Handy Auto Guide

The 2007 Cadillac SRX is a midsize luxury SUV whose features includes 17-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, OnStar telematics, a Bose audio system with CD player and XM satellite radio, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, full power features and rear park assist 'Of all the crossovers that we've had in for review, the 2007 Cadillac SRX comes nearest to the midpoint between car and SUV. With a distinctive Caddy grille, a tapered side profile, and some elegant exterior styling cues, the SRX does a good job of blending form and function. Performance tuned for low-end responsiveness combined with a generous amount of interior space make the SRX a flexible contender for the CUV dollar.

The 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT features a special extendable utility bed, a 403-horsepower V8, a luxurious cabin and versatile cargo capacity . 'Climbing into the driver's seat of the EXT, the first thing you notice is how high you sit above the rest of the road-going public. Visibility is good in all directions thanks to the EXT's tall stance and its pickup-truck design incorporating a removable glass rear windscreen. Our EXT came with the Information Package, which equipped it with an integrated navigational system and CD/DVD player. Like the 2006 Cadillac STS-V we reviewed recently, the EXT features a three-way tilting, in-dash LCD screen for navigation and audio control.

Thane Peterson writing on Business Week has posted a review of the 2007 Cadillac SRX crossover SUV. 'The SRX is a crossover vehicle, which means it's in a hot market. Based on the same platform as the CTS, Cadillac's entry-level sedan, it's a light-duty SUV that looks a little like a station wagon on steroids, combining the roominess, off-road capability and cargo space of an SUV with the handling and speediness of a car.'

The Truth About Cars have published their “test” review of the Cadillac SRX crossover SUV. ‘Yes, well, first impressions last. Here’s the long and tall of it: the SRX looks more like a station wagon than an SUV, albeit a very BIG station wagon. From the front, the SRX wears a surprisingly demure version of Caddy’s spizzarkle prow. From any other angle, the vehicle’s “Art and Science” creases work at cross-purposes to a distinctly disjointed multi-level assortment of window shapes. There are some strange details: fly-eyed headlights, boomerang taillight and the like. Overall, the genre-straddling SRX has a lot of generic GM about it. At best, it’s more distinctive than attractive.’

Search Chicago have published a review of the 2008 Cadillac Escalade SUV. ‘For starters, the Escalade is just simply big, and we as Americans like thing big, in fact the bigger the better! Everything is just big: the grill, the doors, the tailgate, the engine, I mean everything. Even the optional chrome wheels are 22-inch, yes the Escalade rolls on twenty-two’s, so when I see people in Escalades, I like to say that they are rolling thick. Not only are they rolling thick, but also rolling in style, as the Escalade is all about looking good. The exterior is simply stated as beautiful, and the interior makes you want to just move in. I mean why not? It has the room! Opening the door, you are greeted by an optional power retractable side step that makes it easy to get in and out of the Escalade. It’s like going up stairs to get into your ultra luxury condo.’

A review of the 2008 Cadillac STS sedan has been posted over at BusinessWeek.com 'The STS is often described as a competitor to the hot European and Japanese luxury performance models listed above. But I see it more as an American-style alternative. The STS now comes close to matching BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus in many respects, but its looks and handling retain a distinctively American flavor. Certainly, the STS is speedy enough to be competitive. Even the V-6-equipped version of the car accelerates from zero to 60 mph in around 7.6 seconds—the same as the '08 BMW 528xi, and only half a second slower than the '08 528i. When you punch the gas pedal, the new V-6 in the STS feels like it has the power of a V-8, both from a standing stop and at highway speed. (The STS-V will jump from zero to 60 in under five seconds if sheer speed is a priority.'

A review of the 2007 Cadillac Escalade has been posted over at SportTruck.com. 'The new Escalade's interior is surprisingly understated, compared with the chrome-laden exterior. But, this is the one area where Cadillac could have learned something from its cross-town rival, Lincoln. Whereas the Expedition and Navigator have vastly different interior styling, the Escalade's interior could be a little more distinctive as compared to its more plebeian brethren. That said, the brushed aluminum accents and faux wood give it a unique look. Yes, even at $60K plus, the wood is still fake, which is disappointing but probably not a deal-killer for most buyers. The blue-needle gauges are a nice touch and certainly lend an upscale, exclusive feel to the interior. Thank goodness, Cadillac addressed our main gripe with the other 900-series SUVs. The dash material is soft-touch padded plastic. It goes a long way toward reducing the cheapness factor in the interior, and we have to wonder how cost-prohibitive it is that it's not used in the other models as well.'

A "First look" review of the 2008 Cadillac CTS luxury sport sedan has been posted over at Crave.net. 'The bold edges of the original CTS remain, making the car distinctly Cadillac, but it adds raked back glass and an extra-wide C-pillar to make the car look more like a coupe, further emphasizing its sports element. Similarly, the heavily raked front grille and the dual-purpose, center brake light/spoiler speak the performance language. The lighting on the car, both inside and out, make a high-tech luxury statement. At night, the cabin gets ambient illumination from hidden light sources. On the outside, both the headlights and taillights sport unique, vertical light pipes that will easily identify the car at night. Front-side marker lights have been brought into the headlight casings.'

The Truth About Cars have published their review of the Cadillac CTS sports sedan. ‘The Cadillac CTS is a beautiful, well-appointed machine with its heart in the wrong place. Once again, the brand’s guardians decided to chase highly-tuned European sports sedans instead of returning to the simple values that made Cadillacs– including the Escalade– American icons. Still, no question: the CTS represents genuine progress for the Cadillac brand. Minus the engine and suspension mistakes, they're right where they should have been 15 years ago.’

A review of the 2008 Cadillac CTS sedan has been posted over at the USA TODAY. 'CTS' styling is very different than Audi's — crisp and creased vs. the German automaker's rounded, flowing shapes. But the Cadillac has Audi-style wheel arches. And CTS' grille is as huge as Audi grilles are. Maybe not to your liking, but at least the Cadillac has a practical reason. Airflow to the engine goes through the grille, instead of through a wide fish-mouth slot below the bumper, as is common nowadays. You can sense the Audi influence underneath, too. Audi is noted for its effective Quattro all-wheel drive, and CTS offers awd as well. The Cadillac system sends 25% of power to the front wheels normally, up to 100% to either end in demanding conditions. The optional CTS engine's direct injection is something Audi pioneered. Squirting the fuel directly into the cylinders instead of behind the intake valve improves fuel economy and power and reduces emissions. What it means in real life is that the 304-horsepower direct-injection V-6 gets the same fuel economy as the 263-hp base engine.'

BusinessWeek have published a review of the 2008 Cadillac CTS sedan. 'General Motors (GM) has done a brilliant job of redesigning its Cadillac CTS sedan. The 2008 CTS is gorgeous inside and out, has a more powerful engine than the previous CTS, comes packed with high-tech gear and handles like a dream. But can it really match the import rivals GM says it can, including the BMW 3-Series and 5-Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, Infiniti G35, and Toyota's (TM) Lexus GS 350? The answer—surprisingly—is yes. In one of the most competitive segments of the car market, the 2008 CTS not only matches some of the best cars in the world but in some ways surpasses them. For instance, I prefer the CTS's interior to those of the BMW 335i and the new Mercedes C350 (BusinessWeek, 9/24/07). The optional Bose entertainment system is a marvel of great sound, advanced technology, and easy-to-use controls. In the "Black Raven" version of my test car, I even found the CTS as visually appealing as a BMW, a Mercedes, or a Lexus.'

Motor Authority have published their review of the 2008 Cadillac STS 3.6L V6 sedan. ' Since the STS is a large sedan, its main competitors are the 5-series, E-Class or GS models. The Caddy offers three options in terms of engines - a V6, a V8 and a supercharged V8. Perhaps the most significant update from the 2007 model is the extra 47hp (35kW) to be found under the hood in the V6 model, which brings the 3.6L unit’s output to 302hp (225kW) and 369Nm (272lb-ft) of torque. The 4.6L Northstar V8, meanwhile, has not been updated and still musters 320 ponies (239kW) at a premium of $9,000 - though you do get extra equipment as well.