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Wagons don’t sit high like SUVs. They handle and perform like cars, but can also haul more stuff. So why don’t Americans like wagons? Despite the unappealing characterization and rather than opting for more exciting names such as Touring or Estate, Cadillac still decided to name the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon just that.

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Very practical, and handling and driving like the CTS sedan, the only disadvantage of the Sport Wagon comes with the extra 241 pounds. However, this is somewhat offset by the better weight distribution. The optional 3.6-liter 24-valve direct-injection V-6 producing 304 hp gets the Sport Wagon from 0-60 in 7.0 seconds, which is 1 second slower than the sedan.

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Still, the wagon retains the CTS’s excellent handling, brakes, and steering. It also gains a Mercedes-like cargo compartment with 25 cubic feet of space in the trunk and 53 with the rear seats folded. Sportier than the comparable German competition, and at a lower starting price of $40,655, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon will be a surprising underdog.

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Cadillac has reborn the second-generation SRX to make it more like the segment’s best-selling Lexus RX350. Replacing the rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive platform is a front-drive-based architecture with a transversely mounted engine. A direct-injected 3.0-liter V-6 with 265 hp and 223 lb-ft of torque in the base engine SRX 3.0 gets the crossover to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds.

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However, the real story here is the optional 300 hp, 2.8-liter turbo V-6 SRX 2.8T. With a much improved low rev acceleration allowing a predicted 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds, the more powerful SRX 2.8T achieves peak torque at just 2000 rpm. Fuel economy is a 16/23 mpg city/highway rating, with premium fuel being recommended by Cadillac for the turbo-charged V-6. Coming standard are all-wheel drive, FE3 suspension, 20-inch wheels, and luxury items including heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, navigation, and a giant moon-roof. With a combination of superior suspension tuning, quiet ride, long list of standard equipment, and attractive interior, the new SRX will really give the Lexus RX some strong competition.

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