  2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Click image to enlarge |
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2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
White Plains, New York – I sure don’t envy the person who walked into that first board meeting with the idea for the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Take one of the company’s most popular models, and add the least-favourite auto configuration in the U.S.? It must have taken several deep breaths and some very heavy-duty antiperspirant.
The result is Cadillac’s first North American factory-built wagon, and it’s a stunner from all angles. The uphill battle it faces is its market, especially in the U.S., where the wagon take rate is even lower than in hatchback-happy Canada. With the cancellation of the Dodge Magnum, the CTS is the only domestic station wagon on the market, facing a row of competitors made up entirely of European models. Historically, domestic shoppers generally don’t buy wagons, and wagon fans don’t buy domestics. Cadillac has a lot to overcome before potential customers even open this model’s four doors.
From the rear doors forward, the wagon is identical to the CTS sedan, including the interior, while the suspension is tuned to account for the extra weight. The rear hatch is hinged at the top, and the back seat is the standard fold-flat variety, unlike the sedan, where a folding rear seat is optional. This gives the wagon a cargo capacity of 736 cubic litres when the rear seat is up, and 1,642 litres when it’s folded down, as opposed to the 385 litres available in the CTS sedan’s trunk.
Two engines are offered, both with direct injection: a 3.0-litre V6 that starts at $44,325 in rear-wheel drive, and $46,950 in all-wheel; and a 3.6-litre V6, at $50,755 and $53,790 respectively. The sedan offers a manual transmission, but the wagon comes strictly with a six-speed automatic. The all-wheel drive system truly is, running 30/70 front-to-rear under normal conditions, but capable of delivering up to 100 per cent of torque to either axle when required.
  2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Click image to enlarge |
I drove the 3.6-litre model exclusively. No 3.0-litre models were on hand, which I found surprising given that the Cadillac rep said that he expects the smaller engine to be the bigger seller. The official reason given was that the lunch stop included an opportunity to drive the CTS-V sedan on a racetrack, and the difference between that supercharged V8 and the 3.0-litre would be too much. Yes, they really did say that. I did get a chance to drive the 3.0-litre later, in the all-new Cadillac SRX, where it definitely didn’t shine. The 3.0-litre makes 270 horsepower, but the big problem is with the torque: a mere 223 lb-ft, which peaks at a surprisingly high 5,700 rpm. There simply isn’t enough grunt for anything other than straight cruising on glass-flat roads.
The 3.6-litre is better, making 304 horses at 6,400 rpm, and 273 lb-ft, albeit still at a high 5,200 rpm. The engineers have made some sacrifices in the name of fuel economy, with the transmission shifts tuned to squeeze out a couple of extra miles per gallon – maybe not a big deal to buyers in this price range, but huge news when it comes to submitting those numbers to the government. The car has a tendency to get to around 1,500 r.p.m. and then just sit there, and while you can add a bit more throttle and drive through it, it doesn’t feel spirited. Come upon an incline, tip in your toe, and it hesitates for a split second before it downshifts and starts to respond. That’s something I’d expect from a fuel-efficient family sedan, but Cadillac’s competition includes wagons like the Audi A6 Avant, BMW 535xi Touring, Volvo V70, and when it returns for 2011, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon. Of course, you can always put the transmission into “Sport” mode and control it via the wheel-mounted paddles, and it works very well that way. Both engines take regular-grade fuel. The 3.0-litre rear-wheel drive car is rated at 11.3 L/100 km in the city, and 7.2 on the highway, while the 3.6-litre’s figures are 11.8 and 7.5. Adding all-wheel drive increases the numbers slightly of course: the 3.0-litre is 11.9/7.7, while the 3.6-litre is 11.7/7.4.
A CTS-V Sport Wagon appears to be on the horizon – the official announcement was “stay tuned” when I asked about it – and that will truly shine, but in the meantime, this up-level engine really needs to catch the attention of those who don’t want to go all the way to the V, but who like to feel some power in the pedal.
  2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Click image to enlarge |
Pretty much everything else on this wagon rubs me the right way. It’s gorgeous, mating the sedan’s bejewelled face with a roofline that sweeps down to a power liftgate that can be set to different opening heights – and yes, that gently arching line does steal some headroom from rear-seat passengers, but not so much that it’s a major hurdle. It feels reassuringly solid, but not heavy, and it’s beautifully balanced, staying flat around hard corners. The CTS sedan is a stellar car for handling, and the wagon is more of the same. My tester’s sport suspension did translate the nastiest road imperfections into the cabin, but that’s the price to be paid, and it’s no worse than most others with similar tuning.
The interior, which set the Cadillac tone when it debuted on the sedan, still retains its good looks. There are a couple of places where the materials could be softer-touch, but that’s a minor complaint, especially in light of the fact that it costs less than most of its rivals. Heated power leather seats are standard, while cooled ones are available, and either way, they’re very comfortable. Woodgrain is judiciously applied, including on the handsome leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the sharp corners of the centre stack echo the car’s exterior styling. Simple white gauges are tucked under an eyebrow for better visibility on bright days, while an analog clock keeps time at the centre of the dash.
  2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Click image to enlarge |
The optional navigation system rises up out of the dash when it’s on, now a Cadillac signature. Since it’s also the screen for the rearview camera, it’ll pop up when the car’s in reverse, even if the navigation is turned off, and then obediently drop back down once the shifter’s in a forward gear. There are several neat touches throughout: double rows of stitching on the seats and trim, small individual screens to indicate the climate control settings, and dark carpets on all models, which don’t show dirt as easily as light-colour ones. The Cadillac rep pointed out that this also helps with residual value, since the floor looks better when the next owner is assessing it.
The cargo area is well-designed, and if we’ve seen these touches on other wagon and hatchback models, it’s because they work really well. Tie-downs slide along aluminum rails on either side of the flat floor. That floor is actually a tri-folding panel, which can be lifted up and then set into slots to divide the bin below into sections, or be removed entirely. Under it is a removable rubber mat, bearing the Cadillac logo, which has sides high enough that it can be taken out and emptied without dropping anything into the car. I can see this being a very popular feature at the garden centre, where it can be used to bring home plants and then be removed to hose out any spilled soil.
That’s the sort of duty most of these wagons see, but for me, that’s just a side benefit: it’s the CTS Sport Wagon’s proportions and good looks that would have me taking it over the sedan. When the designers set out to create this car, they sure did it right. A little more tweaking with the performance will have the competition nervous; I expect that when the V version finally arrives, it will blow most of them away.
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at 7:41 am
So where are the fuel economy numbers in MPG? L/100KM is non-intuitive and I always find myself looking for the calculator to see what kind of mileage a car gets. Have you been to Ford of Europe’s web site? MPG is what they use there. I couldn’t even find a mention of L/100KM. We all buy fuel in units of volume (litres, so it is natural to want to know how far a car will travel per unit of volume. That is why the vast majority of people I talk to about cars still use MPG. If you want to use metric, then state the fuel economy in KM/L.
at 8:08 am
L/100km is the standard in Canada, this is Canada not Europe. We travel in KM/H not MPH. Sorry sounds like you need to learn the metric system.
L/100km makes tons of sense. You fill your car up with 10 litres and your car achieves 10L/100km you can travel 100km on your tank, put 40L of fuel in and you can travel 400km, how is this not intuitive?
at 8:15 am
I have no trouble with L / 100 km, How long has Canada been using this system. Ford Europe is an independent site nothing to do officially with Ford.
My suggestion to GM is to put another engine in the 3.0 L s place, this time, an also not popular in the USA, diesel, lots of low revving torque and excellent fuel economy. They would be closer to Mercedes and BMW in range of product by doing so.
at 8:23 am
Litres per 100km is a superior way to calculate fuel burn, and it is virtually the same as the method used by pilots and ship captains (units burned per hour). You drive 250 km per week? Here’s how much fuel you can expect to burn. Simple.
Absolute kudos to GM for this car. Is a wagon rebirth on the horizon?
Jil MacIntosh says Canada is hatchback-happy. That may be so, but if automakers offered us choices in wagons, we’d go nuts for them.
at 8:23 am
Naturally, if you are reading a European Ford website in ENGLISH you would only find references to MPG! Great Britain uses MPGs. I couldn’t even find a “Ford of Europe” website. If you were to read the German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Swedish, Dutch websites… etc. etc. you would only find L/100km! duh…
at 8:45 am
Did GM steal the design from the Lincoln MKT baleen whale? Looks like GM just sharpened the edges. And what is it with the sea of grayness interior?
at 9:06 am
Jim if you compare the MKT with this Cadillac you either blind or don’t know anything about cars. Sorry.
at 9:15 am
Jim once again proves how little he knows about cars. You know that the CTS was released BEFORE the MKT. Take off your beer goggles and “I Hate GM” t-shirt before you start entering your ignorant comments on this site as usual. The CTS has one of the best interiors in it’s class as judged by every major auto magazine. Take a look at any BMW, and then learn what a sea of greyness looks like.
at 9:38 am
I’ve always felt that the exterior of this car was to overdone and “in your face”. Where’s the class, the understatement? And the view from the rear!? Is Cadillac trying to emulate the unlamented fins excess of the 1950s? I didn’t think it possible, but they’ve managed to make an unattractive car look downright ugly. And I love wagons and hatchbacks!
at 9:47 am
I agree with Peter. The lack of torque with 3.0L engine isn’t enough for a car of this size, in this segment. The 3.6L should be the standard engine, and an optional diesel engine should be offered. This would surely attract some attention from consumers who normally look at Audi, BMW, or Mercedes. As BMW, and Audi both offer diesels. The L / 100km would be great!
at 10:31 am
HOW TO solve the problem of not enough torque?
Put in a SIX SPEED MANUAL!!!!
with a stick shift one can keep the rev up at 5Krpm with max torque. with stick shift, torque does not matter.
at 12:50 pm
New Age group, what you propose would make for a weird wagon. Too many gears, still no torque. Works in my Miata, though.
Cadillacs should have effortless low-end grunt, standard.
at 1:06 pm
the car looks great – will check this out at the dealer when it arrives.
at 1:56 pm
Kudos to GM in putting this car on the market, pretty brave thing to do especially for the USDM.
Canadians will go for it but it’s up to the people south of the border to see if this flies, like it or not we’re just passengers.
It’s maddening how Americans ignore wagons and hatches in favour of – ugh – crossovers, and before that SUV’s.
For example has anyone seen the pictures for the Honda Crosstour, has it really come down to this?
And I agree with the others, to really compete there should be a high torque diesel and 6 speed manual offered.
Keep going GM you’re almost there.
at 3:55 pm
What a piece of trash this car is….
CAdillac should go back to building what it does best,
big boats with big block V8 and try to get back the geezer customer base they lost over to lexus (the cadillac of japan)….
They should leave the task of building high performance sport wagons to the europeans…mainly BMW and MERC
Please…keep this eye sore of a car of our beloved roads!!!!!!!!
at 4:13 pm
Those are some horrible honda CRV tailights.
at 4:16 pm
Dodge attempted something similar with the Magnum station wagon, ended up being a money loser. This Cadillac will go away and not missed.
at 5:25 pm
A truly ugly car indeed..whats with those angular taillights…honestly..it looks like someone moulded the car out of oragami!!!
at 5:26 pm
GM should just quit and close down if they continue to make trash like this and waste their money.
at 6:32 pm
Looks sharp. Good on them for making the wagon. I love wagons, they are practical and fuel efficient.
Is there going to be Chev version for the rest of us?
at 6:45 pm
It’s funny how the GM bashers are afraid of the CTS because it looks 10x better than anything Acura or Lexus builds. Keep up the crying Peter Thompson, this Caddy coming into it’s 3rd year still turns heads, while the new TL just turns stomachs.
at 6:54 pm
Hey Mozenby…it is clear that you like cars that have suspensions as advanced as that of a horse drawn carriage…have you ever left your farm and driven european cars before??? Yes the Japanese cars are ugly too but they will run laps around the caddy in terms of engineering.
at 7:20 pm
And europeans will get diesel engine for this wagon! Modern diesel engines are future, not hybrids, so GM please bring it here, too.
at 7:28 pm
I like the looks of this car, but I have reservations for domestic quality. I also note that when you take your cadillac in for service and recalls (inevitable) you get treated the same as the kid who bought the cavalier.
On another note, after looking at this car I find it hard to believe that it compares to the A6 or 5 series. Its reasonable that its built to compete against the A4 or 3 series.
If BMW made a car that looked as sexy as this, I would get another one. Right now I am patiently waiting for Audi and BMW to come out with a diesel for the A4 and 3 series wagons……. still waiting!
at 8:56 pm
GM needs to do what Ford has done in regards to their EcoBoost 3.5L V6. GM could easily tweak the 3.6L to handle a turbo as the old 2.8L had (SAAB). This would greatly increase performance, and Ford ‘claims’ that mileage is the same with either version of the 3.5L.
GM service on my Pontiac has been UNACCEPTABLE. Steve Scherer customer service is downright awful. Even for warranted work, I’ve been doing any repairs myself rather that take it into that hole where it’ll sit for a week just for a diagnosis.
Anyway, The CTS wagon is a good show and undoubtedly will sell well. It would sell better, if it had more competitive engines. If I was retired and wanted to tour the country a few times, even down in the USA, I’d stick with RWD and the base 3.0L engine as it’s more cost effective in the long term.
Honda is coming out with an Accord-wagon which will more than likely have similar sales numbers as the Toyota Venza. When that happens, Cadillac wagon sales, or CTS sales in general will slide. For now, it’ll should at least help keep GM above the red tape.
at 9:22 pm
That thing is gorgeous.
at 9:49 pm
Peter T. I’m not sure you really know what you’re talking about. It’s about time the domestic auto makers make a sport wagon to compete with the german offerings.
The CTS is a C&D 2 time 10-Best winner and GM could easily put the 6.2 mill in it, which in CTS-V form beat the M5, M3 and the E63 from 0-60.
GM has a winner with this one, it’s just too bad the stigma of domestic quality and the lack of interest in wagons (on this side of the pond) won’t make it so on GM’s bottom line. If GM had put in this kind of effort in their vehicles years ago, you probably wouldn’t see them in the trouble they’re in now.
at 10:06 pm
A very nice looking car at a competitive price. You really have to give it to GM for taking a risk on a wagon, which have not been the best sellers in the USA for quite some time. I hope this model is profitable for GM.
at 10:58 pm
Dave.
I realize you like the caddy, but come on man…
its not all about going fast in a straight line, you have to go around corners too..
people should go and buy the bmw and merc wagons instead..
Looking at this car makes me wonder if the C stands for cimmaron
at 11:15 pm
Seems nice on the interior – the exterior is love it or lump it – I think its a bad idea for Gm to step into an area that is dominated by the germans and japanese.
It will take a long time for consumers to “want” this vehicle – maybe its a way to capture and reposition all the escalade drivers into a more eco-conscious vehicle with decent cargo room.
Comment:
I have never met a Caddy owner that gave a dam about fuel consumption or auto derived eco-realated issues
Question: How many people looking for a caddy cares about the ecological implications of their purchase?
at 11:34 pm
What reviews have you been reading Peter? The CTS has drawn nothing but praise for it’s ride and handling, and the CTS-V has been called the best handling sedan, period. It actually holds the lap record at the Nurburgring for a sedan. Go and read a few magazines that actually test the CTS, and educate yourself, before slinging the typical domestic hating garbage we get here from you and your buddy Jim.
at 11:36 pm
Seeing that there aren’t too many choices for wagons with AWD, wagon lovers will now have another brand to choose from, other than Audi, BMW and Saab.
Nice job GM…
at 11:49 pm
The new cadillacs overall have a dated look to them. This model in particular. The Dodge Magnum, even with it’s hemi engine generated poor sales.
@Mozeby,
What makes you think this underpowered, overpriced, dated design is going to fare any better than the Magnum. Wake up, and take your GM blinders off.
at 12:03 am
Cadillac CTS’s are restyled and badge-engineered European OPEL Insignias; a car that has the capability to compete with Ford, certainly not with BMW, Mercedes, Audi.
The pricing, and targeted market then seems a bit rich for this Cadillac…
at 12:08 am
Deforester,
Funny, but I too haven’t met a anyone who owns a new cadillac either, I should know, GM markets the cadillac and buick to old geezers like me.
I too doubt this caddy will generate enough interest on the long run.
at 12:09 am
Peter T… I’m not actually that much of a caddy fan (or GM in general), but I do think this is probably a great car. Every review I’ve read indicates that they’ve hit the mark. I haven’t driven all these cars and wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t handle quite as well as the BMW or is as refined as the Mercedes offerings. But the interior is way nicer than anything I’ve seen in a 3 series (doesn’t look like their interior has been updated in 15 years) and I’d bet this thing would handle better than a Merc wagon in the same class.
BTW, the CTS-V beat both the M5 and M3 around Nuremburg, the only sedan to ever break the 8 minute mark. Kinda proves that Caddilac can make a car that can go around corners (and is like $30K cheaper than an M5).
Having said all this… if I were in the market for a wagon in this class, it would probably be between the CTS and a BMW. Only a test drive and a cost comparison would be able to answer this.
What people should do is not buy something because of some pretense others have about a vehicle but check out all offerings in the class before giving up $50K – $60K…
This one isn’t a rebadged Cavalier.
at 12:11 am
Mozeby…..
Another GM rebadge job. What do you say to that?
at 12:38 am
Dave..clearly you work for cadillac and are trying to get people into your showroom by making positive comments about this car. I’d bet that cadillac is still using that old cimarron platform in that CTS..all that is different is the new angular oragami body…
The CTS-V has a lot of power..yes…and it may go around corners..but it is still a cadillac my friend and i would think long and hard before spending that kind of money on a brand that old geezers drive to the dialysis clinic…and something that may get axed due to the uncertain future at GM. CTS = cadillac cimarron with a new body..period.
at 12:50 am
Looks like someone took a pontiac Aztec and gave it the cadillac treatment..all it needs now is a tent…
what a joke…GM should focus on what it does best..oh wait..that would mean they would focus on nothing..oops.
at 8:34 am
So let me get this straight, the CTS is a rebadged Opel. Opels are rebadged Saturns….
Therefore, one must conclude the CTS is a left over Saturn…that explains the weak/low torque V6 engines under the hood.
Saturn/CTS, no thanks, I’ll take a look at BMW or Merc first.
at 8:47 am
Jim is right…GM should not be rebadging cars. They should fire the designes and copy the Japanese like KIA and Hyhundai do.
at 9:49 am
@Dave,
This CTS is exactly what is wrong with GM, they do not build cars that people want. Let me explain, the cadillac and buicks for that matter, are primarly bought by old geezers, like me. I/We don’t necessarily care for how fast it goes, or whatever Nuremburg road/race track numbers are. GM needs to build a sensible affordable cars that are comfortable and reliable.
Ever wonder why geezers gravitate towards the Honda Element and now the Kia Soul. GM just doesn’t not get it, duh!
at 10:21 am
Rebadging is a problem at GM…they should look overseas for guidance…for example the Honda Pilot vs Acura MDX, Honda Civic and the CSX, Toyota Camry and the Lexus ES, Nissan Armada and the Infiniti QX56, Nissan Rogue and the Infiniti EX35…. now those cars are in different lines but very unique…lol.
Great idea “old guy” the people looking to buy a $60K Cadillac should take a closer look at the KIA Soul…lol.
at 10:42 am
Hey I have to agree with Peter T….the cadillac CTS is just a revamped version of the Cimarron…
MY friend had that car and I have to say, it was as good as my cavalier except it had leather seats…
So essentially….people will never buy the CTS because it is still as good as the cimarron…
If I were GM i will close down and start an entire new company with a new name and symbol..just to get cars like the cimmaron out of people’s memory.
at 11:08 am
Don…in 1956 the Renault Dauphine was a lemon, the 1985 Yugo GV was a lemon, The 1980 Ferrari Mondial 8 was a lemon. To compare the 1982 Cimarron is dumb. It would be like saying since the 1986 Lamborghini LM002 was a POS so it the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
The CTS is a fine selling car and one of the few high points in GM’s line up. You might want to sell your cavalier and test drive a supercharged CTS-V.
at 11:35 am
@old guys rule: What do old guys, rappers, football players and gangbangers have in common? They all like Caddy’s!
Just watch any video or New York Yankee – there’s Escalade’s all over the place.
Anyway, this IMO is a nice car but a few have mentioned it already – it won’t sell here in NA. People don’t want wagons – it reminds them of the old woody’s in the 70s and 80s. They may as well have built a mini-van. It’ll be dead in a year – maybe 2.
at 11:40 am
Jimmied….tell me something..has cadillac changed anything in the CTS except for the body???
Aren’t they using the same old crappy platform from the cimarron in the new CTS with a new supercharged engine?
Once a cimarron..always a cimarron buddy…the samething happened to the catera…it was a cimarron too…except now they glued on some angles and a weird angular body and called it the CTS…People who buy the CTS don’t know its still just a cimarron.
at 11:41 am
I agree with timmysforlife…the Caddy is still a cimarron jimmied.
at 11:57 am
The difference between Honda, Nissan, and Toyota sharing platforms is…. they have excellent platforms to begin with.
You don’t start with a mediocre Opel platform and rebadge it with your premium cadillac brand. GM should have learned that by now with the Cavalier/Cimarron fiasco.
at 12:05 pm
You guy’s are right…stay away from the CTS…you should buy the new KIA SOUL.
at 12:07 pm
@Spec5,
Of course I agree and wanted to write the same, but wanted to remain PC.
@jimmied/mozeby,
Don’t you feel outnumbered by sensible consumers, take off your blinders.
at 12:17 pm
@ old Guy
I agreed with you I think you should all be driving a KIA Soul…I’ve already said that. I don’t feel outnumbered…I’d rather be seen in a CTS. But that’s just me.
at 12:21 pm
CTS = cimarron
at 12:39 pm
@jimmied/mozeby,
So you are one of the four groups of people that buy cadillacs as described by Spec5? Or do you want to emulated them.
I bet you can’t afford the $60K for the cimarron with your KIA budget.
at 12:48 pm
Hey old guy,
I heard a new feature optional in all cadillacs and lexuses…
built in dialysis machines and urine catheters…
A new reason for you to upgrade from KIA.
at 1:34 pm
@old guys rule
Yoy should worry about the cost of cars at your age…I’m sure in the many year of working you were able to make more than enough to buy a real car….didn’t you?
at 1:35 pm
The rear hatch opens so high, you can’t do it inside your garage, it bangs against the opened garage door. Way to go GM!
at 1:37 pm
@Jim: Its better than cracking your head on the stupid thing.
at 1:39 pm
Jim, I agree..its the little details that the people at GM can’t figure out…ultimately..they suck..
buy german folks..end of story.
at 1:50 pm
At a whopping 60K price, you would think GM could figure out the rear hatch opening angle and height clearance. I guess if you only paid 12K for a Kia Soul, you could dismiss the rear hatch problem. Agreed, GM ultimately sucks.
at 1:58 pm
Jim,
Dont you think that the CTS is essentially a cimarron with a new body and new engine??
at 2:12 pm
As much as I am tempted to upset our GM friends, I can’t really say the new CTS is a cimarron, that was a 100% POS GM car. I think the CTS has mediocre Opel roots and should be priced well below 30K to begin with. The CTS has dated looks and the interior does not belong in a 60K car.
at 5:46 pm
Jim, you know and I know that this CTS is still a Cimarron…just admit it…Caddys never change their ageing platforms…..just exterior tweaks and new unwanted gadgets to keep luring old men into the dealership.
at 6:11 pm
It’s funny that all the previous 30 or so posts were written by the same idiot. Because only someone that stupid would think this car is based on an Opel, or is rebadged from some other model. Take all your personalities and have a gang bang with each other.
at 6:12 pm
If anything, the TL is based on the Accord and the Lexus ES is a Camry. See even you can learn something.
at 6:17 pm
Mozenby, we all know you are actually a sales rep for Cadillac…
The CTS is a Cimarron…everyone knows it..but no one admits it…
CTS = Cimarron…take the body off both cars and you’re left with the same underpinnings.
at 6:55 pm
See…Mozeby, the sales rep for GM is upset now.
at 7:07 pm
Don…The CTS resembles the old Catera POS, perhaps it is the same car with a left over Saturn engine.
GM should stop cloning/rebadging mediocre cars. No surprise the widespread belief that GM builds cars that nobody wants exists.
Good job Mozenby selling GM cars (heavy on the sarcasms)
at 7:30 pm
Jim, come on…you know the CTS is the Cimarron…just like the Catera was the Cimarron too…I hardly doublt the GM folks changed anything except the the new addition of the oragami body…
at 10:26 pm
Hey Tom – There are many wagons with AWD – I happen to love mine – here are a few to choose from:
Subaru – Forester, Outback, Legacy, Impreza
Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe
Volvo – too many models to name V50/Cross country…
Audi – again really – there is a lot of choices
Mercedes C240 and the E/class – Bmw 330xi – Dodge Magnum has the AWD option – VW has the passat and jetta – do I really need to list any more…
The Caddy-Lacks Lots! – it needs to be affordable, classy, functional and eco-responsible for anyone under 50 years of age to even seriously consider it.
What year do we live in – Gm is still living in the old days of meat head muscle car non-sense
The reason that Lexus and Acura is doing well is based on the fact that – THEY LISTEN TO CONSUMERS AND FORCAST SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE WORLD – AND HOW THEY RELATE TO THE AVERAGE PERSON’S BUYING HABBIT – wake up Gm
we need to listen to Old Guy and Spec5… they both have extremely valid and pertinent points… Read It!
at 8:44 am
Subaru Forester Dude thinks that Acura is doing well…lol. That’s like saying the Forester is actually an real SUV!
at 1:59 pm
GM has been in the car business for 101 years. Why does it seem GM has to relearn what it is doing, time and time again?
at 3:05 pm
jimmied – how is Acura doing bad? You know damn well that I’m going to tell you that they’re at the top of the reliability charts. I’m going to ASSuME that you know Acura is high-end Honda and last I checked they weren’t asking anyone for bailout money. Granted no car company is having a stellar time of it at the moment but I would bet they’re better off than most. So what exactly do you mean by that statement?
at 5:01 pm
You guys must all be drinking the same tainted Kool-Aid. You think the CTS is a rebadge? Of what. The Opel Insignia is a FWD car not RWD. The Opel shares a platform with the new Buick Allure. Do some research you trolls before you spout your ignorant propaganda. Then again the more you idiots type, the more you show everyone how hollow your arguments are. Isn’t the new Toyota Venza a wagon built on the Camry platform? The new Accord crossover wagon thing, ditto. Are you gonna make the same criticisms of those vehicles, because no one in North America appreciates wagons? You guys can’t stand that the CTS is a success.
at 6:40 pm
Mozenby, you are probably a worker for Cadillac…listen…you know and I know..that the CTS is still a rebadged Cimarron with new angular oragami body panels…just admit it.
at 9:11 pm
Forgive me folk for gettin of topic – but Jimmied needs to be lectured…
@ Jimmied – your not too smart are you, you need to learn to read and comprehend then respond…
Spec5 Has a valid argument –
Honda Canada reported sales of 10,574 units, a 21.8 per cent decrease from last year. Honda’s Acura brand boosted sales by 26.4 per cent to 1,644.
- autonet.ca – mid year 2009
The forester is not a traditional Suv?
the Subaru Forester is built on
- a real Fuji ladder frame,
- has a limited slip Diff,
- symmetrical all wheel drive,
- 30+ mpg (ask old guy..)
- a hill holder system,
- 2000 lbs towing capacity
- No roll over rating warning – only on 2010 model
- amazing crash test ratings…
- massive cargo room – comparable only to volvo and VW
- bla bla bla
Subaru has been a pioneer of many attributes that today’s suv’s aspire towards – but its positioned as a modern utility wagon
- read the subaru engineering forums
where have you been – have you been living in north america long? Foresters have been around since 1987 in Japan as a work vehicle for construction teams in the mountains of Japan… in quarries etc…
Jimmied – next time do some research before you speak
then maybe you won’t end up sounding like a 12 year old
Mozeeby – wagons are for the educated and intelligent people that prefer not to be percieved as a neanderthal in a gas guzlin SUV
wagons are better on gas, handle better and have a lower propensity of tipping over…
What many folks are saying here – if you can learn to read between the lines…
is that this Caddy-Lacks a niche – its trying to be too many things to too many people – find a segment and stick too it – their business plan is flawed…
who is going to buy this? – when you can get an Audi, Bmw, Benz or even a classy Volvo for less with better resale and reliability…
The Venza offers more features for less money.. and we don’t need to question the reliability…
Anyone remember the Caddy-Lack Catera (Caterac) – another rebadged blunder that was plagued with issues… mechanical, electrical…
at 9:15 pm
opps – forgive me if i started another Sh*% storm…
at 12:32 am
This Cadillac looks like it was developed by following the results of focus groups that weren’t coordinated with each other. The result is a mashup of design, features and functions that do not match up.
at 10:13 am
hey consumer, your right, sometimes car makers rely too much on external input such as buyer feedback and not enough on actual sales figures and design structure
at 6:30 pm
100% rebadge of a rebadge… Peter is on da money!
at 9:36 pm
It is amazing how blind some of you naysayers are! Just one example out of many emotional tirades: “GM can’t design/learn/do anything right… not even a hatch.” The CTS wagon (and the Equinox) have adjustable back hatches that will open higher if you want them to, or less high, such as in a garage. Sounds like ingenuity to me.
You do not read thoroughly, jump to conclusions, make erroneous judgments. Your opinions lack substance and credibility.
at 8:41 am
I long ago ceased to buy “Domestic” vehicles; this Caddy is a credible attempt to emulate BMW etc but falls far short. I just got rid of my 07 VW Passat 4Motion VR6 Wagon that I am sure would out perform this caddy iteration and with more standard features at around a similar MSRP. My suggestion to GM et al is to stick with what you do best…cheap cars for the masses that need replacing as soon as the warranty is kaput. One mans opinion.
at 9:30 am
That is a hell of a compromise, dent the hatch and crush the garage door, OR bang and lacerate your head on the hatch, what a choice. GM could at least offer a rear hatch window that rolls down as a compromise.
TeeJay42,
Couldn’t agree more, GM started to make ok fleet rental car cars, with their Saturn line, but they sold Saturn.
at 12:26 pm
07 VW Passat 4Motion VR6….wow…that reminds me…does anyone know if a lemon tree will grow in Ontario?
at 8:50 pm
Where’s the diesel version? If Cadillac truly wants to make this thing stand out they should pitch the diesel model. Luxury, fuel economy, torque all in the same package, just like Mercedes does.
Otherwise it’ll flounder in a sea of Euro wagons with nothing to distinguish it by.
at 1:14 pm
As the owner of a Saab 93 SC, I see many of its influences in this CTS like the cargo area and the tail lights. It looks like a nice package that I will definitely give a test drive. A diesel would be cool as would the 2.0l direct injection turbo from the Cobalt SS.
Sadly I think GM will have a hard time selling many of these based on the shallow rediculous comments above. Too many people just brush off wagons and GM without thought. What’s not to like about a RWD, good handling, useful, fuel efficient car that you can put your dog in?
I hope the reliability is good.
at 7:48 pm
Andrew TaB? – you need to get out more!
I think that your the moste in-gene-e-us one here! lol
at 11:31 pm
Without a leasing option, this car won’t sell unless the $ is dropped from the start with comparable USA pricing in Canada. The $800 per month crowd don’t like buying for tax reasons and leasing is the only way to sell a domestic high end car. If it were Japanese or German, you might break even on a finance over 5 years or so but this thing will be worth 30% after 4 years with 80 – 100kms on the odo. The cost per year to run it will be overwhelming when you do the math. IMHO…
at 1:15 am
Subaru dude has valid point, there are lots of of wagons to choose from. Why is Gm offering a sport wagon in such a crowded arena?
Maybe because the old fogies are not running the show and some new younger blood has the forethought to forge in a more modern direction.
In Europe, Aisa, South America and the Caribbean wagons are a frugal and ecological alternative to a large clumsey Suv with almost the same features and cargo space.
This Caddy is up against some stiff competition… but it great to see GM thinking ahead and towards the future
at 1:25 am
Jimmied – take your meds!
Tjay and Dmac have both said what I have been trying to teach you…
Jill Mac Says – “Historically, domestic shoppers generally don’t buy wagons, and wagon fans don’t buy domestics. Cadillac has a lot to overcome before potential customers even open this model’s four doors”
That is her quote – she is a veteran auto journalist are you? Do you even drive? or own a vehicle?