Test drive Cadillac STS 2004 - 2007 Sedan
Vanity in Cuba
Cadillac STS: reasonable claim to elitismThe representative machine should be German or, with the most successful combination of circumstances, English. But this was far from always. The legendary American Cadillac, which in 1930 1960 was a standard and a fetish for successful people, is again trying to establish its own rules for the game in the automotive establishment.
The new STS sedan risks sitting between two chairs, or rather, thrones. In terms of dimensions, it is closer to the segment E, while the line of engines and the set of options allow it to be attributed to representative cars. The manufacturer clearly decided on positioning: STS takes the highest position in the modeling range of Cadillac.
Last spring, he began to be supplied to the EU market and finally reached Russia. We are offered cars in the European specification with the correct lighting and suspension from the point of view of the traffic police, adapted for very fast driving on high -quality roads.
Infernal tank
In STS, it is impossible not to evaluate his original style: in how a massive body in motion creeps on the ground, there is something sinister. The pronounced ribs of the stiffness of the case and specific proportions inspire associations either with the Stechkin pistol, or with a faceted glass. It seems that the sedan was created by people who are completely freed from standard ideas about how a machine should look like a respectable Western businessman. Cadillac cannot be confused with any of the competitors that the business class has a definite plus. In addition, for all the identity of STS in its forms, there is no hint of smoothness and roundness, wiped with designers of inexpensive Korean brands.
The interior, unfortunately, is impressive much less than the appearance. Cream skin and polished tree in the cabin provided to us for a test drive looked luxurious. But among this splendor, the central console from boring and very cheap for car of this class of plastic was cutting the eye. Small monochrome displays of the BOSE and climate control audio system are located on top and below, and in the middle of the CD slot and a narrow niche of incomprehensible purposes, in which with a slight effort it was possible to put a cell phone. A version with a navigation system and a large color screen is available in the European market, but such machines are not supplied to Russia.
Partly saves the position by a bright optronic panel of devices with perfectly readable scales. Also, the system for projecting information on the windshield in front of the driver helps a lot on the road. This displays speed, the presence of interference in front, a pointer of a working turn signal, as well as the name of the track, which is reproduced by the audio system. You can forget about the dashboard in the driving process, the main thing is not to wear anti -flair sunglasses that will not only have a projection on the windshield, but also the displays on the central panel.
The driver’s seat, of course, is equipped with a complete set of electro -regulations and a settings panel, but in shape it turned out to be too wide, calculated exclusively for large drivers, and the profile of the back is not perfect. But when planting from the car, the electronics helpfully pushes the steering wheel up and forward, displacing the chair for a more convenient exit from the cabin.
Not the rear sofa, where it is supposed to be the owner of such a car, oddly enough, it turned out not so spacious. There are still enough places in length and width, but passengers tall above 185 cm will support their heads with the ceiling. The third here will definitely be superfluous to the high central tunnel leaves no place for the legs. But an individual system of maintaining microclimate is provided, as well as heating the seats.
Ballad of a flexible shell
All STS side windows have a three -layer structure, they perfectly protect the interior from noise and should quite successfully resist attempts to hack. Aerodynamic and other noises become heard only after 120 km/h, and even then only on uneven roads.
The contactless access system and engine start -up is very convenient. You can open the door by simply pulling the pen, not taking out an electronic keychain from your pocket. To start the motor, just press the key to the right of the steering wheel. It’s just not clear why it was impossible to integrate the ignition key in the keychain, as all European manufacturers have already done. We will have to constantly carry with you a weighty bunch of key and key fob, and if the battery of the remote control panel of the central lock, the alarm and the engine start -up system is discharged, there will be no chances to leave by car. The key is also used to lock the tiny glove box and a hatch for transporting skis between the salon and the trunk.
Capabilities of a 4.6-liter motor with a capacity of 325 hp A solid sedan is enough with a huge margin. When driving around the city, even with dynamic starts at traffic lights, the tachometer arrow rarely rises above 3000 rpm. The mighty eight Northstar is perfectly pulling from idle.
As expected, the appetite of Cadillac was thorough. As if there was neither the embargo of the OPEC of 1974, nor the Iranian revolution of the 1979th, nor the current oil crisis. With an extremely calm ride without traffic jams, the on -board computer stably shows 15 17 liters per 100 km. If you do not limit itself in dynamics, then the consumption instantly rolls over for a mark of 20 liters per hundred. It turns out that the 66-liter fuel tank is enough for about 300 km, which are usually wound around Moscow in a couple of working days.
If you use the entire potential of the motor, a huge sedan under the solid baritone of the eight breaks off, not feeling its own mass in 1815 kg, like a large -caliber projectile.
The quality of the road surface of the STS owner should not worry all -wheel drive allows you to start with wet asphalt as confidently as with dry. The automatic box works very quickly, switching occurs quickly enough and at the same time softly. In general, the work of the power unit is comparable to the best European patterns.
The suspension of the Europeanized STS is equipped with adaptive shock absorbers Magnetic Ride Control, which can change rigidity depending on the quality of the roadway. Moreover, the choice of modes will be managed exclusively by electronics, the driver has no access to suspension adjustments. But maybe you’re going to yourself for the better and do not think about the quality of the road. You notice lying policemen, tram rails, deep cracks and other irregularities only by ear. True, the electronics does not always manage to work, it can go hard, and the next one can come to her senses and swallow it in its entirety.
Active cruise control with a radar that monitors the distance to the walking car is special. Formally, you can drive it even around the city, but the driver should wake up with sharp slowdown and stops. When the speed falls up to 40 km/h, the electronics are turned off. You also need to be careful in the turns when a walking car turns ahead, the radar gives a command to increase speed, although in fact it is time to slow down.
On the highway, the radar allows you to move at a fairly high speed almost without tension the chrome radiator grille and the light of xenon headlights completely beat off their desires to wedge in a row along which Cadillac rides. And leisurely drivers of autoclassics literally jump out of the left row, hurrying to free the road.
STS is surprising not only an abundance of business class options, but also a very reasonable price. The tested sedan in the top configuration is estimated at $ 82,310. The basic Cadillac STS with a motor of 3.6 liters (255 hp), an automatic and rear-wheel drive costs $ 66,490. For comparison, the cost of the Mercedes-Benz E500 with all-wheel drive is 80,900 euros In the basic configuration. And the price of packaged cars rolls over far over 100,000 euros.
Of course, comparing Cadillac with German competitors without taking into account the price, it turns out that Europeans are ahead of the American in almost all articles. But if the issue of buying a representative sedan is puzzled by a person who does not burn the pocket for extra money, STS may be quite a worthy choice for him.
Igor Sirin
Source: Wheel (company)
