Don't laugh, because the 2004 Cadillac SRX is equipped with a sophisticated aluminum independent suspension employing Magnetic Ride Control (MRC), a system of shock absorbers filled with magnetically charged fluid that varies in viscosity depending on road conditions. Cadillac says that MRC damping levels are adjusted up to 1,000 times per second for optimum wheel control, ride quality and handling. Helping the Cadillac SRX stick to the pavement are 17-inch wheels and tires on the V6 models and 18-inch rubber for V8 versions. And, just in case things do get a bit out of control, the latest version of StabiliTrak traction and stability control is standard. Four-wheel-vented-disc ABS with Dynamic Rear Proportioning (DRP) is included on every Cadillac SRX, and speed-sensitive variable assist power steering guides the way. Just because it's meant to be driven primarily on the pavement, don't assume that the SRX can't manage light off-roading. The all-wheel-drive system splits power in half between the front and rear axles during normal driving, apportioning more or less oomph fore and aft as wheel slippage dictates. Wheel travel measures a generous eight inches up front and ten inches in back, while a turning radius measuring less than 40 feet makes for relatively easy maneuvering.
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