For once, I've found a car that lives up to its advance billing.

It's Cadillac's new 2004 SRX. Caddy prefers to see it as an SUV or crossover. But I think "station wagon" is closer to the truth. And that's OK. Whatever it is, many jaded auto writers have hailed it as a thoroughly exciting, elegant car that more than meets its European competition halfway.

Cadillac 2004 Cadillac SRX V-8. The Bottom Line -- Price: $50,320. Fuel economy: 15 city, 20 highway. Estimated annual fuel cost: $1,411. Powertrain: all-wheel drive, with 4.6-liter, 315-horsepower V-8 with five-speed automatic. Click photo for larger image.

SRX is truly a landmark, and it's only the latest evidence, after the CTS, that Cadillac has turned an important corner and is burning up the comeback road.

Style-wise, there's nothing out there like it -- especially from the front. Stacked headlights, egg-crate, blacked-out grille and a dramatic slope had heads snapping everywhere I drove. The profile reflects Cadillac's new styling direction with full wheel cutouts -- no fender skirts here like Caddies of old.

Instead, you get blade-like taillights and creases that look like Japanese origami in metal.

Our silver SRX was the model equipped with a 4.6-liter, 320-horsepower Northstar V-8, but a less expensive model, with a 3.6-liter, 260-horsepower V-6 also is available. My V-8 had a base price of $46,300, and after options were added, the bottom line was $50,320.

The V-6 model is considerably less expensive, starting at $38,690 -- not much more than a well-equipped Ford Explorer or Chevy TrailBlazer. And it looks just like the costlier V-8 model -- and nobody would be the wiser.

If I were Cadillac, I would make sure there were plenty of V-6 SRXs with just base equipment out there on dealer lots and advertise like crazy.

The SRX above all else is for the buyer who wants strong performance and handling but doesn't want the rough, edgy, high-speed feel of the BMW X5.

The only other similar model I've driven that I liked as much as the SRX was the Volvo XC90, which is priced in the same bracket. The Volvo has a slight edge in terms of safety and rollover equipment. But the ride is unmistakably like an SUV, albeit a good one, while the SRX has a much more refined and carlike ride.

In fact, thanks to the way the SRX handles bumps and potholes, and the way it absorbs uneven ride surfaces, it's one of the best -- maybe the best -- of the products in its class in providing a carlike experience.

	Cadillac Interior of the Cadillac SRX V-8. Click photo for larger image.

Its size, by the way, is just about dead-on perfect for urban driving. It's easy to park, and that's made simpler by the parking assist system with which mine was equipped.

It's also got nifty features. If you order a third-row seat, you'll find its power folding at the touch of a switch for a flat floor. And, if you use it for seating, third-row passengers get theater-style comfort, sitting 5 inches higher than the second row and 7 inches higher than the first row.

It also has a Stability Enhancement System in which sensors monitor wheel speed, steering angle, brake and throttle pressure and other factors, and engaging the brakes and drivetrain to help you remain stable on the road. And if you like the sun, order the "UltraView" sunroof. It comes with integrated power shades and a wind diffuser, and stretches past the second-row seats -- the biggest sunroof around.

There's also an optional cargo management system that has three big compartments and removable storage bins for carrying valuables. It's an alternative to third-row seating if you choose.

Now let's look at quality control. My SRX was built like a tank, with high quality materials and nice, thick steel for the body. Doors closed solidly, and there were no gaps, paint globs or loose threads anywhere. All the fenders and exterior pieces lined up perfectly. Overall, it's quite comparable to just about any Mercedes or Audi product I've driven.

How about ambience? The SRX is a thoroughly European feeling car in sleek American clothing. I was struck by how similar the seats were in structure, shape and contour to Mercedes products. Even the styling of the seats reminded me of Benzes.

Also, the shape of the interior -- sort of rounded if you look back from the driver's seat -- struck me as quite European. It really reminded me of the Audi allroad. The engine, too, performed like the best of the best. When at idle, it is completely silent, like Lexus products I've driven.

I was generally pleased with the performance I got from the engine, although it performed better at higher revolutions and speed than it did at lower ones, when it even felt sluggish and heavy on launching from a stop. It's equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission that has a manual shift feature. I didn't feel that it snapped off gear changes as quickly as I would have liked, and it felt as if there were a fraction of a second's hesitation between the time I shifted and the car responded.

I did much better last fall when I tested the SRX on a high-speed course. The black model I drove then felt much faster, and the shift changes, much more responsive, confirming my opinion that the SRX is a much faster, more brisk ride at higher speeds than lower ones.

The back seat of the SRX is plenty roomy, and there's a handy control on the ceiling in the back for directing more air into that compartment. Headrests were at an angle and of a design that made for comfy riding or napping in the rear.

Inside, fittings are nice, but the interior doors' plastic needs some rethinking and classing up. It's a better quality than you find on most GM products, but still not what it should be for a car in this class. It would be nice if Cadillac would adorn that nice, chunky switchgear with brushed aluminum for a classier look.

The dash and other pieces are just like the SRX's. Cadillac should know that both models are terrific ones that deserve their own identities and interior designs It will be a tad costlier, but if you're going to compete with the big boys, do it all the way.

Overall, the SRX makes it abundantly clear that Cadillac is once more a force to be reckoned with in the luxury field.