2010 Cadillac SRX
With all the success Cadillac has had in transforming itself into a world-class rival to European and Asian luxury marques, one notable exception has been the SRX Crossover utility. Now the first gen 2004 SRX just never caught the attention of upper income households. Now, SRX has been totally rethought. And the result is a smaller, sharper, more standout design. So let’s see if the second time is a charm.
The new generation 2010 Cadillac SRX luxury crossover utility cuts a significantly different swath than the original. For one thing, it’s smaller, losing a little more than five inches in wheelbase, and a little less than five inches in length. That makes the new SRX much closer to its targeted rival, the Lexus RX.
But, thanks to Cadillac’s edgy styling, the new SRX comes off bolder and more muscular than the Lexus. Up front is a shield grille, flanked by Cadillac’s signature vertical headlamps with available adaptive swivel lighting.
The SRX’s profile is dynamic, accentuated by short windows, side vents, and a fast-moving upward-swept accent line.
Out back, the raring-to-go look is extended by a roof spoiler and dual chrome exhaust tips.
Wheels are pushed to the corners, in either 18-inch or 20-inch.
Something else that has changed on the new SRX is cabin capacity. From seven it has dropped to five, again the same as the Lexus RX. But what a cabin they will ride in. The SRX interior styling mixes elegance with energy, with a hand-crafted look and fit and finish that is the best ever from a domestic brand.
Gauges and controls are displayed in a logical yet sophisticated manner. The wide center stack is home to an available 3D navigation system that rises from the top of the panel.
Other goodies include an available back-up camera, a Bose 10-speaker stereo system, and an integrated hard disk drive for audio storage.
Seats are fitted with soft leather. They are plush and very supportive with standard 8-way power for the driver and optional heat.
There is ambient lighting by night, and—if you choose—sunlight by day through Cadillac’s latest panoramic sunroof.
The rear seating area is ample space for three adults, with a welcomed two extra inches of legroom over its Lexus rival. The split bench has a center armrest and it also reclines, though the control is hard to reach.
The angled rear of the SRX cuts cargo room compared to its rival. Still, 29 cubic feet seats up, and 61 cubic feet seats down is within class specs. Plus, a flexible “U-rail” adjustable tie-down system and under-floor storage make it very versatile—all reached by an adjustable height power tailgate that is standard on all but the base model.
Under the hood, more big changes for the SRX. The previous V6 and V8 powertrains have been replaced by smaller more efficient designs. Standard is a new direct-injected 3.0-liter V6 with 265 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque. Optional is a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6, good for 300 horses and 296 pound-feet of torque.
Each ties to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode. The turbo adds an “eco mode” which alters shift points to optimize fuel economy.
While the 3.0 has adequate response for a 4500-pound crossover, our 2.8T tester delivered a strong launch, with a fast power build. Shifts are well-spaced and solid all the way up the ladder. We find a 7.6-second 0 to 60 very respectable.
Power is relegated to the front or to all four wheels through a sophisticated Haldex transfer case that is standard with the 2.8T. For optimal traction and balance, it can transfer up to 100% of torque front to back, and up to 85% side-to-side at the rear.
The SRX rides on an all-new chassis that is not shared with other GM crossovers. All-wheel-drive integrates with an available real-time damping system for a high degree of cornering prowess. We found the SRX to be very agile and quick-footed on both city streets and fast country sweepers, feeling more drivers’ car than crossover.
Ditto the brakes, with ABS, vented disc, and two-piston front calipers.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the SRX 2.8 Turbo are estimated at a modest 16 city/21 highway on premium gas. We saw only 16.8 miles per gallon in real-world driving.
SRX pricing begins over six grand less than last year, and lower than rival RX. Base is $34,155, with the 2.8T expected to sticker at just under fifty thousand.
The 2010 Cadillac SRX is a huge improvement, and now more clearly targeted towards its luxury-crossover rivals. It has the potential of doing for Cadillac crossovers what the CTS did for their sedans. But, quantum leap or not, it’s now a real charmer.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.8-Liter Turbocharged V6
- Horsepower: 300
- Torque: 296 Lb Feet
- 0-60 MPH: 7.6 Seconds
- EPA: 16 MPG City/ 21 MPG Highway
- Mixed Loop: 16.8 MPG
2024 Polestar 2
More Range And More Power For The Polestar 2
Volvo is well on their way to making the transition to an all-electric brand, but their sister-brand Polestar is already there. Now, we’ve spent lots of time in their all-wheel drive, five-door Polestar 2, having tested it in 2021, and a year later when a two-wheel drive version arrived. But, EV updates are coming quickly. So, let us be your guide for all that’s new with the Polestar 2.
While we are driving more EVs than ever, we’ve also been spending a lot of time recently circling back to ones we’ve previously tested. As in this new era of electrified vehicles, significant updates are arriving quickly, with R&D investments increasing and retrofitting them easier than ever. This is often done through software updates that can even be accomplished over the air. For 2024, the Polestar 2 has indeed gotten some software updates, but some physical ones as well.
Clearly aimed directly at Tesla’s Model 3 when it arrived; the Polestar 2’s build quality was vastly better, but range definitely came up short. So, addressing that was priority No. 1; and for ’24 the Polestar can travel up to 20% farther than before while consuming 9% less energy, and when it comes time to charge it back up, it can do that 34% faster too.
Range in the Single Motor version increases from a max of 270 to 320 miles thanks to a larger 82-kWh battery pack, and that solitary motor now powers the rear wheels, not the front wheels. It’s also bigger, coming in at 220 kW compared to the previous 170 kW front-wheel drive version, going from 231 to 299 horsepower.
Dual Motors keep the same 78-kWh battery, but still sees a boost from 260 to 276 miles and takes advantage of the larger rear motor for a new combined 310-kW output with 421 horsepower. Our test car has the added Performance Pack, which uses an additional 35 kW to deliver 455 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque, though max range drops to just 247 miles.
The new battery in rear-drive 2s will also charge faster, now accepting up to 205 kW for an 80% charge in 20 minutes; max for dual-motors stays at 155 kW, which puts an 80% charge at 34 minutes. Using 32 kWh of electricity per 100 miles, the Dual Motor earns a good efficiency rating.
The [Polestar] 2 has always been one of the most enjoyable EVs to drive, even more so now with that additional power coming from the rear motor.
Unfortunately, extremely cold temperatures kept us from seeing that increased range, as we were only on pace for about 194 miles in our test.
The 2 has always been one of the most enjoyable EVs to drive, even more so now with that additional power coming from the rear motor. And especially when equipped with the Performance Pack as it not only includes more power, but adds 20-inch forged wheels, upgraded brakes, and adjustable Ohlins Dual Flow Valve performance dampers. It greatly improves handling prowess without affecting ride quality, and is easily worth the $5,500 charge if you at all enjoy driving.
Even on a 20-degree track day there was plenty of grip through our handling course. No understeer or oversteer, and lots of feedback through the wheel. There was a nice, strong launch off the line that properly planted us firmly in the seat, and rocketed us to 60 in 4.5 seconds. Power delivery stayed pretty intense up until about 80 mph when there was a definite tapering off. Still, it was a 13.4-second quarter-mile at 102 mph; smooth, quiet, and stable the whole way.
When this car debuted, its Google-based infotainment setup was a novelty, but since then, more and more manufacturers are just “Googling it” so it doesn’t seem out of place at all. The wireless phone charger is easy to access, and there’s a great Harmon/Kardon sound system and panoramic sunroof to enhance the in-cabin experience. Exteriors have also been enhanced with a smooth grille insert and new wheel choices.
Hatchback practicality means 14.3 cu-ft of easy to access cargo space with split-folding seatbacks for longer items and expanding the space to 38.7 cu-ft. Plus, there’s even a sizeable storage bin up front under the hood.
Single Motor Polestar 2 pricing now starts at $51,300, with Dual Motors starting at $56,700; topping out at $64,400.
For a car manufacturer that hasn’t even been around for a decade yet, Polestar has kept itself busy, totally transforming their latest model in just a few years, making the 2024 Polestar 2 even more appealing. They are certainly off to a good start, and with a host of Polestars just over the horizon, including some all-important utility vehicles, this star will be shining even brighter.
Specifications
As Tested
- Motor Setup: Dual Motor
- Horsepower: 455
- 0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds
- EPA Range: 247 miles
- Efficiency : 32 kWh / 100 miles
- Battery Size: 78-kWh
- Torque: 546 lb-ft
- 1/4 Mile: 13.4 seconds at 102 mph
- MW Test Loop: ~ 194 miles
- Peak Charging Rate: 155 kW