Vehicle: 2010 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 AWD Wagon
Price as tested: CDN$63930

Performance: The American wagon is coming back! The subject to this test drive is Cadillac’s foray into an arena that has been dominated by German for years. The Cadillac CTS wagon.

The CTS wagon has the same powertrains as its sedan silibing, sans the awesome ZR1-derived V8 in CTS-V. The base CTS comes with a 270hp 3.0 liter V6. However, our loaded tester comes with the upsized 3.6 liter DOHC V6 with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing. 304 hp and 273 lb/ft of torque have extracted from this engine. However, given its weight of 4310 lb as tested. The CTS wagon feels somewhat porky even with the uplevel 304hp engine. Imagine how slow it would be with the basic 270hp. However, the level of refinement of this V6 is simply world-class. Not only does the engine is a smoother operator, the NVH and refinement are able to match anything as good as equivalent Lexus when it comes to quietness. Another great aspect of the powertrain is the smooth 6-speed automatic gearbox. Not only does it shifts smoothly with coordination. The gear ratios have matched this powertrain exceptionally well. Without the short low 1st and 2nd gears, it would make the CTS wagon feels even slower off-the-line. Fortunately, that is not the story. Its able to launch it with authority. The 5th and 6th gears are tall enough for comfortable cruising. However, the lack of paddle shifters on the steering wheel doesn’t encourage enthuisasts to play with the rpm. Which is a pity consider CTS’s sporty demanor. Mesh the sensitive throttle, typical of GM product, CTS seems to accelerate adequately if not breathtakingly. Cadillac has promised to bring us a CTS-V wagon to challenge the likes of RS4 Avant in Europe. It just can’t come soon enough!

Handling: Does the extra box affect the docile dynamics of the CTS we already loved? Definitely not. It all starts with a great chassis, with is ultra-solid and completely feel of any rattles. Then match with a nicely-calibrated suspension and a good AWD system, the CTS wagon simply handles like its on rail. When it comes to cornering prowess, the CTS wagon is able to give the class-leading A4 Avant Quattro a-run-for-its-money. Not only does the roadholding abilities of the CTS is simply superb, the AWD matched with Cadillac’s StabiliTrak have given it a very forgiving driving feel. Its extremely hard to get the CTS out-of-line with both of these excellent active safety features. On the other hand, the steering provides very good feel and feedback, with level of precision one has never seen in an American wagons in the past. While there are still some amount of body rolls and understeer when pushed hard, it remains composed. The AWD certainly worths the extra dough in Canadian winter, as it put safety and security, along with an entertaining drive in one single package.

Brakes: With 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, the CTS wagon has excellent pedal feel. The stopping distance is short and pedal is easily modulated. Unlike previous GM products, CTS’s pedal feels alive even after a couple of hard stops. ABS doesn’t step in unnecessarily is an added bonus.

Interior: When set the wagon apart from the sedan is the amount of versatility in this CTS. In the sedan, you have to reach deep inside to get anything. In the wagon, there is a squared cargo space that anyone can put anything else inside without a sweat. Match with the split fold down rear seats, one can put anything as large as a fridge inside this CTS. With wagon’s awesome practicality, you have to wonder why there are still anyone buying an equivalent sedan especially in CTS’s 33 cubin-in of squared cargo space.

In the front, its what you would expect from a Cadillac. There are plenty of soft-touch plastic and nicely stitched leather all around the dashboard and door panels. Those leather seats provide excellent support without feeling confining. Except for the tiny buttons for dual-zone climate control, its really hard to find flaw in the best interior Cadillac has ever made.

At the back, the more upright C-pillars actually improved the headroom for the back seat passengers. There are plenty of legroom for 3 passenger aboard at the back of the CTS.

Conclusion: Here in DirectShift, we already considered a sportswagon a true “SUV”. It got the sporty dynamics of a sports sedan, practicality of a wagon all wrap up in one attractively attired package. This CTS wagon is such of a well-engineered sportswagon. You have to wonder why there are still so many people buying an SRX?

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2010 Cadillac CTS-4 Wagon
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Performance: 3.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4.5/5
Value-for-money: 4.5/5

Overall rating: 4.5/5