2012 Cadillac SRX
	Price: $48,855 Block heater: $130 Trailering package: $655 Cross rails: $295 Radio with satellite: $2,205 Destination: $1,595 Total: $53,735

You know how some people still say “This one is the Cadillac of its kind,” hearkening back to the days when Cadillac was the ultimate symbol of having arrived?

Remember how there was a time when that didn’t mean anything?

Cadillac, by its own admission today, went through a time when it was far from the pinnacle of automotive achievement. We call them the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and part of the 2000s.

As evidence, we have only one thing that says it all: Cimarron.

But a funny thing happened when Wayne Cherry became head of GM design. He brought in what he called the Arts and Sciences design language, and all of a sudden Cadillacs were edgy.

A bit too edgy, by some people’s estimation, but at least they no longer looked like overcooked Chevrolets and bloated Buicks.

Well, the last few years have seen some tweaks to Cherry’s motif. Some of the harshness has come off and while Cadillac still cuts a unique profile, the brand isn’t quite as polarizing as it was in the early days of Arts and Sciences.

As well, considering that now most Chevrolets are front-wheel drive and most Cadillacs are rear-wheel drive, badge engineering is over.

Couple that with some impressive improvements by GM in build quality and in interior execution, and all of a sudden, Cadillac is getting interesting again.

Today’s example, the SRX, speaks just to that point. The first SRX was a capable, competent crossover that was perhaps a bit too boxy, a bit too edgy.

But they’ve added some angles here and some curves there and softened the overall look nicely.

It comes in a variety of ‘Collections’ (GM’s word) as well as a base model. The base model gives up much of what I think constitutes luxury (no heated seats, no heated steering wheel) and saves so little money that I wonder what is the point.

The SRX starts at $42,160 for the base model and rises to $54,740 for an all-wheel-drive Premium Collection.

Heated seats and steering wheel are standard in all Collections.

The SRX is powered by a 3.6-litre V-6 engine rated for 308 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque.

The Road Trip pick

The SRX starts circling some serious playgrounds at the top end, so I’m going to keep mine to below $50,000 MSRP, but I want some luxury. So I’m opting for the Luxury Collection, in all-wheel drive, at $48,855 (you can save about $3k by opting for two-wheel drive).

To that, I’m adding a block heater ($130), the trailering kit ($655, incl. hitch, harness, oil cooler, transmission cooler) and blackroof cross bars ($295) that fit into the standard roof rails.

Also on the order form is the satellite-ready, Bose audio system ($2,205).

With the trailering package, the SRX can tow 1,587 kg (3,500 lbs).

So what I have is a crossover that drives very much like a car, can tow most light-duty trailers and carries a unique style in the marketplace.