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2008 Cadillac STS - Comfort
Front Comfort
Many of the crucial elements are here – padded door and center armrests, effective side bolsters, multi-function power buckets that can be heated and cooled, a quick-acting power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and generous amounts of passenger space. There’s even extra padding on the steering wheel, allowing for a comfortable grip regardless of how long the trip may be. Our beef, however, has to do with the lower seat cushions, which are wide and long enough, but are about as flat as freshly sawn board. Consider sitting on a pillow if you’re set to pilot a 2008 STS for a lengthy duration.
Rear Comfort
Instead of the flat lower cushions up front, the rear bench seat is contoured to create two outboard buckets, with recessed upper cushions that almost envelop occupants, and overall there’s more, or at least softer cushions serving to make the rear passengers more comfortable. That being said, there are negatives, including front seatbacks that, despite being slightly padded, may rub some knees the wrong way, and a lack of leg and foot room when taller drivers are at the helm. Head room is sufficient for average-size adults, especially those who slouch, but will likely be insufficient for taller folks.
Interior Noise
With an as-tested price topping $56,000, we expected a quiet luxury car, and to some degree, that’s what we got. In regular traffic, exterior noise was nicely isolated, allowing the STS’s passengers to enjoy some peace. But when the driver dials things up a notch, the decibel level climbs proportionately. Our tester featured 18-inch summer performance tires that are designed for handling and not a quiet ride, a point we recognized instantly. Wind noise was kept to a minimum, but the powerful V-6 engine sounded raucous and unrefined at higher revs, stealing much of the big Caddy’s luxury aspirations.
Visibility
Much like its German competitors, the 2008 Cadillac STS features small exterior mirrors that sacrifice visibility for style. They’re sufficient, but none too big, and when coupled with expansive rear pillars leave a little to be desired. The rear window loses some space to overstuffed outboard headrests, and the thick lower sections of the A-pillars make it hard to see the yellow lines in corners. Our test car featured Cadillac’s Side Blind Zone Alert system, which flashes a small icon in the exterior mirrors to warn of nearby vehicles that may be out of sight.
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