The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon might just be the sleeper car that Americans need, but perhaps didn’t know they did. At a time when many felt the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 was the best that GM could offer, Cadillac decided to take the CTS Sport Wagon and create something truly special with huge V8 power under the hood.
Introduced in 2010, the CTS Sport Wagon was just like any other station wagon from the American brand. Typically, it was smart, stylish, and comfortable, attributes that you could very easily pick right from the DNA of Cadillac. The CTS Sport Wagon also had a little bit more kick than an average wagon.
With either a 3.0-liter or 3.6-liter V6 under the hood, it certainly wasn’t a slouch, but what we didn’t know was that Cadillac had another ace up its sleeve. When the car was being marketed, a few eagle-eyed enthusiasts noticed that a 556hp CTS-V model was being shown off by Cadillac.
This immediately threw up a few eyebrows, but surely Cadillac wouldn’t shove a huge V8 into a family station wagon? Well, that wasn’t the case, as Cadillac did indeed do that and created perhaps one of the best American cars of the last 20 years or so.
How Cadillac Created the CTS-V Wagon
The American company took the regular body, and under the hood, they threw out the standard V6 engine. Instead, a massive 6.2-liter supercharged LSA V8 was chucked into the car, a detuned version of the 638hp LS9 V8 engine that you would find in the ZR1. Cadillac essentially asked, ‘Well, if the ZR1 can have this engine, why can’t our station wagon?’
At the time, the vice chairman of products at GM, Bob Lutz, had stated that the V package would only be in the sedan and coupe versions, but demand clearly changed the company’s mind. When it went on sale in 2010, the CTS-V Wagon would produce 556 hp and 551lb-ft of torque, very similar to what the ZR1 could produce at the time. As it transpired, Cadillac had produced a true monster of a station wagon.
There were some differences between the ZR1 and the LSA in the Cadillac, such as a smaller supercharger of 1.9 liters, and one intercooler heat exchanger versus the two in the Corvette. The wet sump oiling was also different from the dry sump setup. Whatever the case, the effects of placing this engine in the wagon were evident, and it was a monster.
What Else Made the CTS-V Wagon Stand Out?
A few other things also helped to ensure this wagon stands out. Enthusiasts were over the moon that there was a six-speed manual transmission, although there was an option for a six-speed automatic. Cadillac did not skimp on luxury either, with the car featuring heated seats, satellite navigation, plus a Bose 5.1 cabin surround audio system. All this was packed into a car that cost $62,990 when it was launched.
Another thing to remember was that this was a car that had more power than a Porsche 997 generation 911 Turbo, yet it had enough space for grocery trips, vacations, road trips, and school runs. It was fast, powerful, and practical. The dream for many car owners. The CTS-V wagon had 25 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up, and that increased to a brilliant 58 cubic feet when the seats were folded down.
This Is How Much the CTS-V Wagon Is Worth in 2026
Compared to a lot of modern vehicles, the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon is still a very good purchase and great value. Classic.com states the average sales price at $50,957 at the time of writing. They also list the lowest one has sold for at $35,500, with the highest auction price $63,000, virtually the same as the original MSRP. So if you are looking for a punchy, comfortable, spacious and loud wagon, for decent money, look no further than the CTS-V.