By Derek Mau

Likes:

• Adept handling for a wagon
• Powertrain provides nice balance of power and economy
• Comfortable cabin
• A luxury car with lots of cargo room
• Optional Acura/ELS surround sound system

Dislikes:

• 5-speed transmission automatic transmission
• No V6 or 6-speed manual option for North American market
• Navigation system needs to catch up to the competition
• Backseat legroom is tight for taller passengers

Since the SUV started dominating car sales, the station wagon has fallen in status somewhere between the microcar (e.g. Smart car) and the minivan. In the era of the Ford Country Squire your parents appreciated them. Nowadays, auto journalists and Europeans are the select few who fully appreciate their form and function, but nobody buys them here. It’s that last trait that’s led to the near extinction of the family wagon.

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Toyota is expanding their Prius family with a new larger and heavier wagon-like Prius V — that’s the letter V for “versatility,” Toyota says, not the Roman numeral five.

The new Toyota Prius V, will go on sale in the United States in late summer or early fall. Toyota announced production has begun on the new gasoline-electric hybrid Prius wagon, that is set to hit Japan in April, followed by the U.S. and Europe. Although, those dates might slip as Japan begins clean up after its latest tsunami disaster.

Some major differences between the Prius hatchback and the new wagon-style Prius are improved visibility due to the driver being situated 1.2 inches higher, an extended rear cargo which will eliminate the hatchback’s split rear window, a 220 pound weight difference, and the option of a new polycarbonate panoramic moonroof that weighs 40 percent less than glass. The new Prius wagon is wider, taller and about five inches longer, and shares the same engine, platform, and hybrid drivetrain as the Prius hatchback, giving it approximately 42 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway. New inside features include a computer mouse-inspired one-dial climate control button and a high-capacity lithium ion battery.

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By Danny Chang

Pros

• Plenty of head room
• Decent acceleration if you keep your foot down
• Decent trunk space for a hatch
• Easy access

Cons

• Could use more power
• Quirky Gallic styling
• Better MPG would be nice

My first car that I drove in high school was a dark blue 1986 Nissan Sentra coupe. It had a 1.6 L engine that probably put out just over 84 HP. It was a pretty base model with an aftermarket radio that had a push button auto reverse cassette deck. It had no side view mirror on the right hand side, but hey, who needs that. It had no AC, which was a bit problematic in the SoCal summers where temperatures routinely shoot up to the high 90s and low 100s in the valleys. To kick a man when he’s down, the Sentra used to overheat regularly and I had to pump the hot air into the cabin in order to cool the engine down. What the Sentra did have, though, was a five-speed manual transmission and a smooth clutch. So I was pretty interested to see what the new econobox from Nissan is like, almost a quarter of a century later.

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Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon User Reviews	Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Overview	Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Photo Gallery	2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Specs

By Twain Mein

Pros:

• Smooth and powerful 304 hp V6
• Excellent road feel that is smooth, communicative, and refined
• Handling performance that rivals the European sedans
• Unique styling

Cons:

• Uncomfortably hard front seats
• Rear seat access is limited
• Time lag with full throttle acceleration
• Steering wheel shifters don’t automatically override into manual mode

Ruling: If you’re going to get a 4-door, skip the sedan and just get a wagon!

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