2005 Cadillac STS: the flagship finally comes alive

The completely redesigned Cadillac STS (the Seville moniker has been axed) receives ample acclaim in the Edmunds first drive feature. The car easily competes with the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class, as it starts around $41,000 and can be ordered in a bevy of configurations, with V6 or V8 power as well as available all-wheel-drive (rear-wheel-drive is standard). But besides price, drivetrain and power, the STS delivers in terms of sheer driving satisfaction. It ably blends luxury and sport with a not overly-porky weight and and an advanced chassis that allows for ride quality adjustment and can provide both cushy comfort and sharp handling depending on the driver's mood. The 3.6 liter V6 cranks out 255-hp smoothly and offers more than adequate push, and the 320-hp 4.6 liter Northstar V8 makes an already quick car quite fast indeed. On the inside, appointments are rich and solid and there's plenty of cutting-edge technology (like the color heads-up display that projects onto the windshield) to keep even the most hardcore Engadget reader satisfied. In short, according to Edmunds, the STS is Caddy's best car to date.