With the arrival of the CTS last year, the crisp Seville (SLS, STS) is no longer the most athletic vehicle in the Cadillac lineup. Still, it is more fun to drive than the more luxury-oriented, similarly priced DeVille, which is why we've included it here.

As a complete overhaul is not far away, the Seville carries on into 2003 with only minor revisions, including the offering of optional XM radio (which is very cool, if you haven't heard it yet). Otherwise, all traditional Cadillac virtues remain in tact. These include, of course, an opulent interior whose beautifully designed dashboard still can be considered one of the best ever to come out of GM. The standard leather seats are very comfortable, as expected, with plenty of room in front for taller passengers, decent room in back too, although it pales next to that of the like-priced DeVille. OnStar route guidance and concierge service are included with each Seville for a full year to boot.

Powering the SLS is a 275-hp version of the same Northstar V-8 that has been powering Cadillacs for 10 years now. One squeeze of the throttle will tell you why Cadillac has stayed with the engine for so long. The performance-oriented STS adds about 10 percent more power, with a total of 300 horsepower from the same engine. The STS also has GM's innovative new Magnetic Ride Control, which adjusts the suspension's firmness on a bump-by-bump basis, ensuring excellent ride quality (think magic carpets) while keeping body movement under control (think flat cornering).