The New Cadillac BLS Wagon - page 2

10 months ago 30th Dec 13:15

Being one of those stringent purse string holders or rather trying to be, I opted for the 1.9 diesel engines with the lower ps of 150 that cost £21,495.00.

I do not want to harp on about the exterior too much. I think the problem here is false expectations where you believe something is going to be so brilliant, inevitably you feel let down. Despite this the BLS comes with 17- inch alloy wheels, practical roof rails, privacy glass, front and rear fog lights plus heated, powered folding auto dimming door mirrors.

Inside the story gets better. A host of equipment as standard includes dual zone automatic climate control air conditioning, electronic cruise control with set and resume facility, front plus rear electric windows for starters. Then comes rain sensing automatic wipers and light sensitive auto dimming rear view mirrors

Making the cabin a pleasurable experience for the driver is leather upholstery, an eight way electrically adjustable heated with memory drivers seat complete with extra lumber support, a leather wrapped rake and reach steering wheel with remote controls for audio, phone interface, voice recognition and driver information centre.

To enhance the Mama Mia soundtrack and indeed my singing voice is a BOSH surround sound CD radio with 11 speakers guaranteed to win me next years X factor competition.

The passenger seat is also powered and heated with their main job to sort out the DVD player for the children.

The BLS is certainly a very practical wagon with loads of storage solutions such as the cooled glove box, bottle holders galore, an adjustable front centre armrest with binnacles underneath and door pockets.

For the children’s endless stream of toys is more door pockets, cup holders and a centre rear armrest with further storage trays underneath.

The BLS I do declare is winning back some valuable brownie points thankfully.

Then I turned on the engine and the BLS fights back with vengeance. This 1.9 litre diesel engine with 150 ps mated to the six speed manual transmission screeches to 60 mph from zero in just 10.4 seconds. The children honestly thought they were at Alton Towers on the ‘Rita’ ride. Top speed is 124 mph yet fuel economy an impressive 44.8-mpg on a combined cycle. CO2 emissions are equally healthy at 167g/km.

The drive this BLS delivered was fantastic. The responsive power steering gripped the BLS to the tarmac yet embraced the parking bays when eventfully I could find one with Christmas shoppers hogging them all.

Slowly I was coming round to the true Cadillac and loving every mile I was driving.

The BLS wagon and Saloon both share a long wheelbase and a wide track that provides an excellent foundation to create balanced handing. The stiff body shell creates the perfect base for the fully independent suspension in order to deliver dynamic handling without corrosion on ride comfort. The result is, I had to finally admit to, was awesome . Not only was this BLS becoming pleasure personified, it was quiet thanks to high levels of refinement and minimum noise vibration and harshness coming in to the cabin disturbing ‘gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight’. On top of that are specially developed sound insulation fitted across the wheel arches, cabin roof and throughout the boot. Even Piece Brosner started to sound good.

I really did not want to like this car but fate has a funny way of turning things around. Even if I wanted to go over the top, this BLS had so many safety derives keeping it in one place and one place only - the tarmac,

In addition to a sophisticated all disc braking system the BLS Wagon comes with ABS, Traction Control, Electronic Brake Assist and Concerning Brake Control. On top of that every BLS model is fitted with StabiliTrak Electronic Stability that assists the driver by correcting under steer and over steer ensuring the BLS stays on track.

Of course there will always be one invincible driver wanting to push the BLS too far. Be warned for the BLS will fight back as it comes with a really thick bodyshell and loads of absorbing materials.

Then come the adaptive dual stage driver and passenger front airbags, front side airbags plus full-length curtain airbags. The front seats have adjustable headrests and seatbelts with pretensioners while the rear passengers have adjustable head rests plus ISOFIX mountings to the two outer seats.

Securing the BLS is a Thatcham I category alarm, remote central locking and falls into insurance group 15E.

Well what can I say except ‘never judge a book by its cover’?

Jackie Violet – Female First