New cars: Cadillac SRX

The New York Times

Retirees love Cadillac’s flagship DTS, and the CTS goes up against sporty European rivals, but the SRX is taking on the Lexus RX 350 in the crossover SUV market. It may not have been a smart move, however, to downsize this year’s model by getting rid of the V8 engine and third-row seats. The new V6 is “a peashooter,” the transmission is “lazy,” and the ride “occasionally choppy.” Plus the leather seats “look cut-rate.”

Automobile

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We like the SRX’s “in-your-face styling.” The base 265-hp, 3.0-liter V6 hums along just fine, and matches the RX 350’s fuel economy. An optional turbocharged V6 is also available. Other pluses include a stand-up navigation system, a switch-laden steering wheel, a huge sunroof, a solid chassis with 18-inch wheels, and a black-on-white instrument panel.

Edmunds.com

Four trim levels are available: base, Luxury, Performance, and Premium. Even the base model offers reclining rear back seats, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-speaker Bose sound system. Add-ons include a power lift-gate, xenon headlamps, heated front and rear seats, a backup camera, and sport-tuned suspension. The car handles capably and the interior is “notably quiet at freeway speeds.”