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2008 Cadillac STS Safety Review

August 1, 2008

SAFETY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Brakes on the STS are up to the car's potential
Automotive.com

Stability control "among the least intrusive of its kind
Car and Driver

the only to benefit...are those who shouldn't be on the road
Edmunds

The 2008 Cadillac STS does reasonably well in front-crash tests, though scores are lower than might be expected. It also has the expected safety gear—but some safety options annoy reviewers from around the Web.

In tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2008 Cadillac STS's performance in frontal-offset crashes earned it the highest score of "good"; however, it only received an "acceptable" rating in side-impact tests, which pulls its safety score down a bit. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the STS four of five stars for front-impact protection and for front seat side impact protection, as well as top marks of five stars for backseat side impact protection and rollover resistance.

Aside from the usual full complement of airbags and anti-lock brakes, this year's STS offers a Lane Departure Warning that is activated by a small camera located between the rearview mirror and the windshield as well as a Side Blind Zone Alert feature. Car and Driver finds both of these annoying, as they tend to activate at the drop of a hat (but the lane-departure feature doesn't sound off until the car is "almost on the lane lines"). However, these Cadillac STS features can be deactivated if the driver so chooses.

Automotive.com praises OnStar, which is standard on all versions; if airbags deploy and there is no response to calls, the OnStar operators will contact nearby paramedics.

If the buyer opts for the Cadillac STS V-8 with all-wheel drive, adaptive cruise control and "enhanced StabiliTrak with active steering" can be ordered for an extra $2,690, according to Cars.com.

Conclusion

The 2008 Cadillac STS’s crash-test scores are somewhat lower than expected.

SAFETY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:Brakes on the STS are up to the car's potentialAutomotive.comStability control "among the least intrusive of its kindCar and Driverthe only to benefit...are those who shouldn't be on the roadEdmunds The 2008 Cadillac STS does reasonably well in front-crash tests, though scores are lower than might be expected. It also has the expected safety gear—but some safety options annoy reviewers from around the Web. In tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2008 Cadillac STS's performance in frontal-offset crashes earned it the highest score of "good"; however, it only received an "acceptable" rating in side-impact tests, which pulls its safety score down a bit. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the STS four of five stars for front-impact protection and for front seat side impact protection, as well as top marks of five stars for backseat side impact protection and rollover resistance. Aside from the usual full complement of airbags and anti-lock brakes, this year's STS offers a Lane Departure Warning that is activated by a small camera located between the rearview mirror and the windshield as well as a Side Blind Zone Alert feature. Car and Driver finds both of these annoying, as they tend to activate at the drop of a hat (but the lane-departure feature doesn't sound off until the car is "almost on the lane lines"). However, these Cadillac STS features can be deactivated if the driver so chooses. Automotive.com praises OnStar, which is standard on all versions; if airbags deploy and there is no response to calls, the OnStar operators will contact nearby paramedics. If the buyer opts for the Cadillac STS V-8 with all-wheel drive, adaptive cruise control and "enhanced StabiliTrak with active steering" can be ordered for an extra $2,690, according to Cars.com. ConclusionThe 2008 Cadillac STS’s crash-test scores are somewhat lower than expected.  2008 CADILLAC STS STYLING | [7 out of 10] Automotive.com: "bolder styling inside and out" Cars.com: "weighty doors and cushy leather, but too many shoddy finishes" Edmunds: "a more luxuriously trimmed interior" ForbesAutos: "we think it's handsome" Kelley Blue Book: "does not stand ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

With V-6 and V-8 engines and a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, the 2008 Cadillac STS is quite competitive versus the mid-size luxury sedans from Germany and Japan, but it arguably doesn't look or feel as up-to-date as the 5-Series or E-Class inside. In terms of performance, the base STS has perkier performance than either the E350 or the BMW 528i, though the sweet engine in the new 535i may have it beat. The E-Class more closely fits a definition of traditional luxury, with a classy appearance, while the 5-Series and M35/M45 feel sportier from behind the wheel. The Infiniti M models have a surprisingly roomy interior--including a spacious backseat, which is somewhat hard to find in this class--but the ride isn't as settled and road noise can be an issue. And if you're especially green, you might want to consider the E320 Bluetec diesel, which returns standout highway fuel economy in the mid-30s.

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See the Cadillac STS in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

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