the dashboard is particularly pleasing to the eye
30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Camping In Your Truck
We've pitched a few tents in our time, and we're no strangers to camping. Still, when a 2013 Ram... Read More
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The Basics:
The crisply styled 2008 Cadillac SRX is a mid-size crossover vehicle built off the same platform as the rear-drive CTS and STS sports sedans.
A 3.6-liter, 260-horsepower V-6 is the standard engine in SRX, teamed with a five-speed automatic. Its performance is fairly ordinary and so is its gas mileage. There's every reason to order the optional 4.6-liter, 320-horsepower Northstar V-8 engine, which gets a six-speed automatic for the 2008 model year. It's capable of much more impressive acceleration--it can launch the crossover to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds--but fuel economy is an issue. The SRX is available in either rear- or all-wheel drive, and with either drivetrain, its 4,000-pound-plus heft cuts fuel economy to 13/20 mpg with the V-8 versions, and only 15/22 mpg with the V-6, rear-drive model.
The SRX is a tastefully drawn crossover vehicle that's aging well in its final years on the market (it was introduced in 2004 and likely will be dropped after the 2009 model year). The wagon rear end is a bit tall for some tastes, but the crisp lines have worn well over the years. Inside, the redesign of the center console and trim imparts a much richer feel to the Cadillac SRX than the original cockpit. The SRX's interior can hold as many as seven passengers with the optional power-folding third-row seat, but those in the back should be very small--elementary-school small. The second-row seat is much more hospitable to adults.
The 2008 Cadillac SRX handles nimbly, with either its standard suspension or GM's Magnetic Ride Control, which uses magnetic force to control the stiffness of the shocks. Six airbags and stability control are standard.
Other features include a standard navigation system on the V-8 version (it's optional with the V-6). OnStar-equipped models also get turn-by-turn navigation assistance. Adaptive Remote Start is a new option for 2008; it permits the driver to start the engine, adjust the heat and air to a preset temperature, and defrost the windows. A large Ultra View sunroof opens nearly all the first two rows of seats to sunshine.
Likes:
- Rorty V-8 engine
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- Improved interior
- Headroom in first two rows
Dislikes:
- Fuel economy
- Teensy third-row seats
- Tall rear end
