2010 Cadillac SRX

Even its admirers say the SRX's base engine, a 265-horsepower, 3-liter V6, has a hard time hauling around its two-ton-plus bulk. You can opt for a stronger, turbocharged, 300-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6, but prepare to pay more than $41,000 and take a penalty in fuel economy . Plus, Motor Trend testers find the turbo version suffers from "lumpy" power delivery and a ride as jittery "as if it's running on Peet's French Roast."

Fuel economy starts about average for the class, at 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway/21 mpg combined for the base engine, six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. But testers at CNET, The New York Times and elsewhere get only 19 mpg or less -- and that's with a transmission that Ulrich says is "obsessed with moving you into high gears too soon" to squeeze out the maximum fuel economy, although Autoblog.com's Chris Shunk notes that a manual-shift mode is available. Add the turbo engine and AWD, and Environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy estimates drop to 15 city/22 highway/18 combined, but Motor Trend manages just 14 mpg in its turbo test.

Cargo space is also about average for a small crossover, at 30 cubic feet (61 cubic feet with the rear seats folded). The SRX is simply not meant for towing; Cadillac lists its maximum trailering capacity at zero.

AWD is available on all but the base, front-wheel-drive-only Cadillac SRX model. The entry-level 3 liter engine comes standard on the base SRX (Base MSRP: $33,830) and Luxury Collection (Base MSRP: $37,410 to $39,905). The base model includes class-consistent satellite radio and dual automatic climate control, but only "leatherette" upholstery. Heated leather seats come with the Luxury Collection, along with a panoramic glass roof and a slew of other high-end features from remote engine start to an adjustable-height power liftgate. The optional pop-up navigation system impresses critics, and it comes with a backup camera; backseat entertainment is optional.

The turbocharged 2.8 liter engine and sport suspension are optional on the Performance Collection (Base MSRP: $41,850 to $49,315) -- which includes the aforementioned nav and backup camera, and then dresses up the exterior with 20-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps and more. The Premium Collection (Base MSRP: $44,395 to $51,860) tops things out with keyless ignition, three-zone climate control, ventilated front seats and other high-end features.

Crash ratings are good, although the Cadillac SRX's 4-star rating for protecting passengers in a frontal crash don't match the 5-star rating earned by the 2010 Audi Q5 and others. The SRX includes antilock brakes, electronic stability control and front, front-side and curtain airbags, as well as General Motors' OnStar emergency communications system.

We found no reliability ratings for this new model. The 2010 Cadillac SRX is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, with a five-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

Critics tend to compare the 2010 Cadillac SRX with the top-selling 2010 Lexus RX350 midsize luxury crossover, including those at The New York Times, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, TheTruthAboutCars.com and Autoblog.com. ConsumerReports.org and a second test at Motor Trend widen their scope, ranking the Cadillac SRX directly against a variety of competing SUVs. Edmunds.com's thorough review covers most aspects of the redesigned Cadillac, while CNET focuses narrowly on its cabin and drivetrain tech. Crash ratings are posted at SaferCar.gov and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's website, with fuel-economy estimates at FuelEconomy.gov.