Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon 3.0 V6 Elegance Automatic 5dr Car Review - March 2012

With a power output of 276 bhp at 7000 rpm, this Cadillac is unlikely to turn many heads. Torque figures of 222 lb-ft at 5700 rpm mean that movement is sluggish and the large V6 engine seems lack lustre at the best of times. The car achieves a decent top speed of 140 mph but this is beaten by a number of other models. The car manages 0-62 mph in 8.2 seconds which is a fraction of a second slower than 8.0 second figure offered by the CTS saloon whilst the CTS-V Sport Wagon manages it in half the time at 4.0 seconds.

Drivability is not perfect but the CTS Sport Wagon manages to handle itself a little better on the road than the CTS saloon. Unfortunately, fuel efficiency is low achieving just 26.1 mpg and there is little escape from the high running costs associated with this model.

On top of this, the car has very poor green credentials which push it firmly into one of the most expensive tax bands (L). This cost is hardly surprising seeing as the car churns out a weighty 249 g/km of carbon dioxide - making it anything but eco-friendly.

For once Cadillac offers a car which benefits from a stylish interior with the dashboard systematically arranged and easy to operate. In-car tech features leather seats, an advanced stereo system with both CD and MP3 connectivity and a built-in Sat Nav system as standard and there are plenty of optional extras available as well.

The external design benefits from alloy wheels and metallic paint. Rear parking sensors, cruise control, climate control, electric door mirrors and electric side windows improve comfort and handling – the same as in the CTS saloon.

As stated, handling in this car is poor and is one of the main disadvantages. Stability is sacrificed by the engine which delivers a reasonable but uninspiring output and overall the drive is uncomfortable.

The car does benefit from a three year warranty with 60,000 miles but a service is recommended every 10,000 miles which means maintenance and upkeep costs will be high. Practicality of this model is improved and storage space is much better than other Cadillacs. Boot space offers 412 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,484 litres with them folded down.

In order to deter thieves the Chevrolet comes with an alarm and immobiliser as standard features. Driver, passenger and front side airbags are also fitted as standard to protect the car's occupants from harm during collisions.

Priced at £45,813 this car is a model which is unlikely to offer a good investment to buyers. Not only are running costs high but its poor green credentials mean it is never going to be considered economically or environmentally friendly. The poor fuel consumption means owners will be making regular and expensive trips to the petrol station and depreciation is also expected to be high.

Overall, this car fails to live up to its promising looks and disappoints on a number of aspects. Whilst the boot capacity is reasonable for its use and internal comfort is acceptable the high costs and lack of economy make it a poor investment.