tCE Reviews - How and Where we test

While we finish up our review of the new 2010 SRX turbo - it seemed like a good time to go over how and where the Caddy Edge tests cars - just to give some context to our upcoming discussion from how the SRX works/looks/drives in that world. Where we test tCE headquarters is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains north of Denver, CO (somewhere on the left side of this map).
View Larger Map This area is ideally suited to stressing the suspension and powertrain aspects of most cars and especially any vehicles with sporting intentions like the modern Cadillacs. Softly sprung or lumbering vehicles will feel decidedly out of their element with the sweeping curves and sharp switch-backs found on the rural highways up and down the northern and central foothills of Colorado. Anything with questionable traction will be exposed by the occasional sand covered corners that result from either winter prep of the roads or from the runoff from the warmer months' rains. It is a challenging, real-world test track if ever there was one. Additionally, lest you think we only care about at-the-limit behaviors, we have quick access to urban areas, mid-sized city streets (often in some state of disrepair and construction), and interstate highways - ideal for evaluating high speed stability and road noise. Also, our standard test loop involves an elevation change of over 2000 feet mixed in with the aforementioned curving mountain roads helping to uncover any power deficits or odd behaviors at altitude. How we test Unlike some publications that only care about the fringes of a vehicle's behavior. At tCE, we realize that we all spend most of our time in the day-to-day slog and that the function of the interior and its features are of incredible importance. Look and feel of the interior materials and design are important, especially when we are plopping down the kind of money Cadillac asks for its cars - but control layout and function of all those electronic gizmos is easily as important. Difficult to use navigation and entertainment can ruin the ride just as much as any failing in performance. So, expect a focus on how the features and creature comforts are to use and any ergonomic quirks that might either annoy or infuriate a potential buyer. So, it really is that simple. A challenging road environment and an eye to the functions that you would encounter daily and that is the Caddy Edge's philosophy to a road test. Surprising to some, I'm sure, would be that we're not here to rubber-stamp any Cadillac simply because we're fans - if only because it is only by being hard to please that we will get better Cadillacs and help Cadillac attract more customers down the line.