When you talk about Cadillac these days, you get some comments from the hate-the-new- edgy design camp; more comments from the love-it camp and then from the younger crowd you have the embellishment of the Escalade.
Cadillac will tell you it’s all good. Better to have them talking about you, than not. There are plenty of people talking about the STS, the sport sedan that finds Cadillac, in my opinion, at somewhat of a crossroads.
My STS tester was compelling from the outside, amazing on the road and disappointing in some regards on the inside. Make no mistake, few vehicles, especially in this class, get it all right, and STS does a respectable job of delivering big in key areas and choosing to fall back in others.
With a standard MSRP of $47,520, STS places itself among some heavy hitters in the luxury sedan segment, including Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. And truth be told – they belong there. Once you get beyond the now-famous “edgy” design treatment of Cadillac, you have a wonderful world awaiting you once you get STS onto the pavement.
Your level of enjoyment while driving the STS will be limited only by your driving abilities, local speed ordinances and a personal preference for tight or touring-type suspensions. My tester had the 4.6 liter Northstar V8 VVT (320 hp) paired with a crisp 5-speed auto transmission and a fun Driver Shift Control.
This Northstar V8 is powerful and responsive to your every whim. The dual-overhead-cam, 4-valve, 4.6-liter V8 is an amazing engine that stands up to any of the competitors V8s in this class. I found the 5-speed auto transmission to be responsive and smooth.
It is important to note that Cadillac does offer a V6 version of the STS (250 hp). With the V8 requiring premium fuel, the V6 can go on the regular octane mix and provide an extremely competent drive. In my book, horsepower equals fun. Though that can be a painful credo at the gas pump.
The ride of the STS is what you expect from this class of car, but certainly not was traditionalists of Cadillac have come to expect. The STS delivers a fabulous ride which stems mostly from the unique magnetic ride control (optional) system which adapts the suspension instantly to both road conditions and how aggressively the STS is being driven. The fluid inside the shock absorbers contains minute iron particles that react to the level of applied electronic current to instantly change the viscosity of the fluid – and the ride.
For my tastes, the interior of the STS was adequate at best. And if you opted for some of the optional add-ons that can push an STS to a potential $64k, you might really wonder what you paid for. I like STS’ equipment level accutraments like heated front and back leather seats, 8-way power positioning and keyless entry with push-button start, but balk at the cheaper-looking trim and accent pieces scattered throughout the cabin. If Cadillac does not see why the “rubberized” rolltop between the seats just does not belong, then maybe they should begin looking at getting into the pickup business.
Interior space is more than adequate for the class and rear-set legroom was plentiful regardless of front-seat position. trunk space is slightly smaller than the average for the competition but there plenty there for most any needs.
I found the STS to be an extraordinarily fun sedan to drive. With a variety of configurations from a base V6 engine, rear-wheel drive car to the V8 engine, all-wheel-drive version, STS can fit into several income levels. It’s a great looking sedan that earns it chops on the pavement and behind the wheel.
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