2010 Cadillac CTS

And unlike those nine-passenger Ford Country Squires and Buick Estate Wagons of the target market's youth, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon's rear window doesn't provide an exemplary outward view. Modern wagons need rollover protection, so a thick rear header intrudes into the cargo area, making the optional nav system's rear camera screen quite helpful. Like the German competition, the Cadillac CTS' cargo area is a nicely finished combo of sumptuous carpeting and a chrome cargo-management system.

Motivating 200 pounds more than the sedan, the optional 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 provides plenty of power. It's hard to break the rear tires loose at launch, but the mid- to upper-rev ranges are strong. There's no reason to expect anything better than adequate power from the new 270-horsepower, 223 pound-foot 3.0-liter gas direct-injection V-6, which replaces the port-injected 3.6 as the base CTS engine. Both engines come standard with GM's six-speed automatic. The six-speed manual offered standard in the 2010 Cadillac CTS sedan (which, by the way, has been redesignated Sport Sedan) is not available in the wagon.

WHAT'S NEW: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is Cadillac's first-ever North American wagon. New 3.0L direct-injection V-6 powers the base-model version (now standard across line); a 304-hp V-6 is optional, as is AWD. All-new wagon features power-operated liftgate, 53.4 cu ft of storage with rear seat folded down, and 19-in. wheels. Expect a Cadillac CTS coupe in late 2010.

Buyers will be able to choose from two direct-injection V-6s, the 304-hp, 3.6-liter already used in the sedan and a new 3.0-liter making about 260 hp, which will also be the base engine in the 2010 Cadillac CTS sedan.

The station wagon is the first spin-off from the CTS, Cadillac's best-selling car. A second variant, the CTS coupe, has been delayed until summer 2010. Given the sad state of U.S. wagon sales, we'd never have seen this model except for the fact that station wagons are all the rage in Europe (where Cadillac, until recently, was trying to expand).

The infotainment load parallels 2010 Cadillac CTS standard and optional equipment. Two Bose entertainment systems play through eight or ten speakers. There's a 6-disc CD changer in the dash, a hard drive for audio material, plus compatibility with ipod, MP3, and Bluetooth mobile phones. AM, FM, and XM channels all play here.

Whether by luck, by intent, or by accident, Cadillac has augmented its family with two high-function products at a time when practicality is the order of the day. The new-for-2010 SRX is aimed at women who believe they need an elevated seating position to bolster their driving confidence. The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is more male oriented. It offers about the same cargo hauling capacity with a more tasteful appearance and a more aggressive (read entertaining) driving personality.

Not surprisingly, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon powertrains are identical to those of the sedan. A 3.6L 263 hp V-6 sits as the base engine in the U.S. with the direct-injection 3.6L V-6 making 304 hp as the top engine. As on the sedan, potential wagon buyers must choose between an Aisin six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, and between rear and all-wheel drive. With EPA highway ratings expected to be in the mid-twenties, the wagon should garner a few more MPG overall than bigger crossovers.