Cadillac CTS-V Wagon: What a car!

If you’re among those who still have a negative bias toward this brand, you should know that a lot has happened at Cadillac over the last decade. At one time, this division of GM was recognized as the gold standard for quality, but Cadillac gradually slipped into mediocrity to become a shadow of its former self. Fortunately, the arrival of Bob Lutz as the head of new product development at this manufacturer gave rise to a true revolution. Previously, a Caddy was judged only on its weight and size. Nowadays, very high standards of quality are used. And now these newcomers feature handling equal to that of the best German models.

In my opinion, the CTS is the model most capable of going toe to toe with the big German brands. On the outside, you’ll either love or hate its unique and audacious shape. This much is certain: its style is nothing but original. Moreover, this second generation has been improved in terms of performance. The first version was decent, but this one is superior in every way.

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The story of this family began with the sedan that earned a great deal of praise, and was followed by a coupe that set itself apart with its truly extraordinary shape and its excellent passenger compartment. Finally, there’s the wagon – my favourite version – that combines comfort, driveability and an eminently practical nature thanks to its five-door configuration.

But it gets better: namely, the CTS-V. Indeed, thanks to a 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 556 horses through the magic of supercharging, these cars help lift Cadillac to the highest level of the category and take on the Audi RS, BMW M and Mercedes-Benz AMG.

Recently, we had the chance to drive the CTS-V wagon, which combines utility and fun.

All kinds of presence

Generally speaking, people who buy this kind of vehicle want those around them to know that the car they’re driving is special. This difference can mean something like an exclusive grille, an insignia or the location of the exhausts. The Cadillac V models stand out because of their Bentley-style front grille that is used for the front grille. Add alloy wheels to the exclusive design and the message is clear: this is a performance car. For the detail-oriented, our car was equipped with 19-inch sport tires on optional polished aluminum rims. This special presentation is added to a silhouette with sharp angles that give this wagon the look of an extraordinary car capable of spectacular performances. Not everyone likes its shape, but it should make those who like exceptional cars happy.

Note that its practical 720-litre baggage hold expands to 1,642 litres when the rear seatback is lowered. There are also aluminum anchor channels inserted in the floor, which adds a utilitarian aspect to this car.

Cadillac’s dashboards and passenger compartments used to make the vehicles look like pimped Chevrolets, but times have really changed. Now, the driver has a sport seat made by Recaro and a large steering wheel covered in suede for better grip. Furthermore, the dashboard is original, complete and practical and the stylists did a great job of putting together the black leather, aluminum parts and carbon accents, at least on our test car. What’s more, on the steering wheel’s horizontal spokes, you’ll find the controls for the radio, cruise control and telephone. Note that the quality of the finish and materials is equal to most of its competitors. However, while the front seats are spacious and comfortable, the backseats are a lot narrower.

Hang on, we’re moving now!

Regardless of the body type, every CTS-V is powered by a 6.2-litre 556-hp V8 engine. You can order these models with a six-speed Tremec manual gearbox or even an automatic with the same number of speeds and equipped with shifter buttons located behind the steering wheel. Unlike the model equipped with less powerful engines, you can’t order a V with all-wheel drive. Of course, it has a four-wheel independent suspension, but to be even more specific, our wagon came with a suspension with magnetic shocks whose settings can vary up to 1,000 times per second. Moreover, the braking system is made by the legendary Brembo brand that designed six-piston callipers in front and four-piston callipers in back to optimize braking capacity.

But all this information and detail is quickly forgotten once you start the engine. Its sound isn’t as guttural as we’d have thought for a V8 of this capacity, but the compressor located between the two rows of cylinders contributes to this unique sound. Our test model was equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission and its well adapted gear ratio. Moreover, shifting quickly is easy using buttons...it feels like shifting with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The test drive

Seated in a very comfortable multi-adjustable Recaro seat, we start the engine and hit the road. The magnetic suspension turns out to be pleasant, despite the sport settings on a car that is already more than sporty. We managed to go the traditional 0-100 km/hr in 4.4 seconds. You have to admit that its speed is surprising for a car with such a practical body. But actually, wagons have very long roofs that help the car’s aerodynamics. In a straight line, this Caddy has very impressive stability and the maximum speed is slightly better than that of the sedan. As for its size, if you’re afraid that this configuration is cumbersome, fear not: the wagon is shorter than the sedan.

As for handling, it proves to be spectacularly neutral in turns and easy to place thanks to the precision of the variable-assist steering. If ever you have access to a dynamic testing area big enough to do such a manoeuvre, it’s easy to control skidding. If things go bad, the Brembo brakes are very powerful. During our repeated tests, our average was 35 metres for 100-0 km/hr.

Basically, this Cadillac is an extraordinary car, able to impress the most jaded of drivers. It’s a very rare model, mainly because most sporty wagons aren’t very popular, regardless of the manufacturer. Personally, this is the model that I like best, no offense to fans of the coupe and sedan. It allowed me to travel with my dogs Flash and Gordon, who really like the baggage hold. I had fun driving this Cadillac. Aside from the steep price – make that very steep price – the only other problem is fuel consumption: this classic engine guzzles 15.6 L/100 km on average.