Debating the merits and value of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon are Wheels editor Amy Rollins and freelance automotive writer Dave Mikesell.
AMY: Dave, Dave, Dave, what’s the problem here? The name says it all; you just don’t speak Cadillac.
When it comes to this vehicle, pay close attention to the word Sport — that says it all. Having drooled on and driven multiple CTSs over the years, I welcome the new kid on Cadillac’s block.
DAVE: While it is true that I, as a mere child, logged several thousand miles in the cargo end of a General Motors station wagon, it was nothing like the CTS.
There are nine versions of the Sport Wagon, with the entry-level price being $43,230 for the Luxury version and the high-end price starting at $53,620 for the Premium trim.
Among other items, price points are differentiated by whether the car is rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and if it has a 3.0-liter V-6 engine or a 3.6-liter V-6.
AMY: This was my final test-drive vehicle for 2009, and what a way to go out. Most noticeable are the fin-like taillamp structures at the rear, with gorgeous light-pipe technology. I’d follow one of these in traffic all day long.
DAVE: Amy and I drove different versions of the rear-wheel-drive Premium model with the larger V-6 engine. This powerplant combines with a 6-speed automatic transmission to produce 304 horsepower (the smaller engine knocks out 270 horsepower). I found this to be sufficient in all manner of driving areas and speeds. What I never felt like was that I was driving a station wagon. I guess that’s what was in mind with the label Sport Wagon.
AMY: As befitting its luxury vehicle status, the CTS Sport Wagon handles as few others on the road do. Large wheels, GM’s Stabilitrak antiskid system and available all-wheel drive are combined with three different suspension settings for a smooth, yet supple ride. Driving enthusiasts will find plenty to admire here.
DAVE: So once we get by the driving experience, we take a look around and consider both style and substance. If I’m in budget-conscious mode, I’ll take substance.
With a wagon, it’s about cargo space, and there is 25 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 58 cubic feet when those split seats are folded. Nearly 5 of those cubic feet come in the under-floor storage area usually reserved for a spare tire. In its place are tire sealant and an inflator kit. What’s style got to do with it?
AMY: Style, Dave? You, who wears practically the same shirt every day, dare to mention style? This ride could be called the Style Wagon and continues the CTS’ Arts and Science design theme that has been a trendsetter since it first appeared. The sporty cockpit is the same as in the CTS sedan: same hand-cut leather upholstery accented by French stitching, same exotic sapele wood trim that flows soothingly in a large U from door to dash to door, same understated elegance.
Such practical features as a power liftgate, rear pass-through, pet guard cargo net, cargo shade, remote start, cabin odor filter and oversized sunroof strengthen its appeal.
DAVE: The thought that Cadillac would add a wagon to the CTS brand seemed a little out of place to me. The result seems very much in tune. Driving the Sport Wagon, the emphasis is on Sport. Loading the vehicle, the emphasis is on Wagon. That’s a winning combination for me.
AMY: In the Jan. 5, 2008, issue of Wheels, when I reviewed the 2008 Cadillac CTS all-wheel drive sedan, I wrote the following: “It all adds up to wanting to say, as Motor Trend magazine did when its editors selected the sporty CTS for its Car of the Year honors, “Here on Planet Earth landed an all-new, thoroughly reborn Cadillac, model year 2008, A.D.” For sure, the CTS has the goods to send auto aficionados over the moon.”
I could write the same of this latest addition to the CTS portfolio. Well done.
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