M-B M-class beater, it was made to cross the lines of a CTS, Seville, DeVille, sport wagon and the Escalade. Either way it has a niche that will garner it some sales that traditional SUV or Wagon customers may want.

Unless you are totally blinded by the bling-bling, the Escalade is just a Tahoe (... or Suburban ... or Avalanche) in drag. :rolleyes: It's been a huge success, but it just taps into the same vein of "Pimp Juice" as the mid-70's Eldorados. Cadillac has already been there, and it isn't going to work forever.:p

The SRX was a chance to find a new path, although most people agree that the way forward is going to involve some huge rebates. Okay, maybe it's time that the SUV morphed back into the station wagon. It's just that the SRX is just way too little station wagon for the money.:confused:

Originally posted by redzed
It's (Escalade) been a huge success

Hard to argue with that if you're Cadillac.

but it just taps into the same vein of "Pimp Juice" as the mid-70's Eldorados. Cadillac has already been there, and it isn't going to work forever.


The Escalade image took on a life of it's own. Caddy did not market the Escalade to athletes and "thug-wannabes".