For the 2010 model year, Cadillac rolled out an all-new SRX model that ditched the boxy styling of the first generation vehicle for a more mainstream luxury crossover look. A few months later, Cadillac introduced a higher-performance turbo model, which after less than one year on the market, has officially been killed.
According to Cadillac, the SRX turbo model was killed due to the extremely low take rate — less than 10-percent of all SRXs sold were turbocharged. Eliminating the forcibly-aspirated SRX will help General Motors reduce costs by simplifying manufacturing through the reduction of possible order combinations.
The standard 265-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 doesn’t provide neck-snapping acceleration, but is adequate for the typical SRX buyer and achieves respectable fuel economy figures for its class: 17/23 mpg city/hwy compared to 15/22 for the now-defunct turbo version. Audi’s Q5 is rated at 18/23 with a 3.2-liter V-6 and the Lexus RX350 gets 18/24 with a 3.5-liter V-6.
While SRX buyers are no longer able to order a turbocharged V-6, they will still be able to buy one of the few 2011 models produced. Once those few vehicles are purchased, the window of opportunity closes on new turbocharged SRXs.
Although the SRX turbo sold in extremely small numbers, the new Cadillac SRX is an overall success. Cadillac PR notes that the SRX now has a larger market share in the U.S. than any of its German competitors — the Audi Q5, BMW X3, or Mercedes-Benz GLK.