Fifty years ago the name Cadillac meant the best of anything. Every Cadillac came with a powerful engine, a plethora of features, and an easily recognizable exterior that subtlety rubbed rich guy into the face of those not as credit worthy. After decades of wandering about in a wasteland of corporate misadventures Cadillac has started to retrieve that image, but in a startling different way. Performance and value are now becoming Cadillac’s trademarks most recently seen in its redone CTS and STS sedans. Apparently Cadillac has surrendered the high ground to those into the conspicuous consumption of $100.000 plus sedans from Lexus, Bentley, Mercedes, and BMW.

The new Cadillacs didn’t overwhelm us, but at long last this proud name has found a niche and is shouldering its way into the realm of reality for its traditional buyers and, dare we say, younger ones, by offering more for less. Indeed, it even offers a true superstar in the form of the V series with its hotted up V8 engines, and is returning to its roots of bigger and safer as sources of pride. Perhaps the best part is that the new Cadillacs are the finest in decades and certainly represent a continuing change for the better at General Motors.

In a tribute to the old Cadillacs that offered the latest in technology the new ones are doing the same, especially in the area of safety. Such equipment as lane departure warnings and blind spot lights located in the side view mirror (that you can’t see with polarized sunglasses) are all state of the art. Add to that antilock disc brakes, stability control, airbags most everywhere, and available active steering and all-wheel-drive clearly make the Cadillac both actively and reactively a safer vehicle and it is reflected in higher crash score ratings.

CTS versus STS

So what are the basic differences between the STS and the CTS outside of the former’s $10,000 higher price tag? Well, both are fairly nimble with similar base engines in the form of a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing V8 type power. We believe this is the engine to have, although some might find the STS-V model with a strong V8 engine topped with a supercharger to make 469 horsepower worth the extra cost and fuel consumption. If you want a lesser V8 Cadillac offers a 4.6-liter V8 making 320 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque. Why bother? The V6 is just as good and nearly as strong. Both engines have a six speed automatic transmission and can get you to 60 mph in less than eight seconds.

The CTS and the STS have rear wheel drive, can be equipped with all wheel drive, and have the same size wheels, and nearly identical trunk capacities. Gas mileage is similar as well with 21-mpg averages for the duo, although the CTS has a slightly larger tank at 18 gallons versus 17 for the larger STS. The smaller tank and five inches longer length provides the most notable statistical difference outside of handling between the two and that is rear seat legroom where the STS offers nearly three inches more. Outside of that the differences are largely in suspension and handling.

The CTS is more nimble and more responsive. Interestingly, the STS is caught in the middle of the Cadillac lineup with the much larger DTS offering extra room and standard features for just $3000 more while the trendy CTS is pulling buyers in with its youthful demeanor and performance.

As has been a continuing Cadillac tradition option list makes its easy to create a sedan to the buyer's taste. Ordering a sunroof, xenon headlamps, adaptive cruise control, a lane departure warning system, a blind spot warning system, a head-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, a navigation system, a 300 watt Bose surround-sound stereo system, with 15 speakers and satellite radio, a Performance Handling Package, adaptive suspension system that Cadillac calls Magnetic Ride Control and even larger, 18-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, rear park assist, keyless ignition system, more powerful brakes and a more sporty suspension and don't forget that supecharged engine with available six speed manual trans can alter either vehicle from highway cruiser, to stop-light brusier by just increasing the credit card limit.

We highly recommend the 3.6-liter direct injection V6 that puts out 304 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and comes with the six speed automatic transmisison. You can get the CTS in both rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive. Sixty miles per hour in under seven seconds is easy, but it is going to take a feather foot to come anywhere near the 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway listed by the government.

Perhaps the most interesting change for the CTS is its redone exterior. It has the same look, but is wider in the rear and has an aggressive front which adds to excellent front visibilty. The look gives this Cadillac far more presense and a more hefty look. It is very well done, but the protection for that grill is all but non-extensitent so owners must take care in parking lots where large SUV drivers usually have no idea where their vehicle’s snout is until there is the sound of broken plastic.

Mom’s view: A tasty dish to place before the queen, the CTS has antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and OnStar to keep the lady protected and a six cylinder engine with enough poke so she doesn’t have to be a lady in waiting. The interior is much improved with some nice wood trim accents and just enough electronics to keep the queen entertained. The screen for the optional navigation system retracts into the dash with just a little visible when retracted to use as the touch screen for the audio and HVAC. I thought the controls could be easier to master and I never did get the GPS to work right, but hey, that’s a job for the younger generation.

You can see some female traits in the CTS thanks to General Motor’s big shot Liz Philbosian’s influence. It is easy to get in and out of, the controls can be used even if you have small hands, and the interior is very tasteful. Unfortunately, the trunk lid does not pop up enough so you have to get your hands dirty trying to open it. There is also a lack of interior storage with a small glove compartment and door side pockets. The cupholders work well and the heated seats are quick to the task.

The wheel-mounted controls are well labeled, but the memory settings for the driver’s seat and rear view mirrors took me a while to understand as did the GPS controls. By the way, someone needs to rethink the driver’s manual that comes with the car. It is more difficult than necessary to read and understand. There is a remote starter, but you have to be where you can see or hear the car to know if it has started. As we get more forgetful I worry about the lack of such a feature as forgetting a car is running in a confined area is a potential health hazard.

For me the STS was the best car. The CTS was not as comfortable to drive and I was always worried about hitting that low front grill. The CTS was easily the better deal and should have the higher resale. Either way Cadillac is back.

Young working male’s view: Yep, my company, http://www.eracks.com is producing custom made servers and computers with personal customer service and since we are in the States you save big time and don't have to worry about currency fluxuations. When I got into the CTS I noticed that Cadillac was becoming more of a player in the eletronics field with an optional 40GB hard drive for the Bose surround sound audio system. You can store your own music, integrate your iPod, and even pause and resume radio broadcasts. The GPS has voice-recognition software, traffic and weather alerts. You can also pause and record radio broadcasts. The controls are a bit confusing, but you can use the auxiliary buttons on the heated leather wheel to help. One ergonomic note, the vehicle information center is difficult to reach.

The backseats in both cars were exceptional in both room and comfort and they came with a pull-down center console with cup holders and rear A/C vents with personal controls. Unfortunately, the large C pillars made for a cave like feeling as they blocked a great deal of the view. Obviously, the STS was clearly capable of carrying five adults whereas the CTS was better suited for two in back. Getting in and out isn’t too bad as the doors open fairly wide. Both cars really need more interior storage room and at least a place to store your sunglasses.

I question the weight of the CTS. It is pushing 4000 pounds and even the new engine isn’t going to find that easy to tote around and still return reasonable fuel mileage. The higher gearing does help and the fact that the engine burns regular fuel saves money, but there is no doubt that unless Cadillac puts its fleet on a diet the mandatory federal fuel standards are going to curtail its appeal.

I liked the handling of both cars and their look. Cadillac does offer an all wheel drive version, but we have not tested that model. As it now stands the CTS is a winner. The pricing is excellent and the product is easily definable. The made in America crowd doesn’t have to lose much to the foreign competition by selecting this model and the lower dollar value makes parts less expensive than those for the imports.

Dad’s view: The CTS and the STS are overweight. That impacts all the sporty nature their looks imply. The handling is good, but again, the girth makes it a trade-off between being too stiff or too lax when it comes to cornering despite the adjustable susupension package. These Cadillacs are best left to the commuters and travelers who like the relaxed fit highway drive rather than the two lane canyon challenge. For those who want to intimidate get the V version and you can declare war on any sedan this side of $150,000 without fear.

The front seats on both cars felt comfortable, but they weren’t designed for sporty driving. The heating feature worked quickly, but the cooling mode was unimpresessive. The one on the Saab is much better and that company also belongs to General Motors so go figure.Perhaps the early nature of the test car had something to do with it. The panoramic sunroof is interesting in that it covers part of the first and second row of seats. The cover may be of questionable durability over time.

You need to make sure you check the spare tire in these models. You might be surprised to just find a can of flat fixer. The standard tires are the main source of noise in these two models and I recommend considering not getting all weather ones if you don’t live in areas of frequent inclement weather. As for the suspension, you can order an upgrade, but why bother if you just commute. If you drive in the mountains you must consider the optional FE suspension packages. The steering is light and has good feel, which surprised me on these Cadillacs. This is a car that you can steer out of harms way without losing its composure. Although first learn that the brakes require a bit more effort than previous models.

Even though the engine has over 300 horsepower it feels like less due to the fact that the power doesn’t really arrive until it reaches over 5000 rpm, although the variable value timing gives you 220 lb.-ft. on tap at 1000 rpm. That would be plenty if the car weighed less. Cadillac is well aware of this and added aluminum to the front suspension and even upper control arms of the multilink rear suspension and differential case to trim some excessive heft. The cars aren’t slow if you keep the aluminum block, 24-valve,  powerplant and its chain-driven overhead camshafts on task. The reward is under eight second runs to 60 mph. More importantly, when you kick down the transmission the car reacts strongly and makes passing easy. The transmisson is exceptional.

The STS is too laid back for me and the CTS has the appearance of a sports sedan without the standard handling and acceleration of one. However, if you select your options carefully you can make the CTS a stunner. The STS meanwhile is a nice adult car that won’t disappoint, but its pricing isn’t as sweet as its kid sister’s.

Young unemployed woman’s view: With a MIS and a MBA you think that there would be suitable opening in Arizona, but outsourcing has really cut into the demand. As such both of these cars are off my radar for now. I like the look of the CTS, but the STS is so much more elegant. The interior with its V shaped center console area and trim is handsome and user friendly. The gauges are very easy to read and the interior night lighting was excepetional. I know that one magazine has given the CTS its car of the year award and I can see why. But for a new car to get such limited gas mileage was a problem for me. For example, I was able to get nearly the same gas mileage from the CTS as the much larger GMC Acadia SUV. Anyway, the CTS is very well priced and sure to be a hit for those who like the daring styling and elegant interior. The STS is a great deal more expensive, but its worth it with an easy going nature and smart decor.

Family conference: These are Cadillacs and yet they are value leaders. We like the look of the new CTS and its pricing. However, the larger STS is a better family pick. Either way you are going to have a problem duplicating the size, performance, and features of these Cadillacs for the money. On the other hand there is a lot of competition with the new Mercedes C Class, the Infiniti Gs and the ES Lexus. If you like to buy American and enjoy a good looking car with old fashioned values these new fangled Cadillacs are the way to go especially when combined with the 5 year, 100,000 mile drive train warranty.

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