2004 BMW 545i vs. 2005 Cadillac STS Driving Impressions

Conclusion
For aficionados who appreciate fine machinery and top-grade materials and revel in the details of how the car is put together, there's no substitute for the Bimmer. Annoyances, and there are more than we've mentioned here, may be forgiven in time. However, more than one staffer commented on how much they miss the natural feel and well-balanced, holistic goodness that defined the previous 5 Series. "The new 5 is 95 percent spectacular, and it missed the last five percent not by being lazy, but by being too ambitious," said one editor. "The car does things I don't need it to do and in ways I didn't request." In a classic role reversal, the 545i trains you to drive differently. Over time, you learn to be more gentle with throttle, steering, and braking inputs. But this car asks that you adapt to it.

The STS, on the other hand, goes down easier. It comes close to the harder-edged 545i in most areas of performance, while managing superior ride quality, stopping distances, and ease of use. Concluded one editor, "Cadillac has updated and somewhat reinterpreted the American luxury/sport sedan from a soft, garish, poor-quality barge to a handsome, comfortable, fast, good-handling machine. It's not as edgy as the German offerings, yet more engaging to drive than many of those from Japan."

The question is: Will buyers even consider the STS as an executive move-up car? It's difficult to call a clear winner here, because even though these two compete on size, price, features, and performance, they end up demonstrating differing approaches to the luxury/sport-sedan formula. Last year, it would've been no contest, but BMW has taken the 5 in a slightly different direction, and Cadillac has a credible offering, instead of an outdated front-driver. As a staffer put it, "Cadillac now comes to the fight with a gun instead of a knife."

That's good, because things can get tough in the executive washroom.