Cadillac CTS-V sedan/wagon
Base Price: $65,515
Output: 556 hp, 551 lb-ft
Why It Made the List: It’s not your father’s Cadillac, and that’s a very good thing.
Let’s count the things we love about the Cadillac CTS-V: (1) its styling is both eye-catching and attractive; (2) it is equipped with the 556-hp supercharged V-8 from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1, and (3) it is available as a wagon with a six-speed manual transmission. Last but not least, the CTS-V’s sticker price starts at just over $65,000, which – on a relative scale – is a good price for the kind of performance this superfast family hauler is capable of. Plus, the wagon (and its extra utility) costs no more than the sedan.
There are plenty of luxury trappings to keep parents and kids alike happy while on the road. Standard heated and cooled front seats and optional Recaro bucket seats will keep those up front comfortable, while a Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system and a 40-gigabyte hard drive for the navigation system will keep everyone entertained — even if that entertainment is singing along to “The Wheels On The Bus.” The person behind the wheel will have the most fun, though, as the 6.2-liter engine thrusts the CTS-V sedan to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. A limited-slip differential helps to route power to the rear wheels, and Brembo calipers grab 15-inch front and 14.7-inch rear brakes when the fun needs to come to an end.
