Back in the early 1980s when gasoline prices were climbing and vehicle dimensions were shrinking here in the United States, the Cadillac division of General Motors boldly introduced its first small car, the classically forgettable Cimarron. This legendary compact offering was in reality a thinly disguised, over-priced Chevrolet Cavalier with leather highlights, Cadillac grille and lots of rust spots after only a few short years. But that was then, this is now. Cadillac's latest forey into a smaller-sized car, the 1997 Catera sedan, is miles ahead of where Cimarron ever was. It's currently the lowest-priced new car in the Cadillac stable. But don't let the low price led you astray. In this instance, low price does not equate with low quality. Cadillac's new advance into the entry-level, luxury sedan segment gives rivals, such as BMW's 328i, Lexus ES 300 and Mercedes-Benz C280 a serious run for their money. Prices in this segment range anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000. Catera's marketing effort is steered toward young, affluent buyers with an average age of 44 who tend to favor foreign vehicles. Cadillac expects half of all Catera buyers to be women. The rear-wheel drive 1997 Catera sedan, which went on sale last fall, is built by GM's Opel subsidiary in Germany and is based on the successful, German- built Opel Omega MV6 introduced in Europe back in 1995. Its exterior borrows styling hints from smaller Mercedes models and doesn't resemble your typical Cadillac except for maybe the front grille. The impressive list of standard equipment includes four-speed automatic transmission, traction control, anti-lock brakes, Goodyear all-season tires, remote keyless entry, daytime running lights, dual-zone climate control power windows, power locks and eight-speaker audio system. Catera is marketed in just one trim level with a choice of cloth or leather seats. Manufacturer's suggested retail price starts at $29,995 for models featuring cloth interiors. Our test-drive Catera with leather seating and three-position driver seat memory started $3,000 higher at $32,995. With options including sunroof (($995), upgraded stereo ($723), heated front and rear seats ($400) and upgraded chrome-plated aluminum wheels ($1,195), the bottom line totaled $37,055 including a $640 destination charge. A 3.0 liter, dual overhead camshaft, 24-valve, V6 engine drives Catera. With 200 horsepower, it's one of the most powerful engines in its class. Cadillac claims Catera accelerates from 0 to 60 miles an hour in approximately 8.5 seconds. Ample head room is found inside the spacious interior. Wide front bucket seats provide a comfortable setting for seating. Thanks to improved insulation techniques, the interior is notably quiet. Power windows activate from the center console while power door locks are found on the door. A rather flimsy dual cup holder device flips out from inside the center storage bin. Inlay steering wheel buttons allow drivers to monitor radio stations while keeping their hands on the wheel. Intermittent wipers activate from a right-hand side turn signal stalk. Circular, white-on-black analog speedometer and fuel gauges are large and easy to read at a passing glance. A centrally-located, square-shaped sector houses stereo and temperature functions with green digital readouts. Large trunk and fuel door release buttons are found here as are heated seat and traction control functions. And believe it or not, even the glove box is air conditioned. Even with the rear-wheel drive transaxle hump running down the center, back seat passengers still have ample legroom. Catera's sectioned, three piece back seat allows the split seatback and center armrest to fold down as needed, allowing access to 16.6 cubic-feet of trunk space. The spare tire stands upright inside the trunk on the left side, not below the floor, for a slightly deeper design, which works well with the low-liftover trunk lid. No keyholes are found on either the trunk lid or passenger doors. The key fob or instrument panel button must be pressed in order to gain trunk access. Catera negotiates smoothly over bumps. Nimble handling together with strong brakes are reminiscent of larger, pricier competitors. Mileage estimates check in at 18 miles per gallon city, and 25 mpg highway. With 8,100 odometer miles, our Catera registered 21 mpg in combined driving. In the 1998 model year, Cadillac will introduce its OnStar system in Catera sedans. This satellite-connected communication device links driver and vehicle via a cellular phone with the manned, OnStar center. Here, advisors provide assistance using computer databases to instantly offer personalized information and service. For example, if the ignition key is inadvertently locked inside the car, OnStar has the capacity to unlock the vehicle's doors from the satellite. It also monitors when air bags deploy in case additional help is needed. |