By Tom Crosby
AAA Carolinas

Cadillac’s STS is a 5-passenger luxury sedan several inches longer and wider than its sibling CTS and smaller than the DTS, the largest sedan currently being built by Cadillac.

Easily distinguishable from the CTS with a sleeker overall shape and sharply raked rear window, the STS this year uses the 6L50 Hydra-Matic six speed transmission mated with Northstar V8 engines to improve take-off acceleration and reduce noise and rpm’s while cruising at higher speeds. A five-speed 5L40 is used with the STS V6 engines.

The STS comes in either rear-wheel or front-wheel drive with a choice of V6 or V8 engine. There is also a high-performance STS-V with a 469-horsepower supercharged V8 engine. Our test drive was the STS V8 rear-wheel drive with 18-inch wheels and excellent road manners. Cadillac has fine-tuned its chassis for a calmer ride by using ride-tuned tires, dampers, improved interface between body and chassis and better engine mounts. Cadillac uses four-channel Stabilitrak to maintain traction and reduce roll in turns and on slippery surfaces. A two-mode Magnetic Ride Center allows drivers to choose between a cushy ride and one with more feedback from the road.

The STS’s new transmission has clutchless manual shifting that helps reduce reliance on brakes by reducing engine rpm’s on downhills. Inside, STS uses a heads-up display for speed (shown in orange) that becomes more colorful with some green, yellow and blue displays when adjusting climate controls.  An oversized wooden/leather wrapped steering wheel sets the tone for a spacious interior with shiny wooden inlays around the huge center console on the dashboard using vertical cool/hot air slits.

The optional navigation system is intuitive and requires acknowledgement it can be a distraction before operating. Gauges are easy to read, although wearing sunglasses makes the heads-up display illegible. An easy-key system allows the engine to start with a push of the fob outside the car, allowing the cockpit to warm or cool in advance.

Once inside, a dashboard button starts – and stops – the engine. For 2007, General Motors is offering in many upscale vehicles OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation. A live advisor speaks through the radio advising the driver when to turn to reach a destination. The Cadillac’s Global Positioning system tells the advisor where the car is. Options include heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, Bluetooth phone connection, and 15-speaker Bose sound system with CD/DVD changer that accommodates DVD-A and MP3. Trunk space is average for a large sedan and holds four golf bags. Rear seats aren’t as spacious as front seats. The ride is exceptionally quiet.