2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Review

MPG-o-Matic 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Review Summary: The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon was primarily designed for the European market, to do battle with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series wagons. Only a limited number of CTS Wagons will be sold here in America, unless it catches on … which we hope it does. Spend a bit of time driving the CTS Sport Wagon and you might change your mind about buying a luxury SUV.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive (AWD) and can be equipped with either a 3.0-liter or 3.6-liter direct injected V6 engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. We tested a top-of-the-line rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Premium model, with the 3.6-liter V6 producing 304 horsepower (HP) and 273 foot pounds of torque. (The 3.0-liter V6 produces 270 HP and 223 foot pounds of torque.)

The official fuel economy estimates for the 2010 Cadillac CTS V6 Premium are 18 city / 26 highway miles per gallon.

We traveled over 600 miles in our handsome 3.6-liter Thunder Gray Chromaflair review unit and easily met the official mileage estimates, scoring an average of 26.9 MPG on the Interstate highway and 21.7 MPG combined, with temperatures ranging from the fifties through the mid-eighties. Interstate highway testing temperatures were in the mid-sixties.

The test vehicle was delivered with just over 1600 miles on the odometer and was equipped with the optional Summer Performance Tire package, which includes:

• 19-inch polished aluminum wheels
• Summer-only Continental Conti SportContact3 tires
• Sport suspension system
• Steering wheel mounted shift controls
• Performance cooling system
• Performance disc brakes

(18-inch polished aluminum wheels and all-season tires are standard on the Performance and Premium model. CTS base and Luxury models are equipped with 17-inch wheels.)

Interstate Mileage Testing:

• Cruise control set to 68 MPH, A/C off, windows up: 26.3 MPG
• Cruise control off, target speed 60-72 MPH, A/C off, windows up: 27.5 MPG

The 3.6-liter V6 moves the CTS Sport Wagon off the line well. (And for those that desire the ultimate go-wagon, the chart-toppig CTS-V Sport Wagon will pin you back in the seat like nothing else.)

Highway driving range is good. All 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon models are fitted with an 18 gallon fuel tank and run on 87 octane regular unleaded fuel.

The Driver’s Information Center (located beneath the speedometer) provides two trip meters, oil change reminder, battery voltage, tire-pressure monitoring, average fuel economy, and real-time fuel economy, among other data. As always, we recommend using a real time MPG gauge to encourage a light-footed driving style.

If you’re considering a five-seat luxury SUV, try testing it against the CTS Sport Wagon. We found the ride and handling of the CTS to be much more to our liking, especially when the road got twisty. When things get a little too twisty, the CTS has both Stabilitrak-Stability Control and All-Speed Traction Control.

The Summer Tire Performance option package includes a six-speed manual-shift mode, with control over gear changes via steering wheel mounted controls.

All 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon models are equipped with four-wheel power-assisted disc brakes with ABS.

Slip behind the beefy wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel and you’re bound to feel right at home with integrated audio, Bluetooth, and cruise controls. The CTS Sport Wagon’s cabin whispers Cadillac, with hand-stitching and attractive Sapele wood trim.

The three-level heated and ventilated front bucket seats are handsome, comfortable and supportive with two-way power lumbar.

Cadillac’s trademark “infotainment” system’s LCD screen rises dramatically from the dash, providing digital audio, navigation, traffic, and weather data, along with the backup camera display.

The Bose 10-speaker sound system includes excellent USB iPod support, along with a 40GB hard drive for in-car digital audio storage. USB and auxiliary audio ports are located in the center console.

A one year OnStar subscription – including turn-by-turn navigation – is provided free-of-charge.

There are four twelve-volt outlets: one at the base of the dash, one inside the center console, one at the back of the console, and one in the cargo area.

While not as roomy as a limo, the CTS Sport Wagon’s rear seats are quite pleasant, with 37.2 inches of rear seat headroom. The generously-sized UltraView panoramic sunroof brings a wonderfully open feeling to the cabin.

The CTS Sport Wagon’s power liftgate reveals 25 cubic feet of cargo area with the 60/40 rear seats up and 58 cubic feet of cargo area when the rear seats are folded down. The center passthrough may be too small to accommodate snowboards. Adjustable cargo tie-downs and underfloor storage add versatility.

All-in-all, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon offers an intriguing alternative for folks that prefer a sporting and luxurious ride, but need a bit more cargo room. With stunning looks and an air of exclusivity, the CTS Sport Wagon is targeted at the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series wagons, both of which will likely sport fuel-efficient and powerful turbo-diesel engines here in America in coming model years. We hope that Cadillac follows suit.

2010 Cadillac CTS Sports Wagon Parts Content Information
US/Canadian Parts Content: 65%
Major Sources of Foreign Parts Content: Mexico – 17%
Final Assembly Point: Lansing, MI
Country of Origin:
Engine – United States
Transmission – France

– by Daniel Gray