Cadillac SRX 2005 Cadillac SRX
MSRP: $39,275 to $47,275
$3,000 dealer incentive, 3.9 percent financing
NHTSA: Frontal impact - four stars driver and passenger; Side impact - five stars; Rollover – not tested
IIHS: Frontal impact – good, best pick

Hidden behind the stampede to luxury import SUVs, the Cadillac SRX is a solid vehicle that comes with several impressive features such as an ultra-big sunroof and a comfortable leather interior. It possesses a capable driving character and has a unique style that shouts “new Cadillac” with its edgy sheet metal and aggressive stance. Perhaps too expensive without rebates, the sticker price on the SRX has been slashed $3,000 by dealers, and GM has tacked on a 3.9-percent finance benefit. As with the DeVille, now that the Employee Pricing Program has been extended to Labor Day, the price gets much lower. Put it on your list and take a test drive before you buy.

A seven-passenger luxury SUV, the Cadillac SRX has two engine choices: a standard 255-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 with a fuel economy rating of 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and a 320-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8 rated at 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.