That’s not to say the wagon is dead, and those with the need to get their family from coast to coast in a hurry have a very intriguing option: the 556 horsepower Cadillac CTS-V wagon, which Big Muscle’s Mike Musto points out is really just a muscle car in a family car disguise.
Even that’s not a fair analogy, since the CTS-V wagon handles better than any muscle car or 1970s station wagon we can name, thanks to the Delphi-developed Magnetic Ride Control suspension and the miracle of electronic stability control. Push too hard in a corner, and the CTS-V’s electro-nannies are there to save your bacon.
As good as the CTS-V wagon is, there may be a better choice for families living in snow belt states. BMW’s X5 M offers a similar amount of thrust, with the added stability of all-wheel-drive, in a market-friendly SUV wrapper. Sure, it costs significantly more money than the CTS-V wagon, but it’s quite a bit less costly than a Cayenne Turbo.
For those of us who grew up taking cross-country trips at 55 miles per hour, either choice is a winner when you want to get where you’re going with all due haste.