2007 Cadillac STS-V Review | Buyer Guide
Cadillac STS-V Takes On German Supercars
The folks at General Motors haven’t had a lot to cheer about in recent years, but one bright spot for the company has been the success of Cadillac. GM’s flagship division has resurrected itself, and has become a solid competitor again in the luxury-car market. Cadillac cars and SUVs reflect a newfound confidence that was lacking previously. In fact, the high-performance “V” models, like the CTS-V, XLR-V and the STS-V positively swagger.
The STS-V is the latest Cadillac hotrod, and it competes with the powerful BMW M5 and the Mercedes CLS55. Strong competition, indeed, but the STS-V can hold its head high in this company. In a comparison test, Car and Driver magazine placed the Cadillac squarely in the middle of the pack between the Mercedes and the BMW.
The STS-V is an offshoot of Cadillac’s full-size STS sedan, but the V is an STS with attitude. Up front, two wire-mesh grilles give it a purposeful look, and provide more air for the engine and the intercooler. Lower-body moldings on the sides help with the aerodynamics, and make the V look hunkered down. And a prominent rear-deck spoiler adds down-force, and conveys the notion that this car means business.
The interior of the standard STS is luxurious in its own right, but the V model takes it a step further. The seats are done in handcrafted Nuance leather, which also graces the dash and doors. Olive Ash wood trim, exclusive to this model, surrounds the display screen, the radio and the climate controls. The layout of the dash is refreshingly simple, with little in the way of extraneous gadgets. The only shortcoming I could find inside the STS-V was the shortage of legroom for tall passengers in back.
But the main reason people shell out $77,715 for the STS-V is for its performance and driving dynamics. Performance, in this case, means a hand-assembled, supercharged, 4.4-liter Northstar V-8. This engine pumps out a jaw dropping 469 hp. That’s more horsepower than any production Cadillac has ever offered. Teamed with the Northstar is a six-speed automatic with a manual-shift mode that transfers power to the rear wheels. Together, they will rush the STS-V to 60 less than five seconds. In normal everyday driving, engine is quite docile. You never get the feeling that the car is trying to get away from you. But stomp on the gas, and the V will pin you to the back of your seat. Top speed is 155 mph.
To complement the powerful drive train, Cadillac engineers modified the suspension so that the STS-V would handle like its German counterparts. Sachs monotube shock absorbers, along with stiffer springs and larger stabilizer bars, make for a very firm suspension. The STS-V can corner at high speed with very little body lean. Eighteen-inch wheels in front, and 19-inchers in the rear, shod with wide Pirelli tires, deliver tons of grip.
Faster steering provides exceptionally quick response to driver inputs, and Brembo high-performance brakes, with four calipers, get you stopped quickly from high speeds. All these features work in harmony to provide world-class handling, but at the expense of a compliant ride. The ride is, to say the least, busy. The STS-V telegraphs every bump in the road, and does it with side-to-side jiggling motions. This is the only major disappointment I had with this car.
Unlike its German competitors, the STS-V comes fully equipped, without expensive option packages. Included in the base price is a touch-screen navigation system, satellite radio, keyless remote entry and start, rear parking sensors, a Bose stereo and the StabiliTrak anti-skid system. Although the $77,715 price tag for the STS-V is not small change, it is price substantially lower than the Mercedes or BMW.
Snapshot Review
Supercar power
Handling to Match
Rough Ride
Competitive Price
Specifications
Price $77,715
Engine 4.4-ltr, DOHC, V-8
Horsepower 469
Transmission 6-sp auto
Brakes Brembo disc
Gas Mileage 14-20 mpg
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