Car insurance comparison: The most and least expensive 2011 vehicles to insure

You're bound to turn heads behind the wheel of the 604-horsepower Mercedes SL65 AMG, a sleek two-door convertible with a 6-liter, V-12 biturbo engine. Step on the gas and you could accelerate from zero to 60 in 4.2 seconds and hit 120 miles per hour in just 12.8 seconds. And – according to insurance company data -- you’re more likely to crash than drivers of less powerful vehicles.

Meet the most expensive to insure vehicle for 2011, according to Insure.com's annual list based on a  study commissioned from Quadrant Information Services. The average annual national premium for the powerful Mercedes SL65 AMG roadster is $3,543.81 -- and that's for a good driver who hasn't racked up any speeding tickets or previous car insurance claims.
Of course if the SL65’s $198,750 manufacturer's suggested retail price is within reach, maybe you aren’t worrying much about saving money on car insurance rates.
See the full lists of the most and least expensive cars to insure below. And use Insure.com’s car insurance rates tool (at right) to see average annual premiums by model, for each state or nationally.
But if you’re a more typical car insurance shopper, your auto insurance quote should be a consideration if you’re looking for a 2011 vehicle. After all, why shop for the best deal on a vehicle, only to find out it carries exorbitant insurance costs?

What drives auto insurance quotes sky high?

"Any vehicle that would cause a teenage boy to stop and gawk would likely cost a pretty penny to insure," says Russ Rader, a spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Highway Loss Data Institute. "Many of the vehicles at the top of the list cost as much as a small house to buy, and that means they're costly to fix."
The BMW 750i, the No. 2 most expensive vehicle to insure, is a luxury sedan, featuring a 400-horsepower V-8 engine, and is packed with luxury components, such as a navigation system that responds to voice commands, a power two-way tilt moon roof and a 10-speaker sound system. Repairing just one feature after a crash could cost a small fortune.
A vehicle’s premiums for collision and comprehensive coverage are largely determined by that vehicle’s "loss history," meaning the frequency and severity of claims that are typically filed for that model by other drivers. Thus, cars chosen for flash and speed – and even mundane cars typically chosen by young, inexperienced drivers – will pile up claims and thus garner higher insurance rates.
Add in a driver with a history of traffic violations, claims or accidents and you’ve got a recipe for truly painful car insurance prices.

Scoring cheap car insurance

Looking for a good car insurance quote? On the opposite end of the spectrum are vehicles that would make a teenager yawn: Practical minivans and SUVs that appeal to family drivers. This year's cheapest vehicle to insure is the Chrysler Town & Country LX minivan. Its national average annual premium is $1,091.80, a third of the cost of insuring the Mercedes SL65 AMG.
The Toyota Sienna and the Toyota Sienna LE minivans earn the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively for being the least costly to insure.
"Family vehicles driven by soccer moms aren't as likely to get into crashes as flashier sporty models," Rader says. "Soccer-mom vehicles are driven by people who are generally not driving aggressively, aren't speeding and often aren't driving during peak commuting hours."
Discounts for safety equipment that goes beyond the standard requirements can also bring insurance costs down, such as electronic stability control, which can help drivers avoid accidents, and overhead airbags, says Peter Moraga, a spokesperson for the Californian Insurance Information Network.

Car insurance rates where you live

"When shopping for a vehicle you have to look for safety as opposed to sexy," advises Moraga. "A safer car is not only going to save your life, it's also going to lower your insurance rates."
Consider this: If you live in California, the difference between the most and least expensive cars to insure is more than $4,700 annually (that’s for insuring an Aston Martin DB9 Volante versus a Chevy Traverse LS).
If you live in New York, the Aston Martin DB9s and the Rolls Royce Phantom top the list. Wave hello if they drive by your Chrysler Town & Country LX or Nissan Cube SL – you’ve got some of the lowest car insurance rates in the state.
Use Insure.com’s car insurance rates tool (above) to see average annual premiums in your state.

2011 vehicles with the lowest car insurance rates

Rank	Make	Model	Style	Cylinders	National average annual premium
1	Chrysler	Town & Country LX	4 Door Wagon	6	$1,091.80
2	Toyota	Sienna	5 Door Wagon	4	$1,100.66
3	Toyota	Sienna LE	5 Door Wagon	4	$1,107.70
4	Honda	Odyssey LX	5 Door 2WD SOHC	6	$1,114.62
5	Nissan	Murano SL	2WD 4 Door Utility	6	$1,127.89
6	Jeep	Wrangler Unlimited Sport	4WD 4 Door Utility	6	$1,131.27
7	Honda	Odyssey EX	5 Door 2WD SOHC	6	$1,138.16
8	Toyota	Sienna	5 Door Wagon	6	$1,142.94
9	Ford	Escape XLS	4WD 4 Door SUV	4	$1,150.26
10	Toyota	Highlander	4 Door 2WD Utility	4	$1,154.02
11	Honda	CR-V LX	5 Door 2.4L	4	$1,155.44
12	Hyundai	Santa Fe GLS	4 Door 2WD Utility	4	$1,157.66
13	Jeep	Patriot Sport	2WD 4 Door Utility	4	$1,157.70
14	Jeep	Wrangler Unlimited Sahara	2WD 4 Door Utility	6	$1,161.20
15	Jeep	Wrangler Sport	4WD 2 Door 3.8L Utility	6	$1,162.97
16	Mazda	Tribute I	2WD 4 Door Utility	4	$1,163.24
17	Ford	Escape XLT	4WD 4 Door SUV	4	$1,166.20
18	Chrysler	Town & Country Touring	4 Door Wagon	6	$1,167.38
19	Honda	Odyssey EX-RES	5 Door 2WD SOHC	6	$1,167.93
20	Subaru	Forester X	4 Door SUV AWD	4	$1,170.45

2011 vehicles with the highest car insurance rates

Rank	Make	Model	Style	Cylinders	National average annual premium
1	Mercedes	SL65 AMG	2 Door Convertible	12	$3,543.81
2	BMW	750i	4 Door Sedan Hybrid	8	$3,280.70
3	BMW	750Li	4 Door Sedan Hybrid	8	$3,280.70
4	Mercedes	SL63 AMG	2 Door Convertible	8	$3,263.46
5	Mercedes	S65 AMG	4 Door Sedan Turbo	12	$3,220.86
6	Aston Martin	DB9	2 Door Coupe	12	$3,120.45
7	Mercedes	CL600	2 Door Coupe	12	$3,114.28
8	Porsche	911 Carrera S	2 Door Cabriolet	6	$3,092.31
9	Aston Martin	DB9 Volante	2 Door Convertible	12	$3,088.96
10	Mercedes	G55 AMG	4WD 4 Door Utility	8	$3,086.49
11	Mercedes	CL65 AMG	2 Door Coupe	12	$3,063.73
12	Mercedes	CL63 AMG	2 Door Coupe	8	$3,058.69
13	Porsche	911 Carrera 4S	2 Door Cabriolet	6	$3,046.87
14	Mercedes	SL550	2 Door Convertible	8	$2,942.97
15	Jaguar	XJ L Supercharged	2WD 4.2L 4 Door Sedan	8	$2,940.94
16	Jaguar	XJ L Supersport	2WD 4.2L 4 Door Sedan	8	$2,940.94
17	Porsche	911 Carrera 4	2 Door Cabriolet	6	$2,921.61
18	Porsche	911 Carrera S	2 Door Coupe	6	$2,919.90
19	Mercedes	S63 AMG	4 Door Sedan	8	$2,898.30
20	Jaguar	XJ Supercharged	2WD 4.2L 4 Door Sedan	8	$2,853.24

Survey methodology
Insure.com commissioned a study from Quadrant Information Services that calculated the average premiums for a male driver (see full profile below) using car insurance rates from six large carriers (State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide) in 10 ZIP codes per state. Not all models are available for calculating average rates, especially some exotic cars, which is why you won't see Lamborghinis on the list — although you can assume those carry hefty insurance bills.
Averages are based on a single 40-year-old male driver who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. He has a clean driving record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for comparative purposes; your rate will depend on your personal factors.

The basics of travel insurance

In a perfect world for beleaguered travelers, there would be no extensive security checks, delayed flights or lost baggage. Travel insurance aims to take some of the sting out of travel problems.
The need for travel insurance is primarily an economic one, says Jim Grace, president and CEO of InsureMyTrip.com, an online travel insurance comparison site. Travelersare concerned about protecting their investment.
Travel insurance is offered for cruises, tours, flights and vacation home rentals and can cover:

• Medical: There is nothing worse than being sick when you are supposed to be on vacation. Medical travel insurance pays for doctor visits and illnesses that occur during your trip, such as treatment for malaria or food poisoning, prescription drugs and laboratory work to diagnose illnesses. Policies cover local ambulance service and emergency medical situations that require surgeries (and often exclude pre-existing conditions). What it will not cover is a routine physical exam, mental health care or replacement of hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lenses.
• Emergency evacuation: Typically, coverage includes airlifts from a mountain due to a skiing or hiking accident, or a long-term stay at a foreign hospital. Emergency evacuation also covers a flight home if you became seriously ill or injured. When traveling to a foreign country, bring copies of your medical records with you and consider an evacuation policy in case you develop a serious medical condition.
• Trip cancellation: If your cruise line or tour operator goes out of business, or if you must cancel a trip due to sickness, a death in the family or another event that would prevent you from going on your trip, trip cancellation provides coverage. The policy also reimburses you for the unused portion of the vacation if you or an immediate family member becomes seriously ill.
• Travel delay/trip interruption: Tired of sitting in the airport? Most comprehensive travel insurance policies cover weather-related travel delays. But not all companies cover so-called carrier-caused delays, such as aircraft mechanical issues or delayed flight crews.One that does is Travel Guard. The insurer offers a "gold plan" that covers $150 a day in expenses, up to $750 total, for items such as meals, lodging, taxi fares, and essential telephone calls. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), trip-interruption insurance costs between 5 percent to 7 percent of the price of your trip.
• Baggage delay: If your personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip, this would pay to replace them.
• Dental: If you chip a tooth during a trip, this covers all emergency dental procedures. You can purchase additional dental coverage to relieve acute dental pain and surgical procedures provided in a hospital. There may be limitations for the replacement of artificial teeth or repairing a crown.
• 24-hour traveler assistance, including hotlines/helplines and other support services: This provides 24-hour, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance for filing claims for lost baggage, emergency cash transfers, reporting credit card identity fraud to the right agency, message center services, legal assistance (on issues related to your passport, visa, or bail bonds), emergency translations and pre-trip assistance. Some policies even provide access to security profiles, which include up-to-date information about terrorism, kidnapping and political stability. Others might provide concierge services such as arrangements for escort/return home of children, arrangements for a visit to your bedside by family or friends, dining information and reservations, flower and gift delivery, sightseeing tour reservations and golf course information and reservations.
• Accidental death and dismemberment: Provides compensation if you die or are permanently disabled during a trip. It includes accidental loss of life, limb or sight during your trip other than while flying.
• Collision/damage coverage for rental cars: Provides coverage for physical damage to, or loss of, an automobile rented from a commercial foreign or domestic rental car agency.
• Flight accidental death: Flight accident and/or "common carrier accident" insurance pays your beneficiary (or your estate if you do not name a beneficiary) a lump-sum benefit that can range from $300,000 to $1 million when a flight accident or crash results in your death.
• Repatriating a body: Few travelers are aware of the complications and red tape involved in arranging a funeral or repatriating mortal remains should a relative or traveling companion die in a foreign country. Most travel insurance plans cover the cost of preparing a body for transport, a container, ground transportation, air transportation and administrative fees (for death certificates and other required paperwork), which can range from $6,000 to $15,000, according to Travel Guard. As with other coverage, benefits can only be denied if travel to a certain destination is prohibited by the United States government.

"Cancel for any reason" insurance

Basic travel insurance doesn't provide coverage if passengers don't want to travel out of fear or concern, says Dan McGinnity, spokesman for Travel Guard. For example, canceling travel to a destination for fear of contracting swine flu wouldn't be a covered with a basic travel insurance policy.
That's one reason some travelers are opting for "cancel for any reason" upgrades to their policies, available from most of the major travel insurance providers. Though more expensive, cancel for any reason coverage typically allows travelers to scrap their trip for any reason, no matter how minor, and recoup most of their money so long as they cancel 48 hours or more in advance.
A "cancel for any reason" upgrade through Travel Guard, for example, would reimburse 75 percent of all nonrefundable expenses, should the trip be canceled for any reason not otherwise covered under the policy. (Those that are covered would receive 100 percent reimbursement.) The option is available when the plan is purchased within 15 days of the initial trip payment, McGinnity says.
The policy upgrade costs 40 percent to 50 percent more than a regular travel insurance policy, but there are a number of benefits that consumers view as invaluable, says Grace of InsureMyTrip.com. The upgrade has become popular because it takes all of the guesswork out of purchasing travel insurance and it gives travelers the advantage of being able to cancel their trips at any time and recouping 50 percent to 100 percent of your trip costs.

Cruises

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, travel insurance policies address the needs of cruise passengers with trip-cancellation/interruption, medical and evacuation coverage, and enhancements such as missed cruise connection coverage: If you miss a flight and can't board your ship, the insurance covers the flight to the ship's next port and provides reimbursement for the portion of the cruise that was missed. Some policies even provide assistance for anything that might occur en route to ports, including roadside assistance.

Weathering the storm

What does hurricane insurance cover?

Accommodation at a destination that has been deemed inhabitable Mandatory evacuation and cancellation coverage Reissue fees for your airline tickets Emergency evacuation Medical emergencies 24-hour assistance with hotel/rental car reservations, money wire transfers, lost documents and translation services

If riding out a hurricane in the basement of a resort while eating bags of peanuts isn't your idea of a great way to spend your vacation, inclement weather insurance may be for you. In most instances, it provides reimbursement for a trip that has been disrupted by a tropical storm. In addition to tropical storms, it also covers tropical depressions, floods, snowstorms and tsunamis.
Hurricanes are a top concern among travelers. If prevention is the best medicine, then avoid booking trips during hurricane season. In the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico it runs June 1 to Nov. 30. The season peaks in September.
Trying to determine which plan is best can be time consuming, but, says Frank Shellabear, sales division president at CSA Travel Protection, it's imperative to read the fine print of a travel insurance policy.

Hurricane insurance tips

• Most travel insurance policies that offer hurricane insurance will only provide coverage within 24 hours of your departure, and only if you've held the policy for 15 days.
• Since insurance is based on unforeseen circumstances, once a hurricane is named it is considered foreseen, and you won't be covered for losses associated with that storm.
• Pay close attention to your policy and always read the fine print. Often a hurricane is under the natural disaster or inclement weather category.
• A policy that provides cancel for any reason coverage can be a good bet when it comes to coverage for hurricanes.
• Some airline, cruise and tour operators offer alternate trips for the same travel dates. If you refuse the offer and if the dates are different, most insurance companies will pay the claim.
• There are policies that cover travel delays if you're traveling by car.
• If your resort has sustained damage from a hurricane before you leave for your trip and cannot accommodate you or find alternate accommodations for you, your nonrefundable costs will generally be reimbursed by your travel policy.
• If a storm directly affects your travel arrangements and accommodations, you can be entitled to trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits.
• Most travel insurance pays for accommodations during a travel delay until travel becomes possible again.

Be aware of what policies cover and what they do not, Shellabear says. There are subtle differences between the policies that may appeal to some, but not others. A lot of it has to do with convenience. In the event something happens, can you talk to a live person 24 hours a day to get help? A lot of companies also only cover your claim 7 to 14 days after the initial deposit. That way you don't have to pay an insurance premium until you really need it.
Airlines, cruise lines and other travel providers sell travel insurance policies. Travel experts agree that independent travel insurers usually offer the best and most affordable coverage. Grace at InsureMyTrip.com says that travel insurance can be purchased from an online insurance provider or through a travel agent. He suggests that you purchase a policy on the same day you purchase you trip.

Other ways to cover travel

Consumers should be aware that insurance offered through credit cards may not provide adequate coverage, Shellabear says. According to a 2008 study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, 85 percent of credit cards reviewed contained no coverage for trip cancellation. Even when such coverage was available, it typically was much more limited than the coverage offered in a traditional travel insurance program.
Travelers who are bumped from flights may qualify for denied-boarding compensation -- a cash payment up to $800 -- a federally guaranteed insurance policy for reimbursement.
The Fair Credit Billing Act provides an appeal mechanism to those who were charged for goods and services never received. If you pay with a credit card and your cruise line goes bankrupt, you can file for a refund. However, this protection is active for only 60 days after the date of purchase.
Some aspects of travel insurance may be covered by your homeowners insurance, such as personal property that is damaged or stolen during a trip. This can include clothing, sports gear and luggage. The III says it may be cost-effective to purchase a floater to your homeowners or renters policy to make sure expensive items are covered.

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Do you think it’s possible to have too many options? Well, Audi clearly doesn’t. In the United States alone, the German brand offers 14 different body styles (not counting S models as a separate body style) and 21 models in its lineup. Next year, that number will continue to grow by at least another handful. However, the big news for the brand this year comes in the form of its first attempt at creating a Mercedes-Benz CLS competitor, the new 2012 Audi A7.
Now, granted that the Mercedes-Benz CLS really started the sloping roofline four-door-coupe luxury segment, others like Porsche have stepped in to grab a piece of the pie. While I’m not a big fan of the Porsche Panamera’s appearance, the Audi A7 definitely wins my approval. Before I even get into a full review of the new Audi, I’m going to go ahead and say that compared to the Benz CLS, the Audi is, without question, an overall superior machine. Why? Let’s have a look.

2012 Audi A7 Specifications:

• Style: Sedan.
• Drive Type: All-wheel-drive.
• Seating Capacity: 4.
• Base Price: $59,250.
• Price As Tested: $81,980.
• Engine: 3.0 liter TFSI Supercharged V6 – 310-hp at 5,500 rpm / 325 lb-ft of torque at 2,900 -4,500 rpm.
• Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic.
• 0 to 60 mph: 5.4.
• Top Speed: 130 mph.
• Curb Weight: 4,210 lbs.
• Fuel-economy (city/highway/combined): 18/28/22 mpg.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana, Nikolina Kostrevski - egmCarTech.

Exterior:

The new 2012 Audi A7 fits into the brand’s lineup between the A6 and the massive A8, but is by no means a medium sized car. The new large Ingolstadt sedan is 16.31 ft long, and has a wheelbase of 9.55 ft and stands 6.27 ft wide. Nonetheless, the A7 maintains a very sporty stance and stands just 4.66 ft tall.
I have to say that after the R8, the Audi A7 is the most beautiful car in the company’s lineup that bears the four-ringed badge. From the signature, sleek-design of the LED headlamps to its sloping roofline, Audi’s exterior designers paid close attention to making the A7 a drop-dead gorgeous car.

I have to say that after the R8, the Audi A7 is the most beautiful car in the company’s lineup that bears the four-ringed badge.

When viewed directly from the front, the sedan has a wonderfully designed front fascia, reminiscent of the R8. However, when viewed from the side, the A7 has the looks of an exceptional luxury sedan from the B-pillar and forward. From the B-pillar and back, the A7 has the appeal of high-end sports coupe. Not to mention, when you bring up the spoiler with the touch of a button, you may just mistake the A7 for a coupe and not the luxury sedan it is. According to Stefan Sielaff, Head of Design at Audi AG: “Audi design is the harmony of form and function. It is the perfect interaction with technology and an expression of beauty; the aesthetic staging of highly developed technology.”
Sielaff is on point with his statement as function in the A7 hasn’t been sacrificed in the interest of form.

Interior:

The Audi A7 has a practical hatchback tailgate which opens to a very generously sized boot – if you need more space, the A7′s rear seats fold flat down for extra room.
But how is comfort for the rear passengers? After all, this is a sedan we’re talking about. Hop in the back and you’ll notice that the A7 offers ample legroom for rear-seat passengers. However, as with all these four-door-coupes in the segment, accommodating for the sloping roofline takes precedence over head room. I’m 6 foot tall and I could feel by hair brushing up against the roof. Nonetheless, the rear passengers do get their own climate control system and heated leather seats to keep them comfortable.

Compared to its competitors, Audi still builds one of the most impressive, ergonomic and quality built interiors in the luxury segment, and the A7 reaffirms that…

So we know how the passengers feel in the car, but what about the most important factor: How is it from the point of view of the driver? When you get in the driver’s seat you’re welcomed by one of the most stylish, luxurious and sporty cabins I’ve seen in the segment. The full front-dash encompasses the driver in a cocoon-like area and is packed with gadgets and gizmos. Just to name some of the features that were available in our test-car, the fully-loaded A7 Prestige Plus came with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Head-up Display, Night Vision assistant (an outstanding one at that), MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, Google Earth (yes, your navigation map displays Google Earth satellite imagery), and heated and cooled front seats. As impressive as all these features sound, it is the Bang and Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 15 speakers including sub woofer, center speaker and acoustic lens emerging tweeters that always blew me away. However, what also blew me away is the $5,900 price tag of the sound system. Nonetheless, I have to say it is by far the best I’ve ever experienced in an automobile.
Compared to its competitors, Audi still builds one of the most impressive, ergonomic and quality built interiors in the luxury segment, and the A7 reaffirms that fact and takes it just a step further with touches like veneer layers of light and dark oak.

Performance:

While the wheel control arms and many other chassis components in the Audi A7 are made of aluminum – it is still a very heavy car, weighing in at an outstanding 4,210 pounds. That takes away from the A7 feeling anything like a sports car, but the combination of the engine and Audi’s 8-speed Tiptronic transmission still make it pretty engaging to drive.
I wouldn’t recommend taking sharp turns at high-speeds, but the quattro all-wheel-drive system will indeed make you feel comfortable going through long bends on the highways and country roads at speeds that can make you feel a little bit sick. Audi also offers its Driver Select program, that when set to Dynamic, actively distributes power to and between the rear wheels, as a nice complement to quattro drive. Now, don’t expect the Dynamic mode to throw you back in your seat for some aggressive performance – just expect it to make you smile… just a little.
In the United States, the 2012 Audi A7 is available with only one engine option – the 3.0 liter TFSI V6 supercharged engine. It makes 310-hp at 5,500 rpm with a maximum torque of 325 lb-ft  between 2,900 and 4,500 rpm. Mated to an 8-speed Tipronic transmission, 0 to 60 mph comes in a zippy 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph.
Just keep in mind, at the end of the day, the A7 is not a sports car and I really don’t think it’s trying to be one. Spending a week with the 2012 Audi A7, I realized that Audi is offering a comfortable, relaxing and quiet ride for those willing to depart with a lot of hard earned cash.
But what about the enthusiasts that still feel a bit unsatisfied? Next year, Audi will answer your call with the new 420-hp twin-turbo V8 S7.

Overall:

On the topic of hard earned cash, I have only one major warning to give anyone that is considering buying the new 2012 Audi A7. It is easy to look at the base price and get carried away when it comes to adding options when buying this car.
While the price of the A7 starts at a fairly modest $59,250, Audi offers over $20,000 in options, so you could be walking out of the dealership with $83,180 less than you had in your bank account. I do recommend that if you select any options, the $5,900 Bang and Olufsen Sound System is worth every penny… jus like the car.
For those of you that still feel Stuttgart’s CLS is a better car, there are only two trim levels in the United States at the moment – the $71,300 CLS550 and the $94,900 CLS63 AMG – both of which look very awkward from the back.

Review: 2012 Cadillac SRX renders the Lexus RX pointless

Let’s take a quick trip back in time to the 1960s and early 1970s. A time when a gallon of regular hovered just around the 30-40-cent mark and its primary additive was tetra-ethyl lead. It was a time where conservation and efficiency were afterthoughts and a man’s wealth was determined by the size of their automobile rather than how much chrome it had. Foreign nameplates were just beginning to trickle their way into the world’s largest automobile market at the time with very limited success.Typically, if you were an individual of wealth in search for a luxury automobile, you would beeline it to America’s second oldest brand—the marque whose slogan has stuck history as the “Standard of the World.” Elvis had many and so did countless other individuals of equal, prominent stature such as politicians and performers. And that’s because Cadillac was the undoubted buy word for pure luxury.
Even if you didn’t live to see this time, Cadillac’s reputation and corporate philosophy of producing cars with precision engineering and stylish luxury is indubitably embedded in history. Essentially, they were America’s Mercedes-Benz.
Now though, Cadillac isn’t the only brand you’re confronted with when in search for a luxury automobile. Much time elapsed since the brand’s last peak, even facing death for some time in the 1990s. It was not until Cadillac introduced the CTS that they began to regain some of the luxury market share, which was mostly lost to the foreign offerings. Fast forward to today, post-General Motors bailout, Cadillac has certainly come a long way.
In order to keep up with the foreign competition, Cadillac introduced their first crossover back in 2004 with the CTS-based SRX, which didn’t turn out to be so terrible, especially with its rear-wheel drive roots and 4.6l Northstar V8. It was a worthy competitor in its segment, but was still overshadowed by the foreign offerings. Plagued with General Motors’ pre-bailout shoddy build quality on top of being a quirky design, the SRX was a bit of a slow seller. It was rather unfortunate too since the rear-wheel drive SRX was scoring well across the desks of automotive publications, winning some titles such as one of Car & Driver’s Five Best Luxury SUVs for 2004, 2005, and 2006 and a nomination for the North American Truck of the Year award in 2004.

2012 Cadillac SRX Specifications:

• Style: Crossover.
• Drive Type: FWD / AWD.
• Seating Capacity: 5.
• Base Price: $35,185.
• Price As Tested: $48,245.
• Engine: 3.0 liter V6 – 308-hp / 365 lb-ft of torque.
• Transmission: 6-speed automatic.
• 0 to 60 mph: 7.0 seconds.
• Top Speed: 132 mph.
• Curb Weight: 4,277 lbs (4,442 lbs for AWD).
• Fuel-economy (city/highway/combined): 18/25 mpg (AWD model gets 17/23 mpg).

All Photos Copyright © Nikolina Kostrevski - egmCarTech.
The SRX was completely reworked in 2009 to be based off of GM’s new Theta Premium platform, internally dubbed the GM267. And its purpose was clear: to attempt to dethrone the segment-leading, proverbial Lexus RX350. So, because the current SRX has been with us for about three years now, Cadillac had sent the SRX back to the drawing board for a little mid-cycle refresh to further focus its aim on the Lexus. Over the life of the SRX, Cadillac was sure to listen very closely to the feedback given from customers and automotive journalists alike. And when egmCarTech reviewed the SRX twice (here and here) not too long ago, we liked it a lot. But there were some widely expressed concerns with the still lackluster powertrain when compared to the competition and to address those concerns, Cadillac made sure to focus on those concerns by axing the original two V6 powerplants for just one option. So, how does it fare?

Exterior:

…out of all of the SRX’s direct competitors, the SRX takes the trophy for the best aesthetics.

Visually, the Cadillac SRX pretty much remains untouched for 2012. So I won’t get too into detail, but because this is my first take on the Cadillac SRX, I have to say that out of all of the SRX’s direct competitors, the SRX takes the trophy for the best aesthetics. Clearly American, yet modern and loyal to Cadillac’s hugely successful design language of “Art and Science,” the same that coined the CTS’s and XLR’s drop dead sexy looks, the SRX is quite the looker. Where as the segment-leading Lexus RX350 sacrificed its humdrum, yet subtly handsome looks for something more dramatic and equally mundane for the complete redesign in 2010, the Cadillac’s sharp, chiseled and edgy angles gives it much more presence and character that is wholly representative of the evolution of American auto design, something alone that is worth its own merit.

Interior:

The modern good looks transcend the insides as well. Forget any premonitions that this SRX is cheaply built, because it’s nearly the complete opposite of Cadllacs from the last three decades. None of the bargain-basement plastics can be found in this latest SRX. Nearly every surface inside of the Cadillac is covered in soft touch material or high-quality feeling leather. There’s a good balance between the execution of real wood and faux metal trim, contributing to a very warming and upscale ambiance to the cabin. And Cadillac’s pursuit for the “Standard of the World” can be well exhibited, holding true to the brand’s reputation for luxury.

There’s a good balance between the execution of real wood and faux metal trim, contributing to a very warming and upscale ambiance to the cabin.

There’s a great sense of attention to detail when compared to Cadillacs that I’m personally used to. Buttons were kept to a minimum and everything was legible, easy to operate and refined in their operations. And the infotainment system’s quick responses, ease of use and pleasant graphics were definitely praiseworthy much like its other versions found in other GM vehicles. However I could point out a hint or two that the Cadillac is still built to a budget as the interior was lacking some refinement. For instance, the vertical distance between the gas and brake pedal is completely off. The brake pedal was so high in relative to the throttle that I often found myself getting my shoe caught under the brake pedal. That’s not only bothersome, but a major safety issue as well. The next instance isn’t as dramatic, but when we decided to test out the 10-speaker Bose surround sound system, there was quite a bit of rattling whenever the subwoofer emphasized any sort of low frequencies. It’s a minor foible, yes, but it was just a little nuisance. Lastly, the seats I thought were bit too small. Though they had decent support, they were a bit hard for a luxury car and felt like they were positioned too forward, giving off the feeling that my face should always be up close and personal with the windshield.

Performance:

The biggest change for the 2012 SRX was the consolidation of the SRX’s powertrain. Before the update, buyers could choose from either a 3.0l direct-injected V6 that was good for 265hp and 223 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.8l turbocharged V6 that produced 300hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged V6 was a tough sell because it was not the most refined engine. And the 3.0l was a bit gutless, especially since it had to lug about 4,277 lbs through its front wheels, 4,442 lbs if you had all-wheel drive.
So to make things easier, they dropped the two latter for a naturally-aspirated, direct-injected 3.6L V6 that churns out 308hp and 265 torques. Although the differences in the numbers aren’t significant, the 3.6l easily sets itself as far more superior to the previous two V6s and it all comes down to the power delivery. The 3.0l V6 needed a solid thrashing in order to take full advantage of its power band; where as the turbocharged 2.8l V6 was just all over the place with its nonlinear power delivery and noticeable turbo lag. The 3.6l V6 on the other hand is a far livelier and more refined engine. Torque peaks at a low 2400 RPM while horsepower peaks at 6800 RPM. The result is a very wide and effortlessly linear power band.
Channeling the power to the axle(s) is GM’s electronically controlled Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic, the same cog swapper mated to the original 2.8l. That means the transmission comes standard with a manual control function and the same “Eco” mode that debuted with the 2.8l. Though the shifts were smooth, the gearbox had the tendency to be downshift-happy. Any throttle pedal input greater than the growth of your toenail forced the SRX to downshift two gears, as if you were flooring it on a German car with the kickdown switch. It was rather irritating and unnecessary, especially if you just wanted to casually accelerate. It gave me the sense that Cadillac wanted to keep the SRX interesting by making the transmission react in a sportier manner, but they tried a little too hard. Shifting the selector to the right engages the SRX’s standard sport program, which just holds the gears. Hit the “Eco” button and the SRX’s Hydra-Matic upshifts just slightly earlier to give the SRX a 17/24 city/highway EPA fuel rating. Either way, if you prod the throttle above 15%, down come two gears.
On paper, it seemed they went a little backwards because the new platform changed the drive wheels from rear and all-wheel to just front or all-wheel to again, set the SRX’s aim directly at the Lexus. Where as the rear-wheel drive SRX handled well enough to satisfy the enthusiastic driver, the new SRX goes for a more neutral approach.
Our tester was equipped with Cadillac’s adaptive suspension and the results were rather surprising. Body motions are well controlled with no waft. Crank the Cadillac’s three-spoke wheel and the SRX will glide from bend to bend with poised composure. But don’t think for a minute that this is a BMW X5, because it’s far from it. The brakes, although firm and responsive, were lacking in feel. The steering is also very praise worthy when compared to the Lexus. Much like a Mercedes, it is solid, accurate, well weighted, has good feedback, but also lacking in feel. In fact, the whole driving experience mimics that of a Mercedes. Push the SRX to the limits and understeer is the name of the game. But the threshold at which understeer became truly apparent was high enough to make the enthusiasts smirk and keep the average driver safe.
And despite the optional 20-inch rims, the Cadillac’s ride was absolutely superb in nearly every way and is by far the closest to anything from Germany. Smooth, serene and most of all, solid, are the best ways to describe the SRX’s ride. Nearly ever road imperfection I encountered was completely shrugged off; and keep in mind, these were on the severely battered roads of New York City and New Jersey.

Overall:

Overall, Cadillac discovered that marketing their crossover to the enthusiast wasn’t going to yield the success that they sought. And while the SRX sacrifices its edgy-performance and commendable rear-wheel drive handling for something more serene and neutral, that’s not at all by any means a bad thing.

…the (Lexus) RX just doesn’t hold a candle to the Cadillac’s gorgeous and thoroughly modern-American design.

Remember the quick history refresher, Cadillac’s core corporate philosophy has always been about luxury. And while you do get that with the Lexus, the RX just doesn’t hold a candle to the Cadillac’s gorgeous and thoroughly modern-American design. The SRX’s driving experience may not be enthralling, but it makes the RX350 feel like a complete mess. Not to mention, there are many other alternatives to look into if you’re considering a performance luxury crossover. But to answer the ultimate question of whether the Cadillac SRX smashes the RX350 against the wall or not, the answer would be no and that could be attributed to the Cadillac’s shortcomings in interior refinement and the downshift-happy transmission. Additionally, Lexus’s impeccable reliability, unmatched refinement and wide loyal customer base may keep the RX ahead in terms of sales. But if I were asked, I’d gladly walk away with the SRX.

VW Group to launch MQB platform in Geneva with new Audi A3

FRANKFURT -- When Audi unveils its new A3 at next month's Geneva auto show it will be the first vehicle to use parent Volkswagen Group's new Modular Transverse Toolkit. VW plans to use the modular platform to underpin 6 million vehicles across 40 different models within the Audi, VW, Skoda and Seat brands by 2018.
VW says the new platform, which is abbreviated to MQB (short for Modularer Querbaukasten in German), will help it cut costs by 20 percent and reduce assembly hours by 30 percent per unit. The MQB architecture also will allow the automaker to boost output, increase profit margins and allow it increased production flexibility when building different models and even different brands on the same assembly line, VW said.
The second model to use the MQB will be the seventh-generation Golf, which will be unveiled at the Paris auto show in September. The modularity of the platform will let VW produce everything from the VW Polo subcompact to the VW Tiguan compact SUV.
Flexibility of new platforms
Carmakers have been utilizing platform sharing for decades, but in the past it meant using the same chassis, leading to very similar cars that shared the same wheelbase and suspension setup. As platforms have become more flexible and the use of different large modules has become more common, automakers are now able to produce cars with dramatically different shapes and sizes at the same plant, that are all virtually identical under the skin.
At the heart of VW's MQB platform is the uniform engine-mounting position that allows the automaker to integrate a range of 60-hp to 150-hp gasoline engines and 90-hp to 190-hp diesel units. The engine-mounting position also will allow the use of current alternative drivetrains such as natural gas, hybrid and battery driven, VW said in a statement this week.
The other modular platforms that VW Group uses are Audi's Modular Longitudinal System (MLB), Porsche's Modular Standard System (MSB) and a minicar platform developed for the automaker's so-called "New Small Family," which is used for the VW Up, Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo models and will be rolled out in the next few years on other vehicles including a minivan and coupe.
According to figures from PricewaterhouseCoopers, VW's MQB will underpin 3.6 million vehicles by 2015 (see below), ranking it second in the world for units off one architecture. PwC forecasts that Renault-Nissan's X85 platform will be the world's largest in 2015, underpinning 3.8 million vehicles.