2006 Cadillac STS Review

The Cadillac STS arrived as a dramatically changed 2005 rear-drive luxurious sports sedan that replaced the aged front-drive Seville, which was Cadillac's "European-style'' model. The STS has sold well and drawn younger Cadillac customers.

Cadillac didn't make the mid-size STS a direct rival to harder-edged sedans from automakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz because it thought the softer STS should be more suited to American luxury car tastes.

There seemed no point in having Cadillac make a BMW-style clone. Rather, the new STS goes its own way. It's more suited to the American motoring landscape, which doesn't have the narrow twisting roads and high-speed highways found in Europe.

The STS formula apparently is working, as calendar year production of the car through September this year totaled 26,548 cars.

The STS is essentially a stretched, costlier version of Cadillac's most popular model, the CTS sedan. However, the more luxurious STS has styling that is less edgy than that of the CTS and thus is more readily accepted by an older crowd.

While quite good, the standard $41,020-$47,520 STS isn't as quick-reflexed as a BMW or as firm as a Mercedes. The steering needs more feedback, the suspension leans more toward smoothness than sportiness and the car thus feels less sporty than, say, a BMW 5-Series sedan. However, the STS has rear-drive like its European rivals for better weight distribution and good handling.

There's a new, limited-production STS that is seemingly an anomaly in the 2006 STS line. It's the STS-V, which has a supercharged 469-horsepower supercharged V-8 -- the most powerful engine put in a production Cadillac. The STS-V also has such features as unique interior trim, upgraded suspension developed on a European race track, better brakes and larger tires.

At $76,370, the STS-V is for affluent hot car buffs -- and is better suited to European roads. Cadillac wants the STS to be considered a European sports sedan fighter and builds the STS-V because it thinks it must offer an "all-out'' STS to be fully competitive with low-volume hot rod versions of BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes sedans.

Most STS buyers opt for the $41,020 V-6 model, which has 254-horsepower. The $47,520 STS with a 320-horsepower V-8 is alluring, but the substantial price difference between the two versions makes it understandable why the STS V-6 is more popular.

The V-6 model is loaded with comfort, convenience and safety equipment. In fact, the V-8 version mostly just adds its more powerful engine and different tires.

Both versions are offered with a long list of options, some of which can cause their list prices to soar. For example, the bottom line price of my $47,520 STS V-8 was $51,965, excluding a $720 freight charge that put it over the $52,000 mark.

I could live without many of the items in the car's $4,445 Luxury option package, although its heated seats, elaborate sound system and possibly the navigation system would be tempting. Not to mention the nifty polished aluminum wheels.

The STS V-6 joins the STS V-8 in offering an all-wheel-drive system for 2006, although that system really is for those who do such things as flock to ski country in winter or live in rural areas with snow-covered winter roads that often are unplowed.

For most STS buyers, though, the STS has an advanced anti-skid/traction control system that helps keep the car stable on slippery roads.

The all-wheel-drive system costs $1,900 for the V-6 model, but is pricey if you want it for the V-8 version, requiring a $10,740 or $12,790 option package. The system isn't offered for the STS-V.

I tested the 2005 STS V-6 for last October's AutoTimes and found it to be plenty fast. However, the 2006 STS V-8 I recently drove was a little smoother, faster and quieter with the extra two cylinders, especially on highways.

The STS V-8 has more effortless acceleration, but you'd have to drive both the V-6 and V-8 models back-to-back to really tell the difference. Both work with a responsive five-speed automatic transmission.

Estimated fuel economy with the V-6 is 18 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway and 17 and 26 with the V-8. All-wheel drive lowers the V-6 economy numbers to 17 and 25 and to 16 and 23 with the V-8. Preliminary figures for the STS-V, which has a six-speed automatic transmission, are 14 city, 20 highway.

The STS comfortably seats four tall adults in its quiet interior, which has comfortable seats, easily read gauges and conveniently placed controls. The interior looks good with standard leather upholstery and such, but its ambience falls a bit short of those in similar-priced foreign rivals.

The long, deep trunk has a low, wide opening for quick loading and unloading.

The STS provides a reasonable amount of European flair with traditional American luxury car comforts. It really makes more sense for U.S. driving than many foreign sports/luxury sedans. 

2006 CADILLAC STS 

PRICES
$41,020-$76,370 STS-V

LIKES
Nicely styled. Fast. Good handling. Nice ride. Roomy. Available all-wheel drive.

DISLIKES
Generally lacks European sports sedan feel. Pricey available all-wheel drive.