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SAFETY | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
enhanced StabiliTrak with active steering
Cars.com
stability control "among the least intrusive of its kind
Car and Driver
The 2009 Cadillac STS sports the expected safety gear, but scores in crash tests are lower than editors at TheCarConnection.com hope to see.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2009 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. In tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2009 Cadillac STS's performance in frontal-offset crashes earns it the highest score of "good"; however, it only receives an "acceptable" rating in side-impact tests, which pulls its safety score down a bit.
Aside from the usual full complement of airbags and anti-lock brakes, the 2009 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 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"). Both features can be deactivated if the driver so chooses.
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 2009 Cadillac STS doesn't win high marks for safety—though it does have plenty of accident-avoidance features.
