Smooth, quiet ride. Comfortable, spacious leather interior with wood paneling. New 308-hp 3.6L V6 makes satisfying noises while accelerating. Performance model comes with a superb Bose audio system, with intuitive navigation system, iPod/USB interface, and Bluetooth pairing for mobile devices. Rainsense wipers are an excellent feature in the Pacific Northwest. Good storage space. Instrument panel stylish.

From changing the radio station to hitting the gas, there’s a notable pause before anything happens. Brakes are quite unresponsive, and the automatic transmission seems rough and has difficulty keeping up. Styling evokes visions of Megatron from Michael Bay’s “Transformers” franchise. Ground clearance is nearly nonexistent.

It’s hard to pin down problems with the SRX that aren’t problems with the entire crossover genre. There are contradictions everywhere. The 308-hp V6 makes a beautiful sound, but it’s lugging around one of the heaviest crossovers on the market. The styling borrows from the sportier CTS line, but the performance doesn’t. The SRX doesn’t offer any of the benefits of an SUV either, but highway driving is a comfortable experience. In effect, the SRX is a great high-end minivan, but it’s an expensive choice in a crowded field.