"I’ve been waiting for this one," I smiled to myself as I slid in behind the thick-rimmed steering wheel of Cadillac’s new flagship, the STS. "Whereas the BLS doesn’t hide its Swedish (Saab) underpinnings, this STS is more macho, very ‘Sunset Strip Cruiser’ in purpose and neo-Yankee in design". There’s something deliciously indulgent about the STS’ lines… Even though the deep dark purple paintwork and over-elaborate rear brake light treatment isn’t to my taste, the Caddy stands out in a market segment where so many offerings are competent, but also infuriatingly understated.
One cannot describe the STS as a beautiful car, but most dark metallic colours (midnight black would be my first choice) would probably do the executive saloon justice. The strong horizontal lines, vertically stacked headlamps, stainless steel grille, chunky bumpers and overt chrome detailing make the long and broad STS so square that it’s quite hip (my apologies to Huey Lewis and the News).
Not everyone here at CAR has reacted positively to the STS interior, but I quite like it… the dashboard is uncluttered and intuitive to use and the multitude of wood inserts are made from real Sapele Pommele timber. Sure, the plastic trim is of the harder, shinier variety, but everything about the STS has a reassuring weight to it, including the way that the door clunk shut, the feel of the thick rim of the steering wheel in one’s hands, and the covers on the oddment storage pockets that silently glide open. The plush front seats are electrically adjustable with a memory function and the STS just seems to beg its driver to recline his or her backrest and assume the stretched-left-arm-with-right-elbow-on-windowsill position (illegal as that may be).
The STS driving experience is laid back, but not sloppy. Powered by GM’s 4,6-litre "Northstar" V8 mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the STS will calmly glide over indifferent asphalt and wolf down the miles on the freeway. The downside of the easy ride (the all-wheel independent suspension features Magnetic Ride Control) is that when one applies the brakes in anger the car bucks forward ever so slightly. However, the STS’ handling is not pudding-like… although steering feedback is muted, turn-in is acceptably fast and direct.
The real treat of this STS is using the transmission’s Driver Shift Control… Snap the gear selector to the right and the 239 kW motor (which packs 425 N.m of torque) becomes a NASCAR engine in the proverbial blink of an eye. Tap the gear selector aft and the ‘box will skip down with only a moment’s hesitation and hang on to the revs as you mash the loud pedal to the floor… The wonderfully raucous, old-style V8 growl produced by the "Northstar" will make you bray "O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave" (probably in the wrong key) and guess what? Up shifts are pretty snappy, too.
That leaves me with the most important question… Would I buy one? Well, for R494 000 there’s a lot of kit to be had, including keyless access with push-button start, 8-speaker Bose sound system, electrochromatic auto dimming interior rear view mirror and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan. However, the STS is up against CAR’s Best Buy in the Executive Saloon category – Lexus GS300 (R466 700), and a trio of tried-and-trusted Teutons – Audi’s A6 3,2 FSI multitronic (R482 500), BMW’s 525i Steptronic (R453 300) and Mercedes-Benz’s E280 (R484 000).
Although the usual suspects can’t match the STS for exclusivity, engine capacity and (in some aspects) standard specification, the big Caddy is significantly more expensive than its (also V8-engined) countryman, the Chrysler 300C Hemi (R449 900), which has more power and, arguably, street cred (for now, at least).
I still like the STS, because it makes a bold statement. It’s a solid product and a pleasure to drive. Unfortunately, for R5k more than the STS’ sticker price, you can also have a brand new Jaguar XF 3,0 Luxury. I’ll leave ya’ll with that thought…
A full road test of the Cadillac STS will appear in a future issue of CAR Magazine