The Cadillac SRX’s lead development engineer, Steve Kline, kicked off the debut of the 2012 Cadillac SRX by telling us, “If we’d told you back in 2009 that the SRX would move from number nine in the segment to number two behind the Lexus RX, you probably would have laughed.” Kline is right. C/D loved the previous, CTS-based SRX. Its rear-drive dynamics and interior packaging allowed it to win a comparison test and multiple 5Best Truck trophies but failed to endear it to customers. We would not have believed that a front-drive-based SRX would rocket up the sales charts, but that’s exactly what has happened.

                                                                              2012 Cadillac SRX Auto Review

The cabin is nicely isolated from the outside world, with wind noise almost non-existent and tire noise absent except on horrid pavement like the sort that lines large segments of coastal U.S. 101. Inside, there aren't any changes for the 2012 SRX. The dash still features Cadillac's familiar pop-up navigation, the cargo area still has the funky U-Rack storage system, and the sound system is still an eight-speaker Bose setup.

                                                                              2012 Cadillac SRX Auto Review

Meanwhile, a number of suspension tweaks have smoothed out the ride considerably. It is still on the sporty side for the segment -- Cadillac is trying to be more BMW than Lexus, after all -- but definitely luxurious. Two suspension setups are offered, a softer setup under the technical designation "FE2" and the sportier "FE3" setup that also comes with variable-effort, speed-sensitive power steering. These were definitely more fun to throw around the rough, twisty backroads during our test drive near Santa Barbara, California.

                                                                             2012 Cadillac SRX Auto Review

For 2012, the SRX gets a major powertrain upgrade that might grow sales even further. The standard 265-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 is dead. New customers should be relieved that they won’t have to spin their engine all the way to 5100 rpm just to access a limp 223 lb-ft of torque. Likewise, the 3.0-liter will be relieved that it has been relieved of the SRX’s 4500-pound curb weight. Cadillac stopped offering the SRX’s previously optional engine, a turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6, earlier this year. Few mourned the loss of the 300-hp, single-turbo six. Its eulogy was probably filled with references to turbo lag, nonlinear power delivery, and the engine’s Saab origins.