2010 Cadillac CTS SportWagon

As a company, Cadillac has had a long and glorious history. Once heralded as the standard of the world, Cadillac still holds a special place in the consciousness of the general public. When something is really nice, it is even now said to be the 'Cadillac' of whatever that thing is. And now we have the Cadillac of station wagons.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is the first factory-built station wagon to wear the wreath and crest logo that wasn’t an ambulance or a hearse. However, the CTS Sport Wagon is as fast as you’d want an ambulance to be and as stately as you’d expect a hearse to be – all while displaying a thoroughly modern, athletic, and remarkably handsome visage.

Based on the second generation CTS sedan introduced in 2008, the CTS Sport Wagon shares powertrains, size and key attributes with its sedan sibling. Clever solutions such as the integrated roof rack system maintain the car’s sleek profile while simultaneously imbuing it with expanded utility.

Rather than raised stanchions, brackets and cross bars that protrude above the roofline, the CTS Sport Wagon’s roof rack system blends with the roofline, maintaining an uninterrupted appearance. The center section of the roof panel angles downward inside the roof edges, allowing an unobtrusive placement of the cross bars – and creating a subtle fin effect at the trailing edges of the rear panels.

In its transformation to wagon, the CTS also incorporates useful innovations inside. The rear cargo area contains an integrated aluminum cargo management system that allows reconfiguration to secure nearly any shape and size item you’ll need to carry. Another useful feature stows under the floor when not in use. The floor panel flips to reveal a storage bin. A power liftgate is standard and can be programmed to lift to a specific height.

But before you start thinking all of this emphasis on practicality is at the expense of the driving pleasure we’ve come to expect from the sportiest Caddy, please be apprised that from behind the wheel, the CTS Sport Wagon displays all the balance and alacrity of the sedan. With 51/49-weight distribution the Sport Wagon is nicely balanced and is a rewarding driver in sporting situations.

Yes, I prefer the 304-horsepower 3.6-liter engine to the 270-horsepower 3.0-liter, but hey, by now I’m pretty sure you all know where my proclivities lie. Faster is good – real good. That said though, the 3.0-liter is more than adequate for any task the Sport Wagon is liable to encounter. A six-speed automatic conducts power to the rear wheels with both engines. All-wheel drive is available.

Naturally, a premium is placed on the interior’s style, comfort and convenience. After all, this is a Cadillac we’re talking about here. The integrated center stack design, offered with either a satin metallic finish or Sapele Pommele wood, blends into the lower instrument panel that sweeps forward and away from front-seat occupants. The hand-assembled center console leads seamlessly into the center stack, providing a cockpit feel for the driver and passenger without compromising space.

Amenities include integrated iPod/MP3 capability, a 40-gig hard drive audio system, a navigation system, mobile internet router, an adaptive forward lighting system that swivels the headlamps in concert with the front wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, Keyless Access and Smart Remote Start, a Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround audio system, ultrasonic park assist, a panoramic sunroof, and On Star’s turn by turn navigation.

In many ways, the former leader is now the follower. Cadillac must have a wagon to compete with its rivals at Audi, BMW and Mercedes. In driving dynamics, the Caddy has already bested its rivals from “over there”, so in many ways the Sport Wagon has a good head start. However, it remains to be seen whether Americans will cotton to a domestic Sport Wagon the way they did to SUVs. In my opinion, buyers could do a lot worse, 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon pricing starts at $44,325.
-LCb.