2000 Cadillac Seville: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Cadillac's sportiest sedans borrow a few features from the redesigned 2000 DeVille and offer two new options, plus General Motors' OnStar communications system as a new standard item. Redesigned itself two years ago, Seville returns in SLS and STS models. Horsepower is unchanged at 275 and 300 respectively, but the Northstar V8s get revisions intended to lower noise and emissions. Both models continue with automatic transmission, but the STS unit boasts Performance Algorithm Shifting that maintains a lower gear in hard cornering.

Front side airbags, antilock brakes and traction control remain standard, along with Cadillac's Continuously Variable Road Sensing Suspension (CVRSS) and StabiliTrak antiskid system. The last two are more sophisticated this year. The CVRSS, for example, now selectively varies individual shock-absorber damping for best control of both up and down wheel motions, and is fully integrated with StabiliTrak to counteract body lean and front-end "plow" in turns. The antiskid system can raise steering effort as conditions demand, and will momentarily brake the front wheels to recover from a 4-wheel slide or "drift".

Seville's newly standard OnStar system comes with a built-in three-button control panel and no longer requires a separate cell-phone handset. Another new standard is a front-seat sensor that deactivates passenger-side front airbag when it detects a child or no occupant onboard. The two new options are also new to Seville: an onboard navigation system with touch-screen display, and an ultrasonic rear parking assist that provides audible and visual warnings as the car backs up toward an obstacle. Both Sevilles can again be ordered with heated "adaptive" front seats, whose air bladders continuously adjust to occupant body contours, and lumbar-roller front seats that massage the lower back in 10-minute cycles.

COMPETITION

This diverse segment offers the widest price range. It covers everything from the $33,000 Saab 9-5 to the $128,000 Mercedes-Benz SL500. Obviously our Best Buys are somewhere in between. We think that the Acura RL is a steal at $42,000 fully equipped. Though it is a front-drive V6 in a field of V8 rear-drive models, it has a great ride, plenty of power, and is quite luxurious. In the same vein, the more-expensive Lexus LS 400 continues to impress, excelling in every way except for handling.

If you are looking for something a bit more sporting we recommend the BMW 5-Series, Jaguar S-Type, or Lexus GS 300/400. If your taste ranges more toward the luxury end, then take a look at the new Cadillac DeVille or Mercedes-Benz CLK.