Clearly, the 2005 Cadillac STS is a showcase of GM’s engineering and electronics, something that appeals to many younger buyers today. For example, the traditional ignition key is history. Instead, drivers carry a fob that tells the vehicle to unlock the doors and disarm the anti-theft system as they gain proximity to the STS. Once inside, a button on the dash starts the engine, so long as the fob is detected in the car. The same switch turns it off, and when the driver walks away the vehicle locks itself and arms the alarm. A clear benefit here is that nothing needs to be removed to gain authorized access, a potential convenience in the winter and safety measure during all seasons for a failed battery and lost key.). A remote starter that operates from up to 200 feet away offers additional convenience.

A large eight-inch screen that includes a navigation system resides in the center of the dashboard. One of the largest screens in the industry, it can play DVD movies with the transmission in park. A Bose Studio Surround stereo system heightens the in-cockpit experience through 15 separate speakers. According to Cadillac, each passenger enjoys 360 degrees of auditory stimulation.

Speaking of stimulation, the 2005 Cadillac STS’s handling is superb, and in our case, assessed over a road course with a good deal of rough and uneven pavement – during a rain storm, to boot. Steering input is spot on and will prove to be acceptable to most types of drivers, and we found just enough feedback from the tires and suspension to keep us zipping along at a nice steady clip.