Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures owner satisfaction with vehicle quality after 90 days of ownership, the Cadillac CTS was the No. 3-ranked vehicle in its class, receiving 5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

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Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures owner satisfaction with performance and design attributes of a vehicle, the Cadillac CTS was the No. 2-ranked vehicle in its class, receiving 5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

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Predicted Reliability – The current generation of the Cadillac CTS is too new to have been included in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures owner satisfaction with a vehicle’s reliability after three years of ownership. Based on the historical performance of the current CTS in our Initial Quality Study, and of the previous CTS in our Vehicle Dependability Study, the 2010 model receives a predicted reliability rating of 4 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

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Fuel Economy – The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is equipped with one of two direct-injected engines: a 3.0-liter V-6 or a 3.6-liter V-6 driving the rear or all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature. According to the EPA, the 3.0-liter is rated to return 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway (18 city/26 highway with AWD). The 3.6-liter is rated to deliver 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with rear- and all-wheel drive. Both engines are designed to operate on regular unleaded fuel.

Our review vehicle, a CTS Sport Wagon with the 3.6-liter V-6 engine and AWD, averaged 18.8 mpg in mixed driving with a highway emphasis. Combined with the CTS Sport Wagon’s standard 18-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 340-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

Safety – According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon receives a 4-star frontal impact rating for the driver, a 5-star frontal impact rating for the front passenger, and 5-star side impact ratings for front and rear seat occupants. The NHTSA also gives the CTS a 4-star rollover rating with or without the optional all-wheel-drive system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the Cadillac CTS a “Top Safety Pick,” with a “Good” rating in the frontal offset impact test, a “Good” rating in the side impact test, and a “Good” rating for rear impacts.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon consumes 15.6 barrels of petroleum annually with the 3.0-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. All other versions consume 16.3 barrels of petroleum annually. Carbon footprint ratings are 8.3 for the smaller V-6 and rear-drive, 8.7 for the bigger V-6 and both AWD iterations of the car. The CTS Sport Wagon’s EPA air pollution scores were not available at the time this review was published.

Note: This review was published on November 2, 2009. It may not reflect data that has become available for this vehicle since that date.