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).
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