TorqueNews review of the 2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo AWD Premium - part 1

In the early days of the sport utility vehicle, the companies who built them focused so much on utility that there was never any suggestion of luxury but even those with the means to purchase a high end vehicle can desire the roominess and capability of a SUV – enter the 2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo AWD Premium.

The Cadillac SRX lineup has been atop the GM luxury brand’s best-seller list since the refreshed model was unveiled for the 2010 model year and no portion of this vehicle suggests anything but luxury – inside and out. The SRX features every major amentity that you would expect from a modern luxury vehicle while focusing on the needs of a modern SUV buyer. Front and rear HVAC controls and heated seats help to provide balanced comfort and the premium sound and AV system turns the SRX into a rolling movie theater. All of this in a sporty crossover that offers the abilities of a 4WD vehicle without forcing awkward, heavy driving attributes – making the SRX Turbo feel more like a sport sedan than a sport ute.

Exterior
The current exterior design theme of the Cadillac brand fits perfectly on the form of the compact SUV with just enough chrome to remind you that it is a Caddy but enough black trim to keep the “sport” in sport utility vehicle. The large projection headlights look great and offer incredible illumination of the road with the support of the fog lights mounted in the lower fascia. Along the sides, the painted aluminum 20” wheels offered undercarriage clearance comparable to the competition and they fill out the wheel-wells very nicely. I could go for some bright chrome rims (which are offered for an additional $450) but these rims work well with the overall design of the SRX and the Crystal Red Tintcoat is my favorite color in the model lineup.

The shape of the 2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo maintains the classy form of the current Cadillac lineup while offering plenty of room inside – all without looking “clunky” like some other sport utes on the market. Along the back, the large LED taillights, black lower fascia area and dual polished exhaust tips complete the sporty look of the SRX and surprisingly, the 2.8L turbocharged V6 offers up a pretty pleasant growl at idle. While some people might not care for the bold styling of the modern Cadillac, this is one sport utility vehicle that offers as much sport on the outside as it does utility inside.

The exterior design of the 2011 Cadillac SRX allows is to feature the expected level of Cadillac luxury appeal in a slick, compact package that is bold but just enough to give the SUV a personality of its own.

Click here for part 2 of our TorqueNews review of the 2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo AWD Premium where we take a look at the interior and the drive of this sporty utility vehicle. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the 2011 SRX Turbo AWD Premium.